Hi folks

I was brousing the web last night when i discovered a great alternative to Lutron lighting dimmers. A company called Futronics make a range of 2 4 and 8 channel dimmers for the UK market.
The base model is called the P100 and has 2 independant channels, fits into a standard british single gang back box, has 20 programable scenes, is programable for security modes, variable fade rates and several other features. It can be bought direct from them for £125 ex Vat. A pronto ccf is available from thier website so you can cut that price down by buying it without the remote. Visit www.futronix-info.com

I hope this is of use to someone.

Ross

I used to have the P400, but have upgraded to the Enviroscene 805. I can't really comment on the P100, as it might be slightly different from the others as it is aimed at a different market.

I like the products, but a few comments:

1. My P400 used to blow a fuse every time one of the bulbs went. This was quite annoying as the box is so stuffed full of wires and circuitry that opening it to change the PCB-mounted fuse was a real pain.

2. The P-series aren't standard wall box sizes (actually, I think the P100 is, but the others aren't).

3. You have to wire all the circuits back to the wall box. With the Enviroscene, there is a low voltage cable to the wall box and all the circuits are controlled by a separate control box which is mounted out of the way (and it's huge, by the way).

4. You really are limited to scene control on all models. You can do an overall up/down dim, but the relative brightnesses of the circuits stay the same. Addressing individual circuits is a pain as you actually have to put it into program mode.

The P100 works well - flawlessly, from my experience. Very smooth fades. It just about fits a standard wall box - very tight for depth. I bought the remote, to be able to learn the codes into my Pronto.

Over a year ago Futronix announced the P50 - single circuit but with higher power rating (just one circuit, right?), and at lower price. I've enquired several times about it, but so far it had not materialised - vapourware?