Dude, I need a dimmer for my light-kit...

[<JeffSpicoli>]

I've got a combination of Lowell/Arri 650w & 450w lights. While they're great for lighting backgrounds, I think they're a little too much for lighting interviews.

Does anyone know where I can get a dimmer-device to attach,say, to my light a/c cord? I went to Home Depot and found such a device--but the max. recommended wattage is 300watts.

Yeah, I know I can scrim down the wattage or clip-on some spun-fiberglass. But it sure seems as if a dimmer would be a lot easier.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[<actionnewsman>]

try a search for "light dimmer". I would post a link directly to it, but I'm not that talented. There was a thread titled "650 watt dimmer" that should steer you in the right direction.

Good luck.

[<Hereyago>]

http://b-roll.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=005899#000000

[Terry E. Toller]

For highte wattage lights, someone posted some great information on making a good dimmer about a year ago.

For under 500 watts, pick up a dimmer at Home Depot. It is electronic and causes NO heat. There is absolutely no chance of catching fire. And it is quiet. I am using two on an indie movie set right now and we are having no trouble. They cost $13 and are exactly like the one that B&H sells for $39!

If you build one and you are only using the max of 650 watts, I would strongly suggest that you buy a dimmer switch that is rated for 1,000 watts at least. These dimmers that mount in the wall get hot so be careful of where you put them and for how long.

[Betajunkie]

Another important thing to keep in mind if you make one yourself is not to use the cheap little handy box. Most codes don't allow the use of wall boxes as portable outlet boxes (or portable anything boxes for that matter, they're pretty insistent that they be screwed to the wall) since the knockouts on the sides have a habit of getting knocked in by bouncing the box off of table corners and other objects in your kit and coming in contact with live parts inside the box. The right way to make one of these portable dimmers is with a weatherproof box made of cast metal and having threaded openings for the cables to come through. The added benefit you get is the improved heat dissipation of the aluminum box. I usually also go with cable fittings that have a gasket and locknut since they hold the cable better without cutting the jacket.

The other thing that you want to be sure of is the capacity of the wire that you use. A 1kw dimmer needs to have 16 gauge wire as a minimum. As a safety thing, I would reccommend no smaller than 14 gauge if you plan to routinely load it the whole way.

[<Light me up>]

You'll find a great 1000 watt dimmer at www.studio (http://www.studio) depot.com. It cost $104.00.

[2000lux]

Westek makes a 500-W "foot dimmer." (http://www.cornerhardware.com/item_208136/Electrical/Switches-Dimmers/Touch-Control-Remote-Switches/American-Tack-500-W-Foot-Control-Dimmer.html) I've listed it here several times. It works very well. We even use it with our 600-W lights and it works just fine. I'm sure they rate it for less than it can actually handle just to be safe.

The thing to keep in mind though is that when you dim a light, you drop it's color temperature dramaticly. You're really better off with scrims or diffusion. If you're using a light box like a Chimera, use the extra diffusion baffle it comes with.

I got really tired of using the over powered 600's here so I bought a couple 250-W Lowel Pro Lights and use them either with a Chimera or an umbrella. I'm much happier with the results.

[ August 02, 2004, 01:10 AM: Message edited by: 2000lux ]

[2000lux]

I just found this 1000 W dimmer (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3823670378&ssPageName=MERC_VI) on E-bay via the French flag link some one else posted.