Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 09:57 AM - Re: Dimmer Control Units (Phil Samuelian)
2. 11:03 AM - Re: Dimmer Control Units (Peter Laurence)
3. 11:50 AM - Re: Dimmer Control Units ()
Message 1
INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
Subject: | Re: Dimmer Control Units |
Henry:
Re: My instrument panel is about 80% complete and the next piece of
hardware is
the dimmer system. I've been looking at numerous systems and
controllers:
Is one better than another: i.e. solid state vs using rheostats?
My plan is to have 2 systems: 1 for flight instruments and 1 for
radio/gps/transponder.
What experience or suggestions do you or anyone have....
Rheostats are inefficient in that they convert energy into heat while
dimming. Heat is not a good thing behind your panel. A rheostat can
get so hot that you can smell it while flying. This can be
disconcerting, to say the least.
Solid state units usually have heatsinks, indicating that they are
also inefficient, but not as bad as rheostats.
Other considerations are size. Rheostats are relatively small, while
solid state units are usually 2 pieces (large control circuit with
heat sink and small rheostat or pot in the panel).
The latest unit on the market as you mentioned is the MaxDim. It is
completely solid state and self contained. It fits in the same space
as a rheostat. There is no heat, no heatsink, no space penalty,
weighs 1 ounce. It is an FAA-PMA part and STCd for certified
aircraft. That means it has gone through rigorous testing and passed.
There is no EMI as with some other solid state units to interfere
with your radio systems.
Extremely easy wiring: 3 wires... Ground, power, and dim.
And now the shameless plug... I'm a dealer for this product and sell
them on ebay below ACS' price.
The other issue re lighting your radios... most radios and some
instruments have built in lighting controlled by a built in photocell
that adjusts its own lighting level. All you do is hook up your
system voltage (12 or 24) to the correct pin and forget about it. It
has been my experience that the instrument/radio manufacturers system
works quite well.
Phil
RV7 emppanage/wing ... Cessna 177
Message 2
INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
Subject: | Dimmer Control Units |
Try here.
http://www.a-and-t-labs.com/
Peter Laurence
_____
Henry:
Re: My instrument panel is about 80% complete and the next piece of hardware
is
the dimmer system. I've been looking at numerous systems and controllers:
Is one better than another: i.e. solid state vs using rheostats?
My plan is to have 2 systems: 1 for flight instruments and 1 for
radio/gps/transponder.
What experience or suggestions do you or anyone have....
Message 3
INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
PREVIOUS | Skip to PREVIOUS Message |
NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
Subject: | Dimmer Control Units |
Henry/Phil,
Wow, 80% finished! Only 80% to go J Just kidding, great progress. I
recently installed the B & C job which touts itself as being a true
voltage regulator rather than a resistor/rheostat which burns your
fingers when you're working on it in the dark because it failed. Today's
equipment is so well backlit and internally controllable, the demand for
these seems to be waning. I use it for my compass backlight, interior
light and the buttons on the Garmin equipment. For such a small job the
little 1.5 volt job works great, generates almost no heat and should
last longer than I. After all the hype and thought over dimming I find I
mostly just set it and forget it.
If you've been around a while you should already know rheostats don't
belong in airplanes. They are best used on fans to chase away flies in
your barn. I've flown more than one plane at night in which an attempt
to use the trusty rheostat caused the lights to go out completely. Like
the old cars, they corrode over time and are problematic.
A hassle free no brainer at less than $40. Read the diagram carefully as
it may trick the intrepid.
Glenn
From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Phil
Samuelian
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 12:54 PM
Subject: Re: AeroElectric-List: Dimmer Control Units
Henry:
Re: My instrument panel is about 80% complete and the next piece of
hardware is
the dimmer system. I've been looking at numerous systems and
controllers:
Is one better than another: i.e. solid state vs using rheostats?
My plan is to have 2 systems: 1 for flight instruments and 1 for
radio/gps/transponder.
What experience or suggestions do you or anyone have....
Rheostats are inefficient in that they convert energy into heat while
dimming. Heat is not a good thing behind your panel. A rheostat can get
so hot that you can smell it while flying. This can be disconcerting, to
say the least.
Solid state units usually have heatsinks, indicating that they are also
inefficient, but not as bad as rheostats.
Other considerations are size. Rheostats are relatively small, while
solid state units are usually 2 pieces (large control circuit with heat
sink and small rheostat or pot in the panel).
The latest unit on the market as you mentioned is the MaxDim. It is
completely solid state and self contained. It fits in the same space as
a rheostat. There is no heat, no heatsink, no space penalty, weighs 1
ounce. It is an FAA-PMA part and STCd for certified aircraft. That means
it has gone through rigorous testing and passed. There is no EMI as with
some other solid state units to interfere with your radio systems.
Extremely easy wiring: 3 wires... Ground, power, and dim.
And now the shameless plug... I'm a dealer for this product and sell
them on ebay below ACS' price.
The other issue re lighting your radios... most radios and some
instruments have built in lighting controlled by a built in photocell
that adjusts its own lighting level. All you do is hook up your system
voltage (12 or 24) to the correct pin and forget about it. It has been
my experience that the instrument/radio manufacturers system works quite
well.
Phil
RV7 emppanage/wing ... Cessna 177
Other Matronics Email List Services
These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.
-- Please support this service by making your Contribution today! --
|