Dimmer to simulate Dawn and Dusk

[zhavener]

I am looking for a timer that has a built in dimmer to simulate dawn and dusk for my birds (really more Dusk as there is a window to the outside in their aviary) Id like to find one that I can put an incandesent bulb on to simulate dusk when my Flourescent lights go out.

Any Ideas?

[L in Ontario]

Some of us use a string of Christmas lights behind the cages to provide a soft nightlight through the dark hours. And we have them on timers to overlap the daytime lights by 5 or 10 minutes.

[Finch Fry]

Finding a light that provides not only the proper lighting (full spectrum) for the birds AND being dimmable is a task. When you find it, expect to pay over 30 dollars for one bulb. I nixed the idea and did as Liz does and have a 10 ft string of 50 cent red Christmas lights strung out across the cages that light up 15 minutes before bed time and 15 minutes after lights on in the AM.

After a few weeks, my birds have been trained to know that lights are going off when the christmas lights kick on. They all usually stop what they are doing and head to their sleeping positions and/or nests. They are usually fast asleep by the time the main light kicks off.

[zhavener]

I like the Christmas lights idea and will try that If i cant find a dimmer. I have flourescent full spectrum lights and a window that gets great sunlight in their aviary. I dont think a full spectrum incandescent light will be needed for the dimming feature. As im hoping to find a dimmer that can dim up the lights in the morning and be cut off when the flourescent lights come on and dim down the lights after the flourescent lights turn off.

[ikhom]

Several years ago I bought SmartHome controller and X-10 dimmers and switches on e-Bay. Dimmers and switches are cheap, controller is more expensive but I like it. You can program it from your computer using USB cable and forget about it. Controller has a lot of memory and a battery in case power goes out. I set my birds lights to go off at sunset. I have an aquarium that turns on and off and specific times. Dimmers could be programmed to turn on and off to specific levels. There are lots of options to add additional devices as you need them. But there are also cons in this technology.

[ac12]

ikhom
I have some of the X10 stuff.
The problem w the dimmer is when you turn it ON.
I have not been able to figure out how to have it start OFF, then gradually brighten.

It turns ON at 100% brightness, then you have to dim to the desired level, then increase in steps to get back up to 100%
IOW a bad design.

Turning OFF on the other hand, works find as you turn ON to 100%, then dim in steps, then finally turn it OFF.

[gouldianscy]

this is what I use. See a photo here on my website

http://ladygoulds.blogspot.com/2009/07/ ... -room.html

[ac12]

I am jealous of your set up. Mine is crude in comparison.

[ikhom]

You are right ac12.
Today I tried to control x10 dimmer with PowerLinc V2 USB #2414U controller and dimming function doesn't work.

[ac12]

ikhom
I think I figured out how to make the X10 system work.

You need to use 2 light circuits
#1 daytime cage lights
#2 night lights (incandescent, to allow for dimming)

Method #1

circuit 1 - cage lights (flourescent, does not dim)
7am ON
8pm OFF

circuit 2 - night lights (incandescent lamps to allow diming)
745pm ON
810pm dim 80%
820pm dim 60%
830pm dim 40%
( night light stays at 40% dim for the night)
630am dim 60%
640am dim 80%
650am dim 100%
730am OFF

Method #2

circuit 1 - cage light (incandescent, to allow evening dimming)
7am ON (100%)
8pm dim 80%
810pm dim 60%
820pm dim 40%
830pm dim 20%
840pm OFF

circuit 2 - night lights (incandescent lamps to allow dimming)
745pm ON
825pm dim 80%
8355pm dim 60%
845pm dim 40%
( night light stays at 40% dim for the night)
630am dim 60%
640am dim 80%
650am dim 100%
730am OFF

You don't get a smooth increase in brightness in the morning, but it is better than the suddenly on at full brightness method.

[ikhom]

ac12,
I’m glad it is working for you, but in my case I can’t control dimming function of X10 dimmer with my controller. I can only turn lights on and off. Originally, I’d chosen SmartHome controller because of its functions and X10 switches and dimmers because of its price. Unfortunately, they tell you that SmartHome works fine with X10, but on their forum I read that they took off support for the X10 dimmers.
I’m sure that SmartHome controllers work fine with SmartHome dimmers and it could be the best way to set up the dawn and dusk lights.

[ac12]

SmartHome does not support the dimmers??? That is dumb.

I will have to investigate, as that will crimp my upgrade plans.