Good-looking way to control dimmer?

[mfalkvidd]

Has anyone found a really good-looking (high SAF) input for controlling dimming?

I am replacing my 12V halogen kitchen lights with 5730 led strips.

I like the standard turn-dimmers with push for on/off.

One possible solution is to keep the existing 230V dimmer and buy something like this
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/constant-current-LED-dimmable-driver-36W-DC12V-3mA-3000mA-adjustable-power-supply-lighting-transformer-high-efficiency/32607196671.html

But that's an expensive solution. Also, I don't know how I would control it with MySensors.

Is it possible to buy nice knobs and cases for rotary encoders or potentiometers? I searched Ali but don't seem to find the right keywords.

[hek]

I've thought about this as well. Guess the most SAF(? ;) ) thing would be to replace the inner parts of one of the dimmers you're replacing with a rotary encoder. So you keep the knob and frame.

[Yveaux]

@mfalkvidd How about a capacitve touch dimmer (rotary, on/off or linear, whatever you like) ?
Most electricity wall mount systems (e.g. Busch Jaeger, Gira) have 'blind covers' which you can easily fit a capacitive touch pcb behind:

Use a chip like MPR121 to readout the capacitive touch PCB and translate it into roraty movements, clicks, whatevers...

[TheoL]

I'd love to see a gesture controlled switch - in a wallmount - into production. Having played with my floor lamp I can only see that I love gesture controlling.

[scalz]

who knows..:smile:

[Xander]

I wood choose a power supply with a PWM Dimm Input. Then you have only to handle with low Voltage (10V). To control the power supply you only need an arduino and an optocopler.
MeanWell Power Supplys: http://www.trcelectronics.com/Meanwell/power-supply-led-dimmable.shtml
You have to choose one with the required power and with "constant voltage". The Aliexpess Part is a constant voltage supply too - I think. Chinese Sellers often don't know what they sell!

[mfalkvidd]

@Xander if I do that, how would I adjust the dimming? I still need something to turn or press, don't I?

[Xander]

Yes, you need something to turn or to press. I would realize this with 2 parts: A MySensors device as "sensor" at the wall and another MySensors device as "actor" near the dimmer which controls the dimmer. Benefits: a better energy efficiency; no deal with 230V; ability to integrate a "controller software" like OpenHAB for further possibilities.

[mfalkvidd]

Agreed. But what I'm trying to find is the thing to turn/push. The rest is easy :)

[BulldogLowell]

@mfalkvidd

I haven't tried it yet but always thought one of these distance sensors, hidden away under a counter or shelf could be a great interactive dimmer control.

I haven't tried yet but I ought to. The programming should be relatively easy, I would think. Look for the presence of a reflection in the operating range of 2-25cm (they sell other ranges) for a time and adjust by moving nearer-to or further-from the sensor.

Or, just wave past it to turn on/off and hold hand over it to fade up/down slowly.

[mfalkvidd]

@BulldogLowell that's a great idea. It will require some learning (a guest will probably not be able to figure out how to handle the lights) but once learned, it should be really easy to operate.