Cheaper retail dimmer alternatives

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theuniverseinanutshell

Member
It's been shared before here how your garden-variety router speed controller can double up as a light dimmer. As these are essentially speed controllers of one sort or another adapted for different tools, could one re-purpose these fan controllers -- https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01LWUTPTI/ -- to competently do the same job? I've been trying to look for lighting dimmers on eBay that are rated 2000w but the only ones available are 800w max. On that note, have anyone had any experience with these China-made offerings they can kindly share?
 
While this doesn't answer your question directly, I've been using Lutron 1000W slider dimmers to make my own "squeezers" for years. I've tried the router speed control boxes and haven't been overly impressed. Yes, they're fully assembled and ready to go, but they don't dim down enough for me at times.
 
Run&Gun said:
While this doesn't answer your question directly, I've been using Lutron 1000W slider dimmers to make my own "squeezers" for years. I've tried the router speed control boxes and haven't been overly impressed. Yes, they're fully assembled and ready to go, but they don't dim down enough for me at times.
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These aren't widely available in the UK, and the models that are will set you off more than a hundred british pounds for a bare unit alone. I was hoping for something maybe half of that if I'm going the DIY route.
 
David W. Jones said:
Something like this? http://www.bartechengineering.com

Not sure of your budget, but if you are in the UK be sure to get the proper voltage dimmer not a US 120 volt unit.
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I don't see any dimmers there, David. The cheap ones you can get on eBay are rated for the UK; 800w for redheads, like this, for example: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Redhead-L...Socket-1-Pc-/121508628721?hash=item1c4a7a88f1. They look identical to the fan speed controllers I saw on Amazon, and for almost the same price, you can get a 2000w rated one (until it was discontinued, that is).
 
theuniverseinanutshell said:
These aren't widely available in the UK, and the models that are will set you off more than a hundred british pounds for a bare unit alone. I was hoping for something maybe half of that if I'm going the DIY route.
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Wow. That's a little steep. The ones that I get: single pole, slider, dedicated ON/OFF switch are ~$40US. Slider only(slide to OFF) version is about $32US. And ones with the really small slider next to the switch are even under $30US. But there are also plenty that are approaching that $100US range.
 
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I always bought the Harbor Freight Router Speed Control to use as a dimmer. I believe it's rated up to 1000w, though I've put 2k fresnels on them in the past (and burned them out, though it lasted the whole shoot).
 
Those Harbor Freight devices are supposed to be good for 1500w, but mine will get pretty warm after a few hours with a couple of BR40 300w bulbs. Quality varies from batch to batch (cheap, Chinese made...do the math). They do work well for dimming practicals on set though.
Ken
 
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