Dimming CoralVue Ballasts

[kidney514]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12895004#post12895004 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by badazztealcobra
If I grab my fluke meter should I just be checking to see if its 1-10v control ??? Hmmmmm....... Man I really want to see if something could be pulled off but dont want to risk frying anything. :lol:

Well the profilux is not involved yet, just use your meter to find out what goes in and out! The only thing you can fries at this point is you or your meter

 

[badazztealcobra]

I get 6.4 VAC when it is dialed all the way down going from terminal to terminal, and 7.8 VAC when it is turned all the way up terminal to terminal.

If I put a lead to the ballast housing though and check either of them its up in the 60vac range......

Also you get the max reading of 6.4 or 7.8 vac, and then it slowly drops back to 0.0vac if you leave it on the terminals.

I dont even mind if I wouldve fried a ballast, I just cant afford to fry my profilux. HAHAHA

 

[AQD_ottawa]

if you are getting an AC reading you are out of luck

1-10V DC only

 

[badazztealcobra]

well I had it set on the AC setting of the meter.... lemme check with the DC setting....

Im a moron sometimes. :lol:

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Stand back light the touch paper we got a live one here!

Run away, run away!!!!!!!!

Going offline now, fingers crossed you have not crossed to the other side by the time I get back!

 

[badazztealcobra]

Very funny Michael. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I checked with the AC setting to make sure that I had 120v at the main power coming in and didnt flip it to DC to check the other section.... My boss has my good fluke that flips automatically, im using an old Fluke 77 meter I had laying in my work truck....

I'm only getting .48 vdc across the terminals when its dimmed as low as possible, and im getting .78 vdc when its turned all the way up....

 

[kidney514]

I guess you're out of luck!

 

[badazztealcobra]

Thats what I figured.....

Im hoping the dimmable MH's from GHL will be available fairly soon, I think that would be a sweet setup.

 

[boboxx]

dimming MH is not as nice as you may think.... there is way to much of a color drift.

add a few T5 if you want to dim....

 

[badazztealcobra]

I know about the color difference, I turn them down when acclimating new corals... I just think it would be nice to get them to full power over 30 minutes rather than 2 minutes.... Im just geeky like that though.

Im really waiting for LED prices to drop some and I might go with an AI fixture...

 

[kidney514]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12896552#post12896552 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boboxx
dimming MH is not as nice as you may think.... there is way to much of a color drift.

add a few T5 if you want to dim....

I'm with boboxx on that one, unless you have 400w or 1000w, dimmable MH is useless and ugly.....
Just my .02!