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Member

Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 8

Light dimmer control panels

07/31/2022 1:38 PM

Need some help finding a replacement for an old control panel. See the pics; we believe the two were similar if not identical. Faceplate fell off the one and the controls got so bunged up we can't use them all. Any idea, do these things still exist, and if so, where? Thanks very much for the help.

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Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: by the beach in Florida
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#1

Re: light dimmer control panels

07/31/2022 3:01 PM

Need to know the voltage, ac or dc and amperage for each circuit...does the dimmer control the voltage or run a program...how many total circuits, are they all the same?...what is the application, industrial, commercial, residential, hospital, warehouse, restaurant, museum, theater?...is this an automated or strictly manual system...

https://www.lightstat.com/products.html

https://www.futronix.com/products/switch-panels-lighting-control.php

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/412059-REG/Strand_Lighting_63200_Accent_8_Preset_DMX.html

https://www.prolighting.com/rr-t10rl-sw.html

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Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - Been there, done that. Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Long Island NY
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#2

Re: light dimmer control panels

07/31/2022 5:23 PM

Who cares what failing technology had been installed? What do your local codes call for controlling an unknown voltage source powering an unknown load? In other words, you have given us nothing, not even which hemisphere this system resides. We cannot help you when we know nothing about the system.

On second thought, yes you have given us enough information to help you. You don't recognize what critical information is needed to be known to do this work. You are not qualified to do this work. You should hire a local electrician or electrical engineer to do this work.

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Power-User

Join Date: Jan 2009
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#3

Re: light dimmer control panels

08/01/2022 3:54 AM

This looks like something that was a high-end product in the 1980s or 1990s. Lighting and control technology has improved tremendously in the last five years, so it is quite obsolete. I would use this as an opportunity to get complete replacement proposals from electrical contractors specializing in lighting systems. Modern LED lighting is much more efficient; in a commercial building the savings in electricity could pay for the cost within several years. Many electrical utilities offer rebates for upgrading to more efficient lighting, so check that when calculating cost/benefit.

You may find the new control designs to be much more convenient. Some systems can be run with a secure app installed on the phones of authorized users, or through the building network. Many can automatically adjust the lighting to account for the contribution of external daylight through windows, and use occupancy sensors to turn off lights that aren't needed. That eliminates a lot of running over to the control panel to set the lights.

Note: This looks like low-voltage circuitry in the input panel board, so you have a bit of leeway for repairs. If cash is too scarce to buy new lighting right now, you may be able to find a replacement switch for the "Off" button on an old computer keyboard or at an electronics surplus store. If it's a self-latching switch (push-on, push-off) rather than setting the state in the electronics with a momentary switch, you may be able to use a mute switch from a junk audio mixer. You might end up using tape to hold the panel on or something ugly like that, but as long as it does the job safely, it perhaps could be made to hold up long enough to accumulate the necessary funds for replacement.

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