Relay wiring for fluorescents to normal dimmer

mginster said:

Here is my original post regarding using Lutron dimmers with a circuit that is all fluorescent lights on it.

Can someone point me in the direction of wiring one of these? Also, will it be to code? Also, will it handle about 7 fluorescent tube ballasts?

http://www.diychatroom.com/f18/dimmer-fluorescents-169053/#post1092862

"If you want to control the fluorescent lights with this dimmer, I'd suggest using a relay to control the power to the lights from the lutron dimmer. You can take the output from the dimmer to the relay coil input, then a constant power source to be switched for the lights. This would ensure a clean on/off for the fluorescent lights.

If you need help figuring out how to wire up this relay, just ask. Many of us around here have wired these up and can help you out.

http://www.functionaldevices.com/bui...p?model=RIBU1C"

Click to expand...

I really don't know why you would want to control fluorescent lights with a dimmer controlling a relay. It is a convoluted way of replacing a single pole switch.

The above is what you are asking to do.

A dimmer and fluorescent lights do no work together very well unless you have dimmable ballasts. Adding a relay in the mix does not solve anything.

The link provided is to a relay that is rated for controlling ballasts totaling up to 450VA. I don't know the ratings of your ballasts to even begin to say if it's compatible. The relay is NOT rated for electronic ballasts. The relay will accept either (10-30 volts either AC or DC) or (120V AC) to control the switching of the relay and the relay has a normally open and a normally closed set of contacts to supply your load.

If you don't understand relays, the basic principle is to use one source of power to switch another source of power. Typically used as 24V source switching 120V or 240V loads. Or also typically used as 24V or 120V source switching 480V loads.

parman said:

I really don't know why you would want to control fluorescent lights with a dimmer controlling a relay. It is a convoluted way of replacing a single pole switch.

The above is what you are asking to do.

A dimmer and fluorescent lights do no work together very well unless you have dimmable ballasts. Adding a relay in the mix does not solve anything.

The link provided is to a relay that is rated for controlling ballasts totaling up to 450VA. I don't know the ratings of your ballasts to even begin to say if it's compatible. The relay is NOT rated for electronic ballasts. The relay will accept either (10-30 volts either AC or DC) or (120V AC) to control the switching of the relay and the relay has a normally open and a normally closed set of contacts to supply your load.

If you don't understand relays, the basic principle is to use one source of power to switch another source of power. Typically used as 24V source switching 120V or 240V loads. Or also typically used as 24V or 120V source switching 480V loads.

Click to expand...

I had recommended he use a relay to control the fluorescent lights, and linked to the relay as an example; it's one I've used in the past for controlling small loads. The idea behind the relay was that the dimmer could still be used to control the fluorescent light to simply turn the light on and off. He mentioned in another thread that he has a master controller that will control 4 or 5 dimmers where most of them will be dimmable, but one would be controlling these fluorescent lights.

Using the relay linked to above as an example for wiring, the dimmer would be connected to the coil side, 120 volt connection using the White/Yellow and White/Black wires. The hot for the flourscent light would connect to the relay's C (common) which is the solid Yellow wire, and the constant source hot would connect to the N/O (normally open) or the Orange wire. Connect the neutral of the light to the source neutral. This configuration would require a constant source of power at the junction box to feed the fluorescent lights and a source of power from the dimmer to control the relay. You can feed the constant source of power from the same feed as the dimmer, so long as its connected before the dimmer. It all depends on the current wiring configuration and where you can place the relay.

You will have to determine the load of all the fluorescent lights combined and size a relay to control the load.

Its not different, the only switches in my Aurora set are all dimmers and I want to use one on a circuit with fluorescent lighting.

Here is what I have:

http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Products/Pages/WholeHomeSystems/AuroRA/Overview.aspx

In particular this is the model I have. AuroRa Entry Package (Includes 5 dimmers, 1 car visor control, 1 tabletop master control, 1 main repeater, and 5 designer inserts) AR-ENT-2. In further review I probably should have gotten the one with 2 switches and 3 dimmers, but I got such a good deal I am fine if I need to buy replacement Aurora switches. I just cant justify paying $60 for a replacement switch when I paid $100 for the entire setup.

Well I am almost willing to just buy the $60 switch and be done with it. But...it seems it can only handle a 5A load, yet typical switches are 15A right?

http://www.mrsupply.com/product.php?productid=60572&gclid=CKzixsLs6rQCFcxAMgodYn0ArQ

Will I be fine hooking this up to replace a 15A switch? It runs 2 (12 inch ballasts) and about 5 (36 inch ballasts). More specifically that is 2 12 inch tubes and 10 36 inch tubes. In my calculations that should be no more than 500W of light which is like 4.1A, just at the 80% limit for a 5A switch. Is this right?