Ok so i have been questioning the idea of setting my lights on some sort of timer that automatically dimms the lights and brightens them as to simulate a full day. Is this even possible? How much might something like this cost?
Thanks,
Michael
What you're going to need is a computer controlled lighting system that slowly transitions from daylight to night and vice versa, but I don't know where you would find such a program.
Something like this would be a cheap way to do it, but it will require two separate sets of lights.
http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Laboratories-SZMLT10-Repti/dp/B007EI1II4
I took the easy way out .... I bought a 2000 watt rotary dimmer switch and mounted a Hankscraft switch machine motor to the shaft and run it on about 3 volts. It takes the motor about three minutes to turn the dimmer switch from full bright room lights down to night time. The motor is connected through a DPDT relay controlled by a switch on the wall.
I installed a stop on the shaft so the lights are just barely on at "night time" so operators can still see what they are doing. Pitch dark is just too dark.
It's always fun when new people come over and without them knowing, I throw the switch. The expressions are always priceless as you can see they are sensing something happening, but not just sure what !
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ