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#1
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Dimmer history
Anybody remember the name of the ancient dimmer that used a variable
inductor in series with the lighting circuit? The chorus that I sing with is performing in a turn of the last century theatre. I was marvelling at the ancient stage technology. They still have the old style sandbag counterweights and belaying pins to anchor the lines though the lines themselves have been changed from the original hemp lines (guess they were all smoked by now...) to new black cotton lines that conform to newer codes. The original lighting panel has long since been replaced by a new digital board but I was talking with the theatre manager and trying to remember some of the old names. Rheostats, the original dimmer technology were replaced by the variable inductor types to some extent. All of these were eventually replaced by Variac types for many years until the newer electronic dimmers took hold. I have fond memories of high school stage crew, running the Variac dimmer board. On scene changes, the dimmers could be mechanically ganged into a master group and master groups could be ganged to the grand master. Sometimes it took two people to pull the grand master - and it had a 4 foot handle. Oh, to have had a DMX back then. Oppie www.chordsmen.org |
#2
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Dimmer history
Oppie wrote: Anybody remember the name of the ancient dimmer that used a variable inductor in series with the lighting circuit? A saturable reactor ? A TO-3 device feeding current into a choke ? Graham |
#3
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Dimmer history
Oppie wrote: I have fond memories of high school stage crew, running the Variac dimmer board. On scene changes, the dimmers could be mechanically ganged into a master group and master groups could be ganged to the grand master. Sometimes it took two people to pull the grand master - and it had a 4 foot handle. Only about a 2 foot handle here and that was in 1970 with a quite new rheostat dimmer panel. Graham |
#4
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Dimmer history
"Oppie" wrote in message
... I have fond memories of high school stage crew, running the Variac dimmer board. Our control panel had a bunch of rheostats that fed DC (?) control voltages to a large "dimmer rack" (which was in an adjacenet room with good-sized concrete walls... there was probably the potential for 50kW flowing through that room...). The dimmer rack had these slide-in dimmers (in two sizes... most were something like 1kW, and some double-size units were either 2 or 4kW), which in retrospect I figure were TRIAC-based, performing phase-angle control. For curtains, etc., we had "carriages" that traveled up and down a pair of rails, and you stacked standard weights onto the carriage to create the appropriate counterbalance (the weights were either the same or very similar to the ones you see on exercise weight machines) - no sand bags. It's probably been converted to DMX as well by now. (Ironically, Electronic Theatre Controls was only a few miles away from the school -- I went dumpster diving there a couple of times. Too bad they went out of business...) |
#5
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Dimmer history
On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:00:34 -0400, "Oppie"
wrote: Anybody remember the name of the ancient dimmer that used a variable inductor in series with the lighting circuit? The chorus that I sing with is performing in a turn of the last century theatre. I was marvelling at the ancient stage technology. They still have the old style sandbag counterweights and belaying pins to anchor the lines though the lines themselves have been changed from the original hemp lines (guess they were all smoked by now...) to new black cotton lines that conform to newer codes. The original lighting panel has long since been replaced by a new digital board but I was talking with the theatre manager and trying to remember some of the old names. Rheostats, the original dimmer technology were replaced by the variable inductor types to some extent. All of these were eventually replaced by Variac types for many years until the newer electronic dimmers took hold. I have fond memories of high school stage crew, running the Variac dimmer board. On scene changes, the dimmers could be mechanically ganged into a master group and master groups could be ganged to the grand master. Sometimes it took two people to pull the grand master - and it had a 4 foot handle. Oh, to have had a DMX back then. Oppie www.chordsmen.org As I recall, the saturable reactor was a transformer with two windings. One of the windings was in series with the input power to the lights. The other winding was provided with a variable DC power. When there was no DC present, the other winding was high impedance to the lamp loads. When the DC was applied the core in the transformer was saturated and the impedance went down as the lights came up! John Ferrell W8CCW "Life is easier if you learn to plow around the stumps" t |
#6
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Dimmer history
On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:00:34 -0400, "Oppie"
wrote: Anybody remember the name of the ancient dimmer that used a variable inductor in series with the lighting circuit? The chorus that I sing with is performing in a turn of the last century theatre. I was marvelling at the ancient stage technology. They still have the old style sandbag counterweights and belaying pins to anchor the lines though the lines themselves have been changed from the original hemp lines (guess they were all smoked by now...) to new black cotton lines that conform to newer codes. The original lighting panel has long since been replaced by a new digital board but I was talking with the theatre manager and trying to remember some of the old names. Rheostats, the original dimmer technology were replaced by the variable inductor types to some extent. All of these were eventually replaced by Variac types for many years until the newer electronic dimmers took hold. I have fond memories of high school stage crew, running the Variac dimmer board. On scene changes, the dimmers could be mechanically ganged into a master group and master groups could be ganged to the grand master. Sometimes it took two people to pull the grand master - and it had a 4 foot handle. Oh, to have had a DMX back then. Oppie www.chordsmen.org Most of the theatres that I have been in used Variacs to control lighting. A variac is an autotransformer, allowing variable voltage output with the turn of a dial. |
#7
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Dimmer history
"Oppie" wrote in message ... Anybody remember the name of the ancient dimmer that used a variable inductor in series with the lighting circuit? "Magnetic Amplifier". |
#8
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Dimmer history
On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:57:24 -0400, PeterD wrote:
On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:00:34 -0400, "Oppie" wrote: Anybody remember the name of the ancient dimmer that used a variable inductor in series with the lighting circuit? The chorus that I sing with is performing in a turn of the last century theatre. I was marvelling at the ancient stage technology. They still have the old style sandbag counterweights and belaying pins to anchor the lines though the lines themselves have been changed from the original hemp lines (guess they were all smoked by now...) to new black cotton lines that conform to newer codes. The original lighting panel has long since been replaced by a new digital board but I was talking with the theatre manager and trying to remember some of the old names. Rheostats, the original dimmer technology were replaced by the variable inductor types to some extent. All of these were eventually replaced by Variac types for many years until the newer electronic dimmers took hold. I have fond memories of high school stage crew, running the Variac dimmer board. On scene changes, the dimmers could be mechanically ganged into a master group and master groups could be ganged to the grand master. Sometimes it took two people to pull the grand master - and it had a 4 foot handle. Oh, to have had a DMX back then. Oppie www.chordsmen.org Most of the theatres that I have been in used Variacs to control lighting. A variac is an autotransformer, allowing variable voltage output with the turn of a dial. I have been "backstage" for at least 40 years. Back then I recall big-ass chokes with a moveable core to change the inductance. ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | | | E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat | | http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | America: Land of the Free, Because of the Brave |
#9
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Dimmer history
"John Ferrell" wrote in message ... On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:00:34 -0400, "Oppie" wrote: Anybody remember the name of the ancient dimmer that used a variable inductor in series with the lighting circuit? The chorus that I sing with is performing in a turn of the last century theatre. I was marvelling at the ancient stage technology. They still have the old style sandbag counterweights and belaying pins to anchor the lines though the lines themselves have been changed from the original hemp lines (guess they were all smoked by now...) to new black cotton lines that conform to newer codes. The original lighting panel has long since been replaced by a new digital board but I was talking with the theatre manager and trying to remember some of the old names. Rheostats, the original dimmer technology were replaced by the variable inductor types to some extent. All of these were eventually replaced by Variac types for many years until the newer electronic dimmers took hold. I have fond memories of high school stage crew, running the Variac dimmer board. On scene changes, the dimmers could be mechanically ganged into a master group and master groups could be ganged to the grand master. Sometimes it took two people to pull the grand master - and it had a 4 foot handle. Oh, to have had a DMX back then. Oppie www.chordsmen.org As I recall, the saturable reactor was a transformer with two windings. One of the windings was in series with the input power to the lights. The other winding was provided with a variable DC power. When there was no DC present, the other winding was high impedance to the lamp loads. When the DC was applied the core in the transformer was saturated and the impedance went down as the lights came up! John Ferrell W8CCW "Life is easier if you learn to plow around the stumps" t Saturable reactors used to be very common in TV E/W correction circuits, I even recall a Relisys monitor that used one as a B+ regulator. |
#10
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Dimmer history
Eeyore wrote:
Oppie wrote: Anybody remember the name of the ancient dimmer that used a variable inductor in series with the lighting circuit? A saturable reactor ? A TO-3 device feeding current into a choke ? Graham Check; saturable reactor. |
#11
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Dimmer history
"ian field" wrote in message news Saturable reactors used to be very common in TV E/W correction circuits, I even recall a Relisys monitor that used one as a B+ regulator. I worked on a variable speed sewage pump motor (50 HP) that used a mag amp to control the speed. We had to interface it to a level control. |
#12
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Dimmer history
"Jim Thompson" wrote in message ... I have been "backstage" for at least 40 years. Back then I recall big-ass chokes with a moveable core to change the inductance. ...Jim Thompson Bingo - That's what I remember in one of the older stages I worked once. Nothing to do with mag-amps or saturable cores. Now the question is if that dimmer system had a trade name? I doubt that they called it a 'big-ass choke..." Every time I see a moveable core arc welder (to adjust welding current) I think of that old and scary dimmer cage. Regards, Oppie |
#13
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Dimmer history
"PeterD" wrote in message news Most of the theatres that I have been in used Variacs to control lighting. A variac is an autotransformer, allowing variable voltage output with the turn of a dial. The Variac was a trade name for an adjustable autotransformer. I haven't seen a variac board in any theatre in the last 25 years. The cost of electronic controls has come down so much that everybody converted over to them. I was working one theatre where there was a small pyrotechnic charge used. I watched the stage crew prepping it and using a length of 24awg copper wire as the initiator - conected directly to the dimmer circuit. Thought it would blow the dimmer for sure.... darn, those things are robust now! Oppie |
#14
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Dimmer history
On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:07:25 -0700, Jim Thompson
wrote: output with the turn of a dial. I have been "backstage" for at least 40 years. Back then I recall big-ass chokes with a moveable core to change the inductance. ...Jim Thompson And the big 'board' with many knobs to adjust lights... g Whether an adjustable inductor, or a Variac, those things were big--lot's of power involved. |
#15
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Dimmer history
Oppie wrote:
Anybody remember the name of the ancient dimmer that used a variable inductor in series with the lighting circuit? The chorus that I sing with is performing in a turn of the last century theatre. I was marvelling at the ancient stage technology. They still have the old style sandbag counterweights and belaying pins to anchor the lines though the lines themselves have been changed from the original hemp lines (guess they were all smoked by now...) to new black cotton lines that conform to newer codes. The original lighting panel has long since been replaced by a new digital board but I was talking with the theatre manager and trying to remember some of the old names. Rheostats, the original dimmer technology were replaced by the variable inductor types to some extent. All of these were eventually replaced by Variac types for many years until the newer electronic dimmers took hold. I have fond memories of high school stage crew, running the Variac dimmer board. On scene changes, the dimmers could be mechanically ganged into a master group and master groups could be ganged to the grand master. Sometimes it took two people to pull the grand master - and it had a 4 foot handle. Oh, to have had a DMX back then. Oppie www.chordsmen.org When I read the subject of this thread, I thought was Eeyore's life story. -- Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to prove it. Member of DAV #85. Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
#16
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Dimmer history
"Oppie" wrote in message ... The Variac was a trade name for an adjustable autotransformer. I haven't seen a variac board in any theatre in the last 25 years. The cost of electronic controls has come down so much that everybody converted over to them. I was working one theatre where there was a small pyrotechnic charge used. I watched the stage crew prepping it and using a length of 24awg copper wire as the initiator - conected directly to the dimmer circuit. Thought it would blow the dimmer for sure.... darn, those things are robust now! In some European theatres they used a single variable transformer with a high voltage primary (like 11 kV) and a number of secondary sliders all run via remote control flexible cables like bicycle brake lines. The transformer was in a cage with the mechanical and electrical lines run into it. |
#17
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Dimmer history
output with the turn of a dial.
I have been "backstage" for at least 40 years. Back then I recall big-ass chokes with a moveable core to change the inductance. ...Jim Thompson I think that is working the same as variable control current. The simplicity is tough to beat! There are tiny sensors that use the same principles to detect mechanical position. The one I remember worked at a higher (than line) frequency. It was very precise. John Ferrell W8CCW "Life is easier if you learn to plow around the stumps" |
#18
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Dimmer history
John Ferrell wrote:
On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:00:34 -0400, "Oppie" wrote: Anybody remember the name of the ancient dimmer that used a variable inductor in series with the lighting circuit? The chorus that I sing with is performing in a turn of the last century theatre. I was marvelling at the ancient stage technology. They still have the old style sandbag counterweights and belaying pins to anchor the lines though the lines themselves have been changed from the original hemp lines (guess they were all smoked by now...) to new black cotton lines that conform to newer codes. The original lighting panel has long since been replaced by a new digital board but I was talking with the theatre manager and trying to remember some of the old names. Rheostats, the original dimmer technology were replaced by the variable inductor types to some extent. All of these were eventually replaced by Variac types for many years until the newer electronic dimmers took hold. I have fond memories of high school stage crew, running the Variac dimmer board. On scene changes, the dimmers could be mechanically ganged into a master group and master groups could be ganged to the grand master. Sometimes it took two people to pull the grand master - and it had a 4 foot handle. Oh, to have had a DMX back then. Oppie www.chordsmen.org As I recall, the saturable reactor was a transformer with two windings. One of the windings was in series with the input power to the lights. The other winding was provided with a variable DC power. When there was no DC present, the other winding was high impedance to the lamp loads. When the DC was applied the core in the transformer was saturated and the impedance went down as the lights came up! What sort of 'dynamic range' do these things have? How close to zero output can the lights be set? On the other end, how close to 100%? Variac control can go from 0 to something over 100% (I have one with a 110% tap). -- Paul Hovnanian ------------------------------------------------------------------ Power corrupts. And atomic power corrupts atomically. |
#19
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Dimmer history
"Paul Hovnanian P.E." wrote in message ... What sort of 'dynamic range' do these things have? How close to zero output can the lights be set? On the other end, how close to 100%? The 'catch' is that the reactor needs to be sized to the load. You don't get that with SCRs. |
#20
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Dimmer history
"Paul Hovnanian P.E." wrote in message ... What sort of 'dynamic range' do these things have? How close to zero output can the lights be set? On the other end, how close to 100%? Variac control can go from 0 to something over 100% (I have one with a 110% tap). Reactors and rheostats were both an impedance that was inserted in series with the lighting load. They had some severe limitations in how they could be used and the useful dimming range that could be achieved. When the Variac (originally trademarked by General Radio, 1934-2002 ) came out, it was almost immediately accepted as the preferred means of dimming. The Variac was still preferred for dimming in the early days of SCR dimmers for a couple of reasons. Early SCR dimmers simply were not robust enough for live use. When a lamp blows, the filament vaporizes and for an instant, a low impedance arc forms. That often draws enough current to cause a SCR to short out. The other reason was the nasty risetimes that were both radiated from all wiring and coupled back to the line... all of which wrecked havoc on live sound systems. I spent way too much time trying to phase the lines and lifting/moving grounds on the sound systems to minimize buzz from the dimming systems. btw- I remember seeing ganged Variacs that were motor driven to dim very large loads like the theatre house lights. Was neat at the time to have pushbutton dimming (two buttons: one for dim/down and the other for brite/up) Oppie |
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