I am looking for ideas or existing harware to vary house voltage from 0v to 120v in ratio to 8 bit digital number input via a computer interface. I have tried to search the internet without success. Of course, part of the problem is not knowing what to call what I am searching for. I thought I found just what I was looking for about 4 years ago (circuit board with 4 bit or 8 bit input control) and I thought I saved the URL address, but I didn't realize what I was looking at was a pop-add not part of the URL address. Any of you electronic whizzes have any ideas?
First you have to define the light bulbs; incandescant, flouresecent, LED
start with dimmer switches. I do know that kind of control exists that you seek. If all else fails you could take a dial version of a dimmer switch and put a stepper motor on the dial then remote that with a turntable index.
Shane
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An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Here's one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/392767456695
It appears to come from this company in India: https://researchdesignlab.com/dimmer-module.html
I found a brand new 1964 motor driven variac on ebay that I wired into the line feed for my room lights. The LEDs I installed wouldn't dim down to off using a typical LED dimmer and this works perfect. Two switches control the motor drive - on/off and forward/reverse (takes about three minutes for day to night). There are also adjustable limit switches to control auto stop for desired full bright or dim (just barely on still allows operators to see the track/turnouts).
Old school meets new school !
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Look for theater lighting controlers, some have computer interface.
Lots of folks use JMRI to control room/layout lighting using a variety of hardware such as Anyma DMX, Insteon Powerline, X10, etc. You may want to ask on their user's list, or look at their code on GIT for ideas on how it's done.
(I'd post a link to that JMRI user's list, but the last time I did, the moderators removed it even though it's nothing more than a help list for for software that's mentioned repeatedly by one of their columnists in their magazine!)
possibly smart dimmer switches
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
The company I bought my 2x2 flat panel LED lights also sold a compatible dimmer. I added that to the circuit so I could dim the overhead lights.
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