I. This process for ringing a phone works for all RC4 Series 3 Harmonized Design™ dimmers (RC4Magic Series 3, RC4Magic-900, RC4 LumenDim, RC4 W-DIM). This demonstration uses an RC4Magic Series 3 DMX2dim.
A. A Step up 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 » is required to make a Bell style phone ring
B. A low voltage battery is required for the RC4 dimmer
1. The RC4 dimmer has an AC synthAC synthAC synthesis is the creation of 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 […]
Read more » dimmer curve which enables power to be sent to a transformer with a center tap
2. That power will be stepped up in the transformer and sent to the phone
3. 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.)
Note: You can use any small transformer with a ratio around 10:1 or more.
We often use this one, or one a bit smaller:
https://catalog.
We wire the primary in series (the 240V configuration) for higher output, and the secondary in series (the 16V configuration) to provide the needed center-tap connection. Feel free to experiment with serial and parallel connections on the primary side. Performance will vary depending on characteristics of the phone you connect to.
The transformer is operated “in reverse” with the RC4 AC-wave generator switching at 12V and connected to the secondary, which then emerges from the primary as a higher voltage that is enough to ring a traditional telephone bell.
The size of the transformer is not very critical, but a rule of thumb is to size it to be physically similar in weight to the coil in the phone being operated.
BEWARE OF HIGH VOLTAGE OUTPUT. It is just as dangerous as an AC wall outlet — it CAN kill you when the circuit is activated.
C. Connect everything as shown here:
II. Configuring the DMX2dim to ring a telephone using Enhanced OneTouch™OneTouch™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 […]
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A. All dimmer curves are hidden at the low end of DMX channel levels, this is the Enhanced OneTouch™ process
B. There is a tight matrix of all the dimmer curves, starting at level 20
1. This enables users to reach dimmer curves that are not accessible any other way
2. A setting of 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 […]
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C. In this example, the DMX2dim starts in default mode (factory settings)
D. On the console, set the DMX channel to be assigned to ringing the telephone to a level of 30
E. Using a small tool like a bent paper clip, press 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. This completes the assignment of channel and AC Wave generator mode
F. Two LEDs on the DMX2dim will illuminate and flicker, you are seeing the AC wave
1. As the level is increased on the DMX channel, the LEDs on the DMX2dim will become brighter