Someone on the DAW-Mac list recommended trying Lutron Skylark dimmers
before taking the plunge for variacs. The rational was that they're
comparatively inexpensive, so if they work, one would save a bundle over
using variacs. It was suggested that they *should* work in most
settings.

Does anyone know anything about these? Know how they work? Know what
makes them different than other dimmers? Tried them and had either
success or failure?

Thanks!

--
"It CAN'T be too loud... some of the red lights aren't even on yet!"
- Lorin David Schultz
in the control room
making even bad news sound good

(Remove spamblock to reply)

"Lorin David Schultz" wrote ...
Someone on the DAW-Mac list recommended trying
Lutron Skylark dimmers before taking the plunge for
variacs. The rational was that they're comparatively
inexpensive, so if they work, one would save a bundle
over using variacs. It was suggested that they *should*
work in most settings.

Does anyone know anything about these? Know how
they work? Know what makes them different than other
dimmers? Tried them and had either success or failure?

Lutron's FAQ claims that some of their products (like
the "Skylark") use "lamp debuzzing coils" ("LDC") or
what non-marketing people would call a snubbing choke
or inductor. This is the same technology used in larger
theatrical dimmers to limit the dv/dt (risetime) of the
current. This tends to minimize radiated/conducted
RFI. The inductors in theatrical dimmer channels are
something around the size of a large donut or bigger.
Seems unlikely that the "LDC" in the Lutron units are
that big.

I have not used them myself, so I can't vouch for their
effectiveness. But I would believe that they likely do
the job in certain situations. But I would also bet that
you can't reliably predict where they will or won't work
without actually trying it.

http://www.lutron.com/service/FAQ.asp

Looks like they have RFI filters on them. See the FAQ at that link. Near the
bottom.



"Lorin David Schultz" wrote in message
news:dBa0g.13519$Zl.3091@edtnps89...
Someone on the DAW-Mac list recommended trying Lutron Skylark dimmers
before taking the plunge for variacs. The rational was that they're
comparatively inexpensive, so if they work, one would save a bundle over
using variacs. It was suggested that they *should* work in most settings.

Does anyone know anything about these? Know how they work? Know what
makes them different than other dimmers? Tried them and had either
success or failure?

Thanks!

--
"It CAN'T be too loud... some of the red lights aren't even on yet!"
- Lorin David Schultz
in the control room
making even bad news sound good

(Remove spamblock to reply)

Lorin David Schultz wrote:

Does anyone know anything about these? Know how they work? Know what
makes them different than other dimmers? Tried them and had either
success or failure?

I have done remote work in places that use them, and they can be noisy,
but they aren't as bad as the cheapies. I wouldn't put them in a studio,
though, except maybe for something that can be turned off during sessions.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Know what makes them different than other dimmers?
I don´t know the Lutron Skylark dimmers. But as one aspect, you may
check if the dimmer is equipped with an IGBT semiconductor or a
conventional TRIAC.
IGBTs exhibit a less slew rate than dimmers with TRIAC elements, which
leads to less RFI (electrical interferences, coupling into audio lines)
and less audible noise of the lamp filament.
Also IGBT dimmers don´t need big inductors (expensive), which are
mandatory for TRIAC dimmers. Too, these inductors (and also the
capacitors in the gate sector of TRIAC circuits) tend to give an
audible acoustic buzzing noise.

Thorsten

"Lorin David Schultz" wrote in message
news:dBa0g.13519$Zl.3091@edtnps89...
Someone on the DAW-Mac list recommended trying Lutron Skylark dimmers
before taking the plunge for variacs. The rational was that they're
comparatively inexpensive, so if they work, one would save a bundle over
using variacs. It was suggested that they *should* work in most settings.

Does anyone know anything about these? Know how they work? Know what
makes them different than other dimmers? Tried them and had either
success or failure?

Thanks!

I started one of those threads recently because my paper is installing a
small recording room for voiceovers and podcasts. I had asked about dimmers
because our building people were insisting on having them. I knew that they
would balk at the cost of Variacs. I looked into the room (still under
construction) yesterday and they have indeed installed Skylarks. It will be
a few more weeks before I can report back but I'm hopeful.

dave