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LED Lighting Tandem ?

Miss the Pontiacs

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I have purchased a number of LED strip lights. The model Phillips Signify FSS470L840-UNV-DIM lamps similar to the pic.
The ballast disconnect has 4 connections, 2 black 2 white.
When I opened the light and found this disconnect I presumed the feed would go in one pair of black|white and then could be jumpered out the other set of black/white to the next light in row. This isn’t the case.

Well what is the second set for?

I have 3 banks of 3 lights and 1 of 4.
It looks like I will have to do electrical nuts with 3 connections, 1 feed, 1 ballast of the light I’m working on and finally a 3rd to the next lamp and then start all over again.

Second ? Since these are dimmable capable I wasn’t planning on buying the factory dimming equipment I was just going to get a LED capable dimmer, off/on switch. Anyone see a problem with that?
 

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cybrdyke

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The ballast disconnect has 4 connections, 2 black 2 white.
When I opened the light and found this disconnect I presumed the feed would go in one pair of black|white and then could be jumpered out the other set of black/white to the next light in row. This isn’t the case.

Why not? That's exactly what they're for.


Second ? Since these are dimmable capable I wasn’t planning on buying the factory dimming equipment I was just going to get a LED capable dimmer, off/on switch. Anyone see a problem with that?

These are dimmable via low voltage, not line voltage. You'll find a purple and gray wiring port on the driver where you'll need to stab in 16AWG solid wire and then run that to your switch/dimmer. A standard LED capable dimmer wont have this ability. Look for Eaton SF10P, or similar.
Good luck,
CD
 

Platonic Solid

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I have purchased a number of LED strip lights. The model Phillips Signify FSS470L840-UNV-DIM lamps similar to the pic.
The ballast disconnect has 4 connections, 2 black 2 white.
When I opened the light and found this disconnect I presumed the feed would go in one pair of black|white and then could be jumpered out the other set of black/white to the next light in row. This isn’t the case.
Why not? That's exactly what they're for.

+1

See page 3 of WAGO spec (link)
 
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Miss the Pontiacs

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Why not? That's exactly what they're for.

These are dimmable via low voltage, not line voltage. You'll find a purple and gray wiring port on the driver where you'll need to stab in 16AWG solid wire and then run that to your switch/dimmer. A standard LED capable dimmer wont have this ability. Look for Eaton SF10P, or similar.
Good luck,
CD

Wasn’t sure about the Wago did a quick bench test and did not see the return voltage on my meter. Then must have just jumped to conclusion or maybe it was a bad connector. I had some help in the garage the other day so just went with the install. Can’t run the feeders at this time but will do a quick test in the next couple of days.

Appreciate the info on the dimmer. There was no actual connection info with the product, but did have hanging info.
2 questions:
1. If I have 3 lights in tandem connected. Do I just common out the 3 lights and run one back to the control? Or by any chance is the first in line capable of doing the dimming for the remaining lights?
2. Would it be allowable do do stranded 16 guage to the purple/grey wires as mine are electrical nut connections and not stab equipped. But unsure of switch end. Just that I have much more use for stranded than solid 16AWG and always end up buying by the roll.

Thanks to you and Platonic for the assistance.

First dive into LEDs might do some funky, coloured ribbon in the future.

My neighbour and a friend from England are the installers so when they wanted to help the bench testing came to a pretty quick end.
 

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Platonic Solid

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Miss the Pontiacs

0-10VDC dimming:
Violet and Gray wires can be 16 or 18Ga stranded or solid. Stranded is typcial.
The 0-10VDC is output from the fixture driver. The dimmer is really nothing more than a potentiometer. When Violet and Gray wires are not connected = max lumen output. When Violet and Gray wires are connected = lowest lumen output (or no lumen output depending on the drivers capabilities).

0-10VDC dimming is a completely separate circuit from the AC line voltage feed.

Dimming multiple fixtures: Jump from fixture to fixture with Violet and Gray wires, ending at dimmer. You can run multiple fixtures with 1 dimmer (staying within the dimmer wattage spec if you are using a dimmer with line On/Off capability). You cannot run more than 1 dimmer to any fixture(s).
 
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Miss the Pontiacs

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Thanks PS appreciate the info.

I have installed the lights running emt between them. The only problem with the lights themselves is one of the lens covers was crushed and unusable.

I finally got an I am sorry how can be of assistance from the manufacturer. It was 12 days after sending it and did not address my original request. GJ members in this thread filled in the details way before getting my form email redirected back at me. Mentioned I was unimpressed with the manufacturers reply and asked a couple of more ?s on the matter. As of today no replies.

I temporarily hooked up to power and all fired up brilliantly I must say. 7k lumens might have helped here:lol_hitti

They are a bit of a PITA to reassemble the LED plate back into the fixture. The snap on lenses I feel should be redesigned to slide on from one end. But with its conduit in the way it is not possible to take off the end plate. The lenses likely if you ever have to take off likely will crack with age etc.

Once the lens covers are on they pretty well give you maybe 25-30% of an uncovered fixture puts out. I’m hoping from the manufacturer that the dimmer is set to full dim. I don’t see using the lens covers with the existing amount light coming with the covers on.

A clear cover would be the answer. I may try and complain on the manufacturer site but with the amount of help I’ve had so far is any indication I’m screwed. :shocking:
I’ll include a pic but it really doesn’t show the difference to well from a light with and one without the lens cover. The uncovered one is angled slightly to the wall and probably doesn’t help with the illustration.
 

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Platonic Solid

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Typical diffusers (lenses) have 80-90% transmittance. I'm sure you can find the lumen output in the Phillips Signify FSS470L840-UNV-DIM literature.

Like I said before: When Violet and Gray wires are not connected = max lumen output. When Violet and Gray wires are connected = lowest lumen output (or no lumen output depending on the drivers capabilities).

What's the X-Y-Z dimensions of your space?
 
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Miss the Pontiacs

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Hi Platonic this is pretty well what I installed. http://svend.net/GJ/Miss the Pontiacs/Miss the Pontiacs.pdf
You may recognize your work.
The diffusers are a more opaque (similar to milk glass) than clear. The lights are approx 10’ from the floor. Will take a pic of diffusers tomorrow. I am looking at getting access to a light meter. I am not kidding when I say easily less than half from a diffuser to no diffuser.
I have to wait for muddling and taping/painting to be completed to try with proper dimmers.

The only thing that might be a problem is the 2 I installed with diffusers are already daisy chained (diffusers) while the 3rd is not tied into the dimmer circuit as yet.
 

Platonic Solid

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LOL - I forgot I'd done that layout. The Philips IES files and literature data are all done with the translucent diffuser - thus the 7273 lumen output should be accurate (unless they sent you the wrong fixture). Bare LEDs are painfully bright and will have narrower focused lumen output than when the diffuser is on. I would not recommend using the fixtures without the diffuser due to LED contamination and uneven distribution. Painting walls and ceiling will have a significant impact on overall results. (Recommend standard flat ceiling white for ceiling and eggshell sheen white for walls).

70|50|20 Ceiling|Wall|Floor reflectance yields 87fc @ 30" workplane (as shown in report)
if I change surface reflectance to 30|30|20 results drop to 72fc ...

I don't think you need a dimmer unless you're looking for the mood lighting/man cave option.
 
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