Dimming 10 to 15 amps of lighting on 110?

Projects General Guidance
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Hello, I'm working on a project with a friend of mine that has a bunch of spot lights each Led build is dimmable. However Can't find a good controller that can dimm between 10a to 15a worth of lighting. We are going to make one. Just don't know how to go about it.

Each light current is almost 1a. there are 10 in a link and some has 15 in a link. each link has there own breaker. All the dimmer controllers We find only has 3 to 5 amps max.

Asking the community if there something out there that can handle up to 20amps of dimming?

Joseph

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Schematic or block diagram needed.

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@Paul_KD7HB I don't have any of that. It's just a bunch of down lights. I can draw something up. It will be messy just be warned.

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light1501×837 16 KB

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Tough decision on that 110 or 220 V?

How many links (rows) are we talking here?

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There are 5 rows. Row 1, 2, 3 has 10 links. Row 4 has 15 links and row 5 has 5 links. After we switched to all LEd lighting each light takes 0.98amps. Each row has its own breaker and a light switch. that is how it was wired up a long time ago. not sure why it was wired up that way and Honestly I think it's overkill but I'm going to keep it like that.

They are 110v sorry.

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One LED is connected directly to 110 V, or are they in series?

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They are all in series one right after another. Just like if you are putting multiple outlets on the same breaker.

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Not knowing your experience or you background or your friend's I highly recommend getting some commercial dimmers, they are not that expensive. The life you save may be yours.

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@gilshultz I build hardware for a living for the past 30 years. I can wire up a building with no problem. My skills are in hardware not software. Some software I can do, For me it's not a problem.

Trying to build a smart system that he can control and be able to dimm when needed.

1 Like
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That means that there will be a difference between 10 and 15 links. The ones with 15 will be less bright, and a lot.

Now they are not in series anymore, but in parallel?

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@ledsyn Sorry they are in parallel. I was thinking of some left stuff we are going to do soon as well.

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Sorry I had no way of knowing! Check this link, it should get your started but you will have to size the components appropriately.

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Ok simple math: 3 x 10 x 1 A = 30 A, and 2 x 15 x 1 A = 30, in total 60 A. His utility is rated for that much?

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@gilshultz The problem is current. I can't find an off the shelf up to 20 amps that I can interface with arduino to be able to control it in any way.

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Oh yeah.

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@ledsyn @gilshultz My problem is I can't find a controller that I can do 20 amps and be able to control to turn off and off the each string of lights and be able to dim them using arduino. Everything I found is between 3 to 5 amps the most. That is why I need help.

Well for the 15 string lights I say right around 30 amps. I like to double the amount just incase of whatever later on.

Edit: One thing I forgot to mention All wiring is 12/3 for the 10 string lights and 10/3 for the 15 string light.

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Ok, just checking.

Link to those LED modules?

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@ledsyn There is no modules. They are just can lights with no bulbs in them that is all.

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This is some North America standard? I live in Europe.

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@ledsyn as far as I know and have read.