DIY Dimmer for just $7.25
Posted on December 14, 2010 in Lighting | 8 Comments
The Frugal Filmmaker demonstrates how to wire a Dimmer switch with a few supplies from the hardware store. Always use caution when working with electricity.
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8 Comments
Just make sure you don’t overload the dimmer.
I think that will depend on what the specs on the dimmer switch are.
And the specs of the wire – that dimmer in the pic is most likely a 300w. Though 500w are easy enough to find.
Whatever you do, don’t plug a 650 into a 500w dimmer. At best, you fry the dimmer. At worst, you set the building on fire.
He says the dimmer is 600 watts in his comments but that wire doesn’t look like it handle it.
I used to have a DIY kit and I rigged a dimmer for each of my lights using just this method and they work well but as you dim the color temperature changes more than slightly.
So if you are picky about color it’s be better to rig up some scrims from screen doors or just pull the lights back some until it’s not as bright.
Good point. I find these dimmers more useful for existing background lamps that might be in a shot. If you are shooting in a living room and you want a lamp on in the background but don’t want it over exposed or drawing more attention than your subject, this is perfect for that.
I wasn’t able to find a decent quality 600w dimmer switch for much under $20. But then I don’t usually dim anything but practicals.
They hide them pretty well:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100068979/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
That’s less than I paid for mine! X(