Fading Lights Unit

[[email protected]]

I need to build, or have built, a little unit that controls the rate of
fading up & down for lights (or any other 120VAC). It would be
triggered by some sort of input switch- doesn't matter- physical
switch, light sensor, sound, etc. So, in esscence, you would set the
fade in rate, the fade out rate, the max brightness level, and plug in
a light. Then- when it is triggered on, it fades the light in at the
rate you dialed in, to the max brightness level. When the switch is
triggered off, it fades the light back out at the preset rate. Output
would be some sort of 120VAC capable of handling, oh, 300-500 watts or
so.

I know very little about electronics- definitely not enough to build
one of these myself. How difficult would this be? And, who/where would
I go to have it designed/built for me?

Thanks!

 

[[email protected]]

I'll like to try a project like this. When you say "rate you dialed in"
you mean its rate of fading on/off is going going to be programmable or
just a single rate?

 

[[email protected]]

Yeah- so- there would be a dial that I can turn up or down to adjust
how long it takes for a light to fade in/out. So, say <1sec to 30sec to
fade in. Let's say I set it at 10sec. Then, I could set the on time
(same way- with a dial) and the fade out rate all the same way. NOW-
the 'on time' portion would need to be able to be bypassed so that my
switch can control it directly (off/on at the switch), OR, I could turn
that function on and set the on time.

So- for example- I dial these settings-

Fade in - 4 sec
On time- NONE- switch controlled
Fade Out- 6 sec

Then- my switch is triggered and the lights begin to fade in. It would
take 4 sec for them to acheieve full brightness. Then, the switch is
turned off and it takes 6 sec to go from it's current brightness to
off. HOWEVER- lets say I trigger the switch, but at 2 sec into it, I
turn it off again- it would need to IMMEDIATELY start fading out. And,
then let's say at 4.5sec during the fade out, I flip the switch, it
would need to start fading back up again- smoothly. The switch will be
triggered off of music- probably a 'color organ', so the on/off pattern
will be fairly quick. Does that make sense?

So, the controls would be in the form of a knob that the user could
turn at will.

 

[Rich Grise]

Yeah- so- there would be a dial that I can turn up or down to adjust
how long it takes for a light to fade in/out. So, say <1sec to 30sec to
fade in. Let's say I set it at 10sec. Then, I could set the on time
(same way- with a dial) and the fade out rate all the same way. NOW-
the 'on time' portion would need to be able to be bypassed so that my
switch can control it directly (off/on at the switch), OR, I could turn
that function on and set the on time.

So- for example- I dial these settings-

Fade in - 4 sec
On time- NONE- switch controlled
Fade Out- 6 sec

Then- my switch is triggered and the lights begin to fade in. It would
take 4 sec for them to acheieve full brightness. Then, the switch is
turned off and it takes 6 sec to go from it's current brightness to
off. HOWEVER- lets say I trigger the switch, but at 2 sec into it, I
turn it off again- it would need to IMMEDIATELY start fading out. And,
then let's say at 4.5sec during the fade out, I flip the switch, it
would need to start fading back up again- smoothly. The switch will be
triggered off of music- probably a 'color organ', so the on/off pattern
will be fairly quick. Does that make sense?

No, it doesn't. First you say you want it to fade in and out both at the
same rate, then you want two rates, then you want a third dial for
on-time, and then you say you want to control it with a color organ?

Nope, no sense at all.

Sorry,
Rich