[mike.hutch]

Whats the cheapest option for a 4 channel dimmer? I'm looking at having one circuit of downlighters, one set of LED light bars, six walkover lights and some sort of ropelight or LED tapelight around the ceiling.

I'm just working out if its affordable at the moment, the cheapest option I can find is the Futronix P400, which at the best part of £400 seems expensive. I could use basic remote dimmer switches, but I want to have scene settings.

[dj-dulux]

You could also look at the Mode Scenestyle, although if you want to control LED lights you are going to have problems (many LED lights will not dim on dimmers). Most need 0-10V control or DMX to dim.

Dupe...

[LCR_Dave]

look at lutron mate installed loads and looks great

[mike.hutch]

Thanks, I've seen some dimmable LED drivers that I might be able to get to work with the uplighters I'm looking at. I'm not too fussed about dimming the LED bars as they will go behind the plasma and light the projector screen when its not in use.

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by LCR_Dave

look at lutron mate installed loads and looks great

Lutron as the cheapest option... now thats a new one.

Dimmable LED drivers tend to be 1-10V or only dimmable by a specific controller. You can get some controller to act as switches rather than dimmers for non dimmable loads like LED and CFL.

Futronix may be another option as they have 1-10V control in the P4000

[LCR_Dave]

i didnt say it was the cheapest, you get what you pay for i just said look at it as an option

[mike.hutch]

Lutron looks complicated to me, I think the Futronix is the simplest, cheapest option.

[MitsiTurbo]

Originally Posted by hornydragon

Lutron as the cheapest option... now thats a new one.

Dimmable LED drivers tend to be 1-10V or only dimmable by a specific controller. You can get some controller to act as switches rather than dimmers for non dimmable loads like LED and CFL.

Futronix may be another option as they have 1-10V control in the P4000

Do the P400's LED controllers count as 2 of the 4 circuits or can they be used in addition to the 4 mains ones?

[intelligentav]

If you got a 4 circuit inductive dimmer, you could always use an inline inductive LED driver to control the dim levels of the LED's. This wont necessarily colour change though. These aint cheap either.

From memory, a 4 ct dimmer from someone like iLight is about £400, but if your loads per circuit are less than 2 amps and dont exceed 6 amps per dimmer, you could go down the DIN rail option.

Only ar5e with that is housing it and providing EIC (i think?) approved wiring etc.

Rako may be cheaper wirelessly, but they also do their own wired system.

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by MitsiTurbo

Do the P400's LED controllers count as 2 of the 4 circuits or can they be used in addition to the 4 mains ones?

I think so, but double check with futronix