POWER SUPPLY NOTES

Dimming

With the exception of the regulating transformers, all of the power supplies Translite supplies can be dimmed.

The switch or dimmer is always located on the primary (120 volt) side of the transformer, never on the secondary (12 volt) side.

Always use dimmers manufactured specifically for the type of transformer selected. There are two types of dimmers generally used one is for electronic solid state transformers and the other is for magnetic transformers. Always use a low voltage dimmer with a magnetic transformer. With electronic transformers a regular incandescent dimmer (the common one found at any hardware store) is usually fine. This type may be used with any of the electronic transformers supplied by Translite. Using a dimmer also has the effect of dropping the output voltage to the lamps even when full on . Typically this is about 8% or 1 volt.

Noise and Buzzing

When a dimmer is used, noise in the form of a buzzing sound can result from two sources the transformer and the filament of the lamp. In both cases this is usually worse in the mid range of the dimmer. Both noises can be reduced with the use of a choke or debuzzing coil. This can be ordered as part of the power supply in all of our PS2, PS2-600, and PS6 models. In extreme cases, such as a quite room with hard surfaces (like a library), it is desirable to locate the power supply outside the room. Electronic transformers generally produce less noise but cannot be remoted because of voltage drop problems. In installations where there are monopoints using 60 watt toroidal transformers in the canopy and there is no room for the choke, then the dimmer manufacturer should provide their own chock which can be remotely located. All electronic transformers supplied for use with out products have RFI filtering.

Electronic vs Magnetic

A magnetic transformer is simply two coils of copper wire wound around a steel core. Current is induced in the secondary coil by the alternating current in the primary coil. There is very little to go wrong! If the transformer is not overloaded and correctly installed, it should give years of trouble-free performance. Magnetic transformers need external protective devices.

Electronic transformers are not really transformers at all, but work, like dimmers do, by rapidly switching the current on and off. You can think of them like a dimmer permanently turned down to a 12 volt output setting. Because of the heat they produce, and the sheer number of different electronic components in an electronic transformer, they are inherently less reliable than magnetic transformers. This should be given particular consideration in commercial applications where the lights are on many hours a day.

POWER SUPPLIES