As far as I understand it the issue is that ECS systems use remote
controlled dimmers because they are only unit that can be
straightforwardly retro-fitted in place of a wall mounted light switch.
Energy saving bulbs are fluorescent (the industry calls them CFL -
compact fluorescent lamp). These lamps can't be dimmed by standard
dimmers as they don't exhibit the same voltage/current characteristics -
they're gas tubes not resistors. Sorry, Simon - halogens are a
different issue.
You can control a ceiling mounted fluorescent lamp by inserting a remote
controlled relay into the circuit, but as far as I'm aware the only way
you can do that with kit currently on the market is by breaking into the
wiring in the roof space - less convenient in bungalows, very awkward in
multi-storey dwellings.
There is a technical difficulty in designing a relay box to retro-fit on
lamp switches - you only have a live input & a switched live out - no
neutral line, so no voltage difference. I believe it could be got
around, but I've not seen it done.
I'm not 100% familiar with dimmable CFLs, but I seem to remember they
use a switching sequence to dim them, which wouldn't work neatly with
ecs. Was it: switch on once for full power, then off, then on again
gives half power? I certainly doesn't solve the problem of remote
switching.
So it is going to cause us great annoyance & I'm already getting
peculiar looks from clients (& one outright refusal) when told we can't
easily deal with energy saving lamps. This must be a large gap in the
market & I would love to see it filled.
Barry
Barry Taylor, Clinical Scientist
Medical Physics Service
Tulley Medical Physics Building, Hull Royal Infirmary
Anlaby Road, Hull HU3 2JZ
Tel: 01482 675928, Fax: 01482 675750
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[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Simon Judge
Sent: 10 December 2008 15:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Environmental control systems and low energy lightbulbs
It is true I think, most EC installs use things like the varilight
(available from B&Q!):
http://tinyurl.com/6d429d
I think it is because the original low energy bulbs that are not,
basically,
dimmable (since they are halogens) - and the varilight switches are
dimmer
switches.
However, as the others have said, apparently dimmable bulbs exist now:
http://www.varilight.co.uk/Pages/page%20digiflux.htm (also by
VariLight!!!).
OR for a fresh install you could try and find IR light switches that
don't
dim...
S
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pat Sweet
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 11:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Environmental control systems and low energy lightbulbs
FAST has recently had a query from someone who has been told that many
existing environmental control systems will not work with energy-saving
lightbulbs. As such lighbulbs will become the norm over the next few
years,
and it's already becoming hard to get hold of 'standard' 100W bulbs, the
person wondered what the solution was.
Can anyone confirm that this is the case? And are environmental
control
systems going to be modified so they can be used to operate low-energy
lightbulbs?
Would be grateful for anyone's advice on this,
Pat
-------------------------------------------------------------
Note new address from 3rd November 2008
Pat Sweet
Researcher
FAST - Foundation for Assistive Technology
31 Scarborough Street
London E1 8DR
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7264 8955
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