Organ Electrical Circuit Question

[myorgan]

Folks,

I am in the process of building a garage to use as a performance/practice/teaching space for organ and other instruments.

My question is whether a circuit providing electricity for the organ and organ speakers should be placed on the same circuit as lights on a dimmer switch. It makes no sense to have a single circuit for 4-8 LED lights on a dimmer. I'm considering combining that channel with an outlet circuit for one of the organs, but I am concerned about the possibility of issues/artifacts in the audio/speakers when the dimmer is used.

Am I on the right track or chasing rainbows?

Michael

[KC9UDX]

Yes. A noisy dimmer may still cause issues in close proximity, but it's best to isolate the circuit. I would prefer to have a separate circuit for one or more organs, anyway, since you are planning a setup. Depending on the organs, I might put each on its own anyway.

[Organfella]

Michael.

Glad to hear you are making some more space for these lovely instruments. If you can, make it large enough to make your dream of an organ museum come true, even if just partially. My enlarged garage is too small and the spill overs are accommodated all over the place but who cares? I don't mind sleeping on the floor.... ;-)

Nico

[myorgan]

Yes. A noisy dimmer may still cause issues in close proximity, but it's best to isolate the circuit. I would prefer to have a separate circuit for one or more organs, anyway, since you are planning a setup. Depending on the organs, I might put each on its own anyway.

KC9UDX,

Thank you for weighing in. I have 4 separate circuits planned (one for each of the larger organs) as well as their speakers/amplifiers. I'm trying to keep them discreet, but I'm wondering if a single circuit dedicated to four (4) LED light bulbs of approximately 4-6 Watts each (on a dimmer) is really worth it. I'm putting 12ga. wire throughout the garage, so that's quite an expense for just ca. 24 Watts. Consequently, I'm looking to combine some circuits.

BTW, the lights need to be separated rather than combined so certain regions of the garage can be lit differently. Maybe I can combine the circuits and split the circuit before the dimmers?

If you can, make it large enough to make your dream of an organ museum come true, even if just partially.

Nico,

I think I have made it large enough–it is 32' long and 24' wide.:-B The first floor is 11' (floor to ceiling). The first 14' of the garage has scissor trusses, so it is like a cathedral ceiling (18' high), while the last 18' have attic trusses, allowing a room of 12'x17' upstairs. That should allow room for the pipe organ in the cathedral end. My wife has convinced me to put a stained glass window on the South side of the garage, and I will be designing and constructing the window this Winter in the Tiffany method by using an *dobe *hotoShop picture of pipe organ pipes and organ, and converting it to stained glass.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Michael

[KC9UDX]

You can combine the circuits. Here's the crux, code-wise: The lighting doesn't require a GFCI, but any receptacles do. This doesn't really matter, except that the one time you get a nuisance trip, all your lights go out. I prefer to keep lighting circuits separate from other circuits for this reason.T

The dimmers will possibly cause interference either way. Running separate circuits can reduce, but not really eliminate the effects.

Keep in mind that not all LED lamps are actually dimmable: you probably already know this; but dimmers plus improper bulbs equals an increase in chances of fire.