Re: CBus power usage

[Kevin Hawkins <yahoogroupskh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The C-Bus relays could do this automatically (on above 0 level)  but
it
would be horribly expensive.  It would seem that having a set of relays,
one per dimmer channel,  that all could be switched from one 'not at
home'  C-Bus group, could be cost effective. Currently John's idle costs
are £100 a year ! Some of this is unavoidable of course during
occupancy
- and 20% would be required for the low voltage power 24/7 if C-Bus was
to be left operational , as I think it should be..

I wonder if there's a way to interrupt the power feed to the dimmer
triacs separate to the supply to the internal low voltage PSU ?  I
wonder if that's what the wire bridge between the A/L terminal live
feeds does ?

Alternatively specifying your C-Bus power supplies be within relay
modules rather than dimmers might be very sensible. Then C-Bus could run
24/7 and you could cut off the input mains supply to the dimmers right
up until occupied or even until the time one channel on the specific
dimmers was required (might cause erratic jumps) .   You could also
manage your allocation of loads to DIN modules to maximise this saving..
some modules off and some on.

Actually I believe the internal C-Bus electronics of dimmer modules that
lose their power continue to run deriving power from elsewhere if there
is sufficient, so again by using relay based power supplies, or
standalone units you might be able to work around this.  My C-Bus
network is substantially over supplied with power - which I know is not
ideal  (as I'm sure Phil will warn me).  Maybe I can disable a dimmer LV
PSU.

Interesting... an appreciable cost I had never expected...

K



Keith Doxey wrote:
>
> I don't know if Cbus do a module that could drive external relays, but
if
> they do you could add relays either between the dimmer and mcb or
after the
> mcb to physically disconnect the loads.
>
> Of course you then have to spend more on hardware and program the
system so
> that whenever a dimmer is above 0% that you arrange for the associated
relay
> to be operated as well.
>
> Then you have to work out if the extra hardware cost justified the
savings,
> or whether just dimming slightly would be more econimical in the long
run!!!
>
> <cross thread alert>
> BTW.. Wishing I HADNT bought a current cost because I cant get my
> consumption down atm. Currently using around 30 kWh per day
> </cross thread alert>
>
> Keith
>
>
>
>
>> Keith,
>>
>> Interesting idea about turning the MCB's off.
>>
>> I have 40 channels currently in use. With the main circuits
>> on but the MCBs off, it would appear that the CBus modules,
>> switches & PIRs are only taking about 20w in total - very
>> acceptable. The rest appears to be being gobbled up after the
>> MCB - so I guess the transformers. I'm going to have a longer
>> play later and literally go circuit by circuit to see where
>> the biggest culprits are.
>>
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>



------------------------------------