Does anyone have any ideas about controlling dimmers and providing daylight effects without spending the kids' college fund? I want to slowly vary, from 0 to 100%, a number of lighting circuits over a typical operating session of about 4 hours.
X10 is a system whereby devices such as lamp modules or appliance modules can be plugged into the electricity mains and controlled by signals superimposed on the mains. The requisite module is addressed by the software running on a computer (or from a hard-wired controller) and turned on/off, or dimmed.
I’ve got a simple X10 control system powering two security cameras and monitors, and have sometimes wondered how I could use it for my railroad.
I’ll get back to the group when I have some bright idea!
Jeff Law
With regard to using Tortoise switch machines and the question/confusion about changing the motion from straight line to circle, why not use the dimmer switches with slide switches that places like HomeDepot or Lowes carries?
pdc
Since I am talking about layout lighting, I could easily break up my loads in a number of 500w modules, and get away with the $25 commercial lamp modules. Looking over some X-10 automation stuff this afternoon I see that programming would be a bit complicated. I would want to be able to start the "program" when I started my fast clock, and then be able to pause it if I need to. It wouldn't necessarily start at the same exact moment of the day each time, so I would need some kind of virtual "start" button to get it going. As a rough idea of how a lighting schedule would work, I would start with full blue moonlight when the fast clock says midnight. At 4 AM the red "dawn" lights would start to come on and the moon lights would dim down to off. From 6-8 AM, the white "day" lights would be increased from 0 to 100% brightness, while the "dawn" lights would gradually fade out. This would go on through dusk and back into night, for a simulated 24 hours on the railroad. Flexibility would be key, so that I could adjust times and brightness levels as needed.
Did I also say that I needed city lights as well? Random on-off effects in buildings with low voltage wiring? This gets uglier all the time!
Computer controlled Remote Light Dimmer
By Josh Bensadon, email: joshbensadon@yahoo.com
This circuit deals with HIGH VOLTAGE (120 VAC). The author will not be responsible for ANY damages this circuit may cause. If you use this circuit, you do so at YOUR OWN RISK.
The circuit receives messages via standard RS-232. These messages cause the triacs to dimm each lamp to the desired level. The computer then controls each lamp, according to desired light effects.
Any DOS computer may be used (get out your old 486's, we have a use for them now!). There will be available shortly a DOS program written in BASIC to control the dimming.
Construction of the dimmer can be done on a perf board. Extreme care must be taken for the high voltage side of the MOC 3010 opto couplers. To be safe, rate your fuses according to the loads required. Pick issolated tab triac's and over rate them (eg, if your lamp draws 500w, 500 / 120 = 4.2Amps, use 6 Amp triacs). Get a double gang surface mount electrical box and a double gang extension box. Mount a board with the MOC 3010's inside the box. Mount the issolated tab triacs inside the box. Feed your AC to the box. Be sure to use a grounded AC Cord, and ground your box! You can use the box as a heat sink for the triac's. Be sure to mount the board inside the box using spacers and screws. Route the low voltage wires from the MOC3010 (pins 1 and 2) directly outside the box, such that they do not approach the high voltage wires or section.
Unplug the unit when you are away or working on the circuits.
All parts are available from www.digikey.com Check the website for selecting the Triac's. Electrical outlets and boxes from your local hardware store. A programmed PIC chip is available from JoshBensadon for $3 US plus shipping, contact joshbensadon@yahoo.com
Use 12-16 VAC to power the unit, it must be AC! since it uses this signal to detect the zero cross over of the AC Power Line. This is needed to synchronize the triacs for correct dimming.
The module is Addressable, this is done so that future modules may be connected on the same communication line from the PC. Default Address is 5, if you need to change it, edit the assembler file and re-compile it.
Communication from PC is at 1200,N81
Message length = 8 BYTES (fixed)
| Byte | Logic | Description |
| 1 | 000a aaaa | Address (top 3 MSBs must be 000) Address, 1-30 recomended since this will reserve address 0 and 63 |
| 2 | 001x hhhh | Triac1 HighData (top 3 MSBs must be 001) |
| 3 | 010x llll | Triac1 LowData (top 3 MSBs must be 010) |
| 4 | 011x hhhh | Triac2 HighData (top 3 MSBs must be 011) |
| 5 | 100x llll | Triac2 LowData (top 3 MSBs must be 100) |
| 6 | 101x hhhh | Triac3 HighData (top 3 MSBs must be 101) |
| 7 | 110x llll | Triac3 LowData (top 3 MSBs must be 110) |
| 8 | 111x xxxx | CRC (top 3 MSBs must be 111) XOR check sum of bytes 1-7 |