[Crash11]

Well I know this is going to come off sounding stupid, but it may help someone else. I know the specs for the spacer system dimmers claim a minimum of 60 watts, but I always questioned what that meant. I was hoping it was only the ability to dim happens above 60 watts, but apparently they mean all function whatsoever. I just ran an experiment with my step lights which only draw 14 watts total. I was hoping the dimmer would at least power them to full on or full off. I didn't care to dim them at all because they are already so small they didn't need any dimming.


So if anyone else is wondering about using a spacer dimmer to control a zone drawing less than 60 watts, forget it. I know this sounds stupid, but I'm hoping I'm not the only idiot on this forum who was curious.


The good news is, once I introduced another 60 watt bulb into the equation everything worked fine, and I could even dim the step lights which were powered by a 12V transformer. So if anyone is wondering about dimming through a transformer, it's no problem with the standard spacer dimmer (sps-600). Now I just have to figure out where I'm going to put this extra light bulb that I don't need.

 

[LeBon]

As I recall, Lutron makes an attachment that allows it to work with less than 60 watts of load - probably just a dummy load add-on.

 

[Mr.Tim]

Yes, it's a chassis mount resistor. You can pick one up at mouser

 

[Crash11]

I was actually thinking of getting a duct fan like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA02D0922962


I wasn't planning on running any HVAC in my basement because it's deeper than most and insulated so it's always comfortable, but since I have to add a load....why not.

 

[BIGmouthinDC]

A well insulated and soundproofed home theater will need cooling even in the winter when you fill it up with friends and turn on the space heater (projector).

 

[kromkamp]

That's funny - in my circumstance I find I would like to have *heating* in the HT in the summer! Not cooling in the winter. Because the room is so insulated he air conditioning is extremely efficient in there (and in the basement in general).

 

[markrubin]

I made a similar mistake with RadioRA2 dimmers


put in a new RR2 system to replace the original RR system


then I upgraded all my bulbs to dimmable LED bulbs


the standard RR dimmer will not see LED bulbs (not enough load) and will "hunt" for a load : the classic solution is to leave one conventional bulb installed in each room:


the proper solution would have been to specify the correct RR2 dimmer that is designed for LED bulbs !