Xitanium dimming driver question

[LLCoolBeans]

First of all let me apologize if I have posted this in the wrong forum. This seemed to be the best fit, though Xitanium drivers aren't really "flashlight" electronics. There was no forum for AC lamp electronics.

Anyway, I'm confused about dimming the dimmable Xitanium. The website provides a document outlining "compatible dimmers", which contains a huge list of very expensive and wacky contraptions. Am I missing something here!? Can't I just use a regular old run of the mill potentiometer?

 

[Mr Happy]

Anyway, I'm confused about dimming the dimmable Xitanium. The website provides a document outlining "compatible dimmers", which contains a huge list of very expensive and wacky contraptions. Am I missing something here!? Can't I just use a regular old run of the mill potentiometer?

Maybe you are missing something? I read the link you referred to and it listed various makes and models of mains lamp dimmers. That seems quite logical for a mains powered AC lighting device.

What did you have in mind when you said potentiometer? A potentiometer is almost never a practical dimming device for lights, whether low voltage or high voltage.

 

[LLCoolBeans]

You are going to have to bear with me as my knowledge of electronics is pretty weak.

Here is a DC driver that uses an external pot to vary the output to the LEDs.
http://www.leddynamics.com/LuxDrive/datasheets/3021-BuckPuck.pdf

I thought maybe the Xitanium could use a similar setup only with a heavier rating pot.

I am looking at using one of these inside a floor lamp. The only small sized dimmer units on that list fit into a standard AC light switch box. That's way too big to work for the application. Plus, when you can find them availible retail they cost upwards of $100. I just need a knob.

 

[Mr Happy]

Ah, I am with you. The interesting phrase in that BuckPuck link is "external dc analog voltage intensity control". It does seem reasonable to expect Xitaniums to have some feature like that. Maybe it is more of a professional feature than a home consumer feature?

On the other hand, perhaps you could use a BuckPuck for your light instead? You could maybe run the light from a wall wart adapter providing the required low voltage input instead of powering it directly from the AC mains?

 

[LLCoolBeans]

Ah, I am with you. The interesting phrase in that BuckPuck link is "external dc analog voltage intensity control". It does seem reasonable to expect Xitaniums to have some feature like that. Maybe it is more of a professional feature than a home consumer feature?

So, that's a no, I take it.

On the other hand, perhaps you could use a BuckPuck for your light instead? You could maybe run the light from a wall wart adapter providing the required low voltage input instead of powering it directly from the AC mains?

Yup, I already ordered the buck puck and planned on doing just that. I'm just asking because it would be nice in future projects to combine the transformer and driver into an all in one unit that can be just plugged into the wall.

 

[Mr Happy]

So, that's a no, I take it.

Take it as more of a "don't know". I'm not familiar with Xitaniums, but what you were asking does seem like a reasonable request.