Thread: Using LightningFX as a dimmer?

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So I just recently ran across the i-zombie dimmer box and was curious to know if there's a way to use the lightningFX boxes in the same way? Maybe there's a hack to get it to work like the dimmer box?

Thoughts?

Question lets say for a lamp trying to dim why not get some extension cord and wire a dimmer switch inline and in a project box? Or am i missing somthing?

I'd like for it to work in the opposite of how the lightningFX box works. So instead of turning on/increasing the brightness of a light when triggered by an audio clip, I want it to dim the lights when triggered by an audio clip.

How about putting the dimmer switch between the fx box and the lamp? Would that work?

Nevermind i see what you mean now

are you trying to have the internal lighting dim and flicker as the lightning is flashing outside ? if so, you could wire up a 110 volt relay with a plug and plug it into the output of your lightning FX box. then run 110 volts through the NC contacts of your relay to a plug for your internal lighting. whenever the output of the FX box activates it will hit the relay and open the contacts to your internal lighting causing them to flicker as the lightning outside is flashing. I am not saying this one be as good as the I Zombie effect, but if you already have the FX box, it would be much cheaper and should still produce a nice effect.

this is all i could think of as well, but you would need a solid state relay and not an electro mechanical relay as the contacts of the EM relay would wear out quickly. this would also only allow the lights to go on and off with the lightning but not dim.

Originally Posted by Diabolik

are you trying to have the internal lighting dim and flicker as the lightning is flashing outside ? if so, you could wire up a 110 volt relay with a plug and plug it into the output of your lightning FX box. then run 110 volts through the NC contacts of your relay to a plug for your internal lighting. whenever the output of the FX box activates it will hit the relay and open the contacts to your internal lighting causing them to flicker as the lightning outside is flashing. I am not saying this one be as good as the I Zombie effect, but if you already have the FX box, it would be much cheaper and should still produce a nice effect.

Originally Posted by guitarist155

this is all i could think of as well, but you would need a solid state relay and not an electro mechanical relay as the contacts of the EM relay would wear out quickly. this would also only allow the lights to go on and off with the lightning but not dim.

I wonder if you could do anything with this setup if you experimented using the relay and possibly a capacitor across your lighting circuit ? wondering if the cap could sustain the lighting for short periods as it drained to give you a dimming effect until the relay engages again to return it to full brightness ?

We made a plug-in box with 6 dimmable light sources.
Then plugged that into the outlet on the back of the "Lightning F/X" box. It works great & we can control the light level, to brighter or darker flickers or flashes. Plus it saves money on buying regular light bulbs vs flicker flame bulbs.

Originally Posted by Haunty

We made a plug-in box with 6 dimmable light sources.
Then plugged that into the outlet on the back of the "Lightning F/X" box. It works great & we can control the light level, to brighter or darker flickers or flashes. Plus it saves money on buying regular light bulbs vs flicker flame bulbs.

can you provide additional info? Thanks in advance