dimmer lights

[zoso0928]

does anyone here use dimmer lights in their home theater?if so how good does it work? do you use a special kind of bulb?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by zoso0928

does anyone here use dimmer lights in their home theater?if so how good does it work? do you use a special kind of bulb?

I have recessed lights connected to a dimmer.... they're great, but I don't currently have furniture etc. in my theater, and I'm not living in the house yet (see signature for details on why!) but when connecting things and testing etc.... I used the dimmer, although I will have the lights completely off during viewing, so I guess they're nice to have, but not absolutely necessary

[musicman1999]

When watching a film my lights are off.

bill

[Verbal]

I'm a lights out kinda guy, but if I did dimmers, I'd make sure to have a lighting controller hooked up to it so I could dim them with my Harmony.

[JJ]

I currently have rack lighting in my living room, on dimmers - but quick question for some of you more knowledgeable types - does something exist in which I could control that switch with a universal remote? Say, I could take out the current dimmer switch for another?

[mdabb]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

I currently have rack lighting in my living room, on dimmers - but quick question for some of you more knowledgeable types - does something exist in which I could control that switch with a universal remote? Say, I could take out the current dimmer switch for another?

There is all kind of cool stuff on this site for home automation. As well as other sites.

http://www.smarthome.com/_/index.asp...FQVxFQod4BP47g

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

does something exist in which I could control that switch with a universal remote? Say, I could take out the current dimmer switch for another?

Upgradeitis at its best

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Upgradeitis at its best

I know, right? Didn't I JUST say I was done with everything yesterday? Next thing you know I'll want my remote to turn on my popcorn machine.


Ack!!!

This is it!!

http://www.smarthome.com/4040/Infrar...-IR-543/p.aspx

[allstar780]

a dimmer would be nice if you have kids or clumsy guests, then you turn the lights part way on if they get up to go to the bathroom or get food or whatever, that way they dont bump or break anything

[DBlackGT]

Check this one out. its simple to instal and works like a charm and can be programmed to logitech harmony or any remote that can learn commands. It also has a favorite setting, so for example if you program it into your harmony, when you hit pause on the movie you can set it up where the lights will come on about half walf or to whatever brightness you want.

Lutron Dimmer Kit

[ixlegitballinxl]

i started a thread about this couple weeks ago lol

lutron works great, and easy syncing with a harmony remote...i can turn off/on and dim 2 lights while sitting on my couch! w00t~

you can set this up by either installing a new wall light switch with built-in IR, or you can buy an IR adapter for plug in

you'll need the rf extenders to get around the IR line of sight

i'm not sure about any other type of universal remotes

[ambientcafe]

Originally Posted by zoso0928

do you use a special kind of bulb?

Any incandescent, halogen, or LED-based bulb will do. Don't use the new mini-fluorescent 'spiral' shaped bulbs or floodlamps -- unless the packaging expressly states that you can use it w/dimmers -- 95% of these types of bulbs state on the packaging or on the base of the bulb that they're not for use w/dimmers.

[seigneur_rayden]

can somebody post a graph or picture of to install that "Lutron Maestro IR® 600 Watt Dimmer With Infrared Receiver - White " kit ? Or explain the installation to a dummy?

[C_Doc]

Originally Posted by seigneur_rayden

can somebody post a graph or picture of to install that "Lutron Maestro IR® 600 Watt Dimmer With Infrared Receiver - White " kit ? Or explain the installation to a dummy?

FIRST OFF! Turn off the power to the light switch you want to change, unless you want to toast yourself.

When you take out the existing switch/dimmer, there should be two wires connected to it, unless its a 3-way switch, in which case it gets complicated.

Remove the existing switch, and reattach the two wires to the new IR Dimmer. Then attach the green ground wire to the box in the wall, under a ground screw, or with other bare ground wires if its in a ganged box (multiple switches in the same box)

Screw the switch into the box, and snap on the included cover, if its a single switch situation, or you can remove the white base-plate and use your own switch cover.

As stated in the other IR Control thread, this unit does a VERY nice job of controlling lighting. I especially like what I call the "pee break" mode where you can set an intermediate level for the lighting, to raise the brightness just enough to get around in the dark w/o killing yourselves. The included remote can be used to teach its functions to any universal remote that has learning functions.