Multi-function Controller and Transformer in one

[docjon]

Hi,

I plan on making the jump to computer controlled lights this year, and from what i have heard plugpacks (wall-warts) don't like to be turned on and off all night. So i plan on replacing all the plugpack with a few torroidal transformers. The only problem i have with this is that on about 6 sets of lights the transformer and multi-function controller are built into one unit.

I was just wondering if anyone elso has come across a unit like this and is there a way that i can use a different transformer for the set of lights.

Thanks
Brenton

[klanger]

Hi Brenton,
Do you still want to use the multi-function controller? If not you can discard the transformer/controller and just atach the wires direct to a ssr.

Does the contoller have the transformer rating on it?

Looking at the pic of the opened controller there are 3 wires, the wire out on its own is usually the comomn and the other 2 hook to 2 channels on a ssr if you want to control each string

Kev

[daviddth]

Yep I have done that with almost the same sort of controller as well as the more common controllers in line. Chop them off, with the common to the 24V "Neutral" and the 2, 3 or 4 section wires go to individual SSR's

[docjon]

Thanks for the fast reply guys.

I don't need to use the multifunction controller.

So from what you have said, i can take all of my sets of lights, cut off the controllers and then have controll over each section of lights in the set?

Attached are 2 pictures of the transformers i have, the first is of the multi and transformer in one, the other is of just a normal plugpack.
So presuming that the rest of my transformers are all like these, and presuming that i would take each set of lights and divide it into either 2 or 3 sections (depending on how it is wired), would i just need a 24v toroidal transformer to connect to the SSR?

And also how many SSR boards would i be able to power off of a single transformer, presuming that each SSR channel has one of these single sections connected to it?

By the looks of it i might be having to double my channel count :)

Thanks
Brenton

[daviddth]

1.25A sets - you can run 10 of them off one 24V 300VA transformer. The other set you can run about 13 sets off the 1 transformer. I find the surrents listed on most of my sets are a little higher than what they draw in reality, so you could possibly run 1 or 2 more sets of each on the transformers.

In the second thumbnail on the first post, see how theres 3 wires, well the one on the left is PROBABLY the common and the other 2 the 2 circuits on the string. Lets say that 1.25A string is used as 2 channels, well each SSR will only be handling 0.625A each, so you could quite easily put 2 sets (Assuming they are chasers) on the SSR pair (Each one would draw 1.25A per SSR, which is about as high as I'd like to run them without a heatsink), thus saving you some $ in the setup. For instance I have 4 channel chasers here, but I run 3 sets of lights from the 1 SSR, so each of the 4 SSR's run 1 of the 4 channels, and each set only draws 0.6A per SSR, so next year I'll double that up and run 6 sets of lights per SSR, peaking it at 1.2A and saving me 4 channels for no loss in function.

[docjon]

Thanks for the reply David.

It now all makes sense and it has certainly opened up alot more options for me to look at.

So its back to the drawing board for me, time to work out exactly what i am going to need for my first controlled display.
Whilst on that topic, How many Renard64's can i run from one Ren-T?
And am i right in thinking that the Ren-T takes the 240v mains power straight into it and then changes it to suit the Renard64 boards.

Thanks again
Brenton

[daviddth]

2 ren64's from 1 ren-t. I personally made my onw nren-t replacement that sends just the ZC signal to the board, and I use a seperate 5V supply for the board power... well thats the ren-c setup and the plan for the ren64 which is almost built now