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Grafik Eye Question

post #1 of 12
4/24/12 at 11:34am
Thread Starter 
I've read through the entire Grafik Eye sticky and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I have a couple of questions, but first let me describe my setup:

My theater has (will have) 3 Zones:
- 2 wall mounted sconces in the rear
- 2 2' LED rope lights on the two steps leading up to the rear seating
- 3 can lights in front of the screen

I'm looking to create 3 scenes (I think):
1 - Clean up - All lights on immediately
2 - Access/Intermission - Stair lights and rear sconces fade to 25%
3 - Off/Watching a Movie - All lights fade to off
*I'm not sure if #3 counts as a scene or not.

I've already wired the room as follows
chained the two scones together and run a wire to the switch
chained the two LED rope lights together and run a wire to the switch
chained the three cans together and run a wire to the switch

I'm planning to control the lighting scenes via my HTPC and/or Logitech Harmony Remote

My questions:
Which Grafik Eye do you recommend? I'm looking to buy something used and don't want to spend a million dollars. I'm hoping no more than $400.

I was planing to run a single feed directly from the breaker to the Grafik Eye to power all 7 lights. Based on load this should be okay, but I was a bit confused if the Grafik Eye wanted a separate feed for each zone.

Is there some kind of add on I need to purchase in order to have my remote/HTPC control the Grafik Eye's IR? I already have an IR transmitter for the HTPC, but will the Grafik Eye need something extra?

Thanks!
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post #2 of 12
4/24/12 at 12:05pm
Yeah, that thread is kind of a bear to navigate through and find a quick answer.

The GRX-3104 would be a good choice. 4 zones so you have an extra in case you want to add another zone. There are a few on ebay now listed at $400. If you are patient, you may find a better deal (I found my 3106 (6 zones) for $300 on ebay a while back). There is also a 3103 (3 zones), but those can be harder to find. Each zone can handle 25-800 watts, so make sure your rope light zone is at least 25 watts. The other zones should be ok. A single feed from your panel to the Grafic Eye, then from the GE out to each zone is correct. Can't help you on the remote issue, as I don't have mine hooked up just yet.

Here's a link to the installation guide for the 3000 series.

Grafik Eye Install Guide
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post #3 of 12
4/24/12 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the quick reply GWCR, that was exactly the answer I was looking for!
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post #4 of 12
4/24/12 at 1:41pm
Thread Starter 
I just thought of another related question.... the 25 watt minimum, is that per lamp, or cumulative lamps on one line? eg if I had 2 12.5watt LED ropes that would be 25watts total, so would that work?

Thanks!
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post #5 of 12
4/24/12 at 2:22pm
Cumulative on that zone.
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post #6 of 12
4/24/12 at 3:10pm
Given only 3 zones and pretty basic scene settings, you should also consider the Lutron Spacer system. Will set you back $150 or less. This can also be controlled by IR with Harmony remote.
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post #7 of 12
4/24/12 at 3:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GWCR View Post

The GRX-3104 would be a good choice.

+1 - I have four zones, and used that model, and it was worked flawlessly. Single power run from the breaker for all four zones; and I control it with a Harmony 880 (firing over my shoulder to the GrafikEye on the back wall - should have run some kind of extender from my IR repeater to the GrafikEye, but its not too bad as is).
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post #8 of 12
4/24/12 at 4:41pm
Thread Starter 
Would I require something like the GRX-CIR Wallstation in order to be able to control it via IR, or does the wall unit accept IR if I point my remote or repeater at it?
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post #9 of 12
4/24/12 at 4:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by willscam View Post

Given only 3 zones and pretty basic scene settings, you should also consider the Lutron Spacer system. Will set you back $150 or less. This can also be controlled by IR with Harmony remote.

Would I need to have 3 switches, one for each zone? Or how does that work?
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post #10 of 12
4/24/12 at 4:53pm
PM me if you are interested in a 3104.
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post #11 of 12
4/24/12 at 4:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vandak View Post

Would I require something like the GRX-CIR Wallstation in order to be able to control it via IR, or does the wall unit accept IR if I point my remote or repeater at it?

Nope, just point and shoot, it has an IR receiver built in. You'd only need to hook it up to your repeater if your IR receiver for the repeater isn't close to the GrafikEye, and you want to be able to have a lighting control command integrated with a larger HT "macro" - like "dim the lights, set AVR to HDMI1 input, and tell the media player to start a movie". In my case, my IR repeater's "eye" is above the screen, and the GrafikEye is on the back wall - so I point it over my shoulder to dim the lights, then point towards the screen to control the blu-ray player, receiver, HTPC, etc - not integrated into a single command.
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post #12 of 12
4/24/12 at 6:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vandak View Post

Would I require something like the GRX-CIR Wallstation in order to be able to control it via IR, or does the wall unit accept IR if I point my remote or repeater at it?

It has an IR receiver on the front, so just point away. If you get one of the QS models, they also have a rear IR input so you can hard-wire IR to it and not have to worry about pointing...

Also, check on the pricing of the "wireless" vs. "non-RF" models. They may be the same price now - the RF models would allow you to expand later with the RadioRA2 system. No-brainer if it's the same cost!

Jeff
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