Making Batten Strip, how do I install dimmer?

[Josh Dunleavy]

I've constructed a decent looking 600W Batten strip ("covered wagon"). It's a 4-foot long shelf board with 6 bulb sockets fastened to it, wired up with 6x100W incandescent bulbs.

 

Obviously I need to be able to dim it. I bought something like this from my hardware store: http://www.fruitridgetools.com/fullView.asp?sf=y&nb=1&id='233160445'&img=http://images.marketplaceadvisor.channeladvisor.com/hi/58/57750/EA6000V-EA-2.jpg

 

How do I wire this thing? All the instructions and videos I find are for wall installation - is it stupid for me to even try to build this into my light?

 

I don't want to have to spend the cash on this, as it costs about as much as I spent on the entire light up to this point:

http://www.filmandvideolighting.com/60diwhasq.html

[Christopher Husta]

I've constructed a decent looking 600W Batten strip ("covered wagon"). It's a 4-foot long shelf board with 6 bulb sockets fastened to it, wired up with 6x100W incandescent bulbs.

 

Obviously I need to be able to dim it. I bought something like this from my hardware store: http://www.fruitridgetools.com/fullView.asp?sf=y&nb=1&id='233160445'&img=http://images.marketplaceadvisor.channeladvisor.com/hi/58/57750/EA6000V-EA-2.jpg

 

How do I wire this thing? All the instructions and videos I find are for wall installation - is it stupid for me to even try to build this into my light?

 

I don't want to have to spend the cash on this, as it costs about as much as I spent on the entire light up to this point:

http://www.filmandvideolighting.com/60diwhasq.html

 

I basically just purchase an extension cord from home depot (of the appropriate gauge for your project) chop it in half and make a dimmer that way (I always put everything into a new work box and use an industrial strength face plate as well but there are more appropriate boxes and covers that just shop around/look at professional dimmers). If you want the dimmer permanently attached to your fixture use only the male side of the extension chord. In both cases the male side once chopped and the insulation pulled away will have three wires (green/white/black), these would be what you substitute for power from a breaker running through your walls.

 

Good luck

Chris

[Darrell Ayer]

This is probably the most helpful Step by Step guide I know of for building lighting.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Shot-Dark-Creative-Digital-Lighting/dp/143545863X

 

Good luck, and stay safe.

 

Darrell

[Michael Mastroserio]

Hey man, those things are pretty easy to wire and very helpful. First your going to need both male and female edisons. So something like this...

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/373706-REG/Altman_52_5366C_Edison_5_20P_Connector.html

 

aaand this....

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/392620-REG/Altman_52_5369C_Edison_Connector_Female.html

 

except not as heavy duty, you pick the ones up at the local hardware store or even the ones off filmtools which are real cheap.

 

Now take the green wire and cut it off completely, cut it right down to metal on the device and hold on to that cable as you are going to need it. Now you are left with two black cables coming out the back. So what you are going to do is, take the green cable and shave some of the wire off to expose the copper on both ends. Some plugs require you to do this others bite right through to the copper, so check which edison plugs you have bought. Anyways, take that cable and stick one side into the female and and on into the male end. Then take either black cables coming out the back of the dimmer and stick one of those into the female and the other into the male. So you are left with something that looks like this!

 

Hope this helps!