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I first began exploring do-it-yourself (DIY) hardwired lighting 20 years ago by using IBM-PC ISA cards with 8255 parallel input-output (PIO) IC’s. My requirements (except power measurement and switches/interfaces) can be met using off-the-shelf, internationally standardized lighting USITT DMX512 hardware.
Dimmer hardware
One approach is to use a “dimmer pack” that may be rack mounted or modular that has DMX512 inputs, includes the dimmer circuitry, and optionally also accepts 0-10vdc analog control signals. One inexpensive, non-UL example is the Chauvet DMX-35 which provides DMX and analog control of four 7-amp 120AVAC (20 amp max total) dimmers and are widely available for about $120US (~$30/channel). This is much less expensive than high-end X-10, but doesn’t include the significant cost/effort of wiring.
I have also used DMX512 IC’s from
Artistic Licence including the AL4002 IC which provides control
for dimmers.
I have also used a two-way, two-universe, ISA-bus DMX interface from SoundLight - pcdmx.. , The limitation of this approach is that a PC needs to run 24x7 for the motor control to work. But dimming from a “primary” ActiveKnob does not depend on a PC. There are numerous inexpensive DIY interfaces and Linux projects to for DMX .
I have also used the Velleman K8003 (www.velleman.be) analog input dimmer control board and Crydom PCV-series analog-input dimming 25amp SSR’s which have the same form as standard 25amp SSR’s and would be ideal except for price.
