I. Components needed to ring a telephone with a DMX2dim
A. An old style land line phone
B. An RC4Magic Series 3 DMX2dim
1. This will need to be configured with a special dimmer curve that selects the AC wave generatorAC wave generatorAn AC wave generator creates alternating current (AC) using direct current (DC) electronics and special software. In RC4 Series 3 dimmers, this is done using two 2 DC dimmers in tandem. AC power is needed to make a telephone ring, or make EL wire light up. It is the kind of power that comes from a regular […]
Read more »
C. a small center tap transformerCenter tap transformerA transformer is an electrical power component consisting of two coils of wire wrapped around an iron core. A basic transformer has four wires: the two ends of each coil. If additional wires are added to points within one of the coils, these are called taps. A tap in the middle of a coil is […]
Read more »
1. These can be purchased in electronics shops or online. Here is a list of suitable transformers available from Digikey, an online electronic parts supplier. (If Digikey changes their system and breaks this link, please let us know at support@rc4wireless.com.)
2. The transformer requires a center tap on the secondary side
a. The secondary side is low voltage
b. The primary side is high voltage
c. To ring the bell on a phone, low voltage will go in and high voltage will come out
3. Telephone bells ring when 80 – 100VAC at 20 – 25Hz is applied to the telephone line
D. Set up is shown in this diagram:
II. Configuring the DMX2dim to ring a telephone using Enhanced OneTouchOneTouch™RC4 OneTouch™ uses DMX channel levels to represent channels and curves, which are then adopted by a dimmer when a single small button is pressed. Back in 1993, James David Smith, chief product designer at RC4 Wireless, envisioned a day when wireless dimmers would be so small that there would be no room for rows […]
Read more »
A. RC4 Enhanced OneTouch provides a tight matrix of all available dimmer curves starting at level 20 (absolute decimal level 20, not 20%)
2. This enables users to reach dimmer curves that are not accessible any other way
3. A setting of 30 (not 30%) selects the AC wave generatorAC wave generatorAn AC wave generator creates alternating current (AC) using direct current (DC) electronics and special software. In RC4 Series 3 dimmers, this is done using two 2 DC dimmers in tandem. AC power is needed to make a telephone ring, or make EL wire light up. It is the kind of power that comes from a regular […]
Read more »
(See the complete outline of Enhanced OneTouch curves and associated channel levels.)
B. On the console, set DMX channel 25 to a level of 30
C. Tap and release the Set A ButtonSet A ButtonAll RC4 dimmers have Set buttons for each individual dimmer output. The first button is the Set A button. On a 2-channel device these are Set A and Set B buttons. A 4-channel device adds Set C and Set D. The most common use of the Set button is to assign a DMX channel and […]
Read more » on the DMX2dim
D. Two LEDs on the DMX2dim will illuminate and flicker
a. As the level is increased on the DMX channel, the LEDs on the DMX2dim will become brighter
III. Wiring to the transformer
A. Bring the DMX channel down to zero
B. On the DMX2dim, all positive terminals are common (connected together inside the dimmer)
C. Connect one dimmer positive output terminal on the DMX2dim to the center tap of the transformer secondary (low voltage) coil
1. Connect the dimmer negative output terminals the ends of the transformer coil
2. Soldering or crimping the wires is recommended
IV. Wiring the phone
A .An RJ11 plug can be used on the phone (the North American standard telephone cable)
B .An RJ11 jack can be wired to the transformer primary (high voltage) coil
C. In this example, there are non-standard jacks on the transformer and phone
D. Connect the telephone plug to the transformer jack
E. Bring up channel 25
F. The phone will ring
1. The cadence of the ring is controlled via the DMX channel
2. Typically it is on full
a. Variations in level produces an interesting effect that could be useful in some circumstances
G. When the phone is picked up, the bell will turn off
1. This is part of the internal mechanics and wiring of the phone itself
H. This can be run in a wired configuration using a DMX adapter to the 3.5mm miniplug port on the dimmer