Recent case studies, SineWave
Het Muziektheater, AmsterdamNational Theatre, Lyttelton, London
National Theatre, Olivier, London
San Sebastian Concert hall, Spain
Residenz Theater, Munich
National Theatre, Liechtenstein
Lampegiet Theatre, Holland
Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, Wisconsin
Copenhagen Opera House, Denmark
Recent anecdotal experience of SineWave clients
Basic cost of electricity
The benefits of SineWave dimming are evident in a venue's quarterly energy bills. Watts remain a cost, but the VAr component of the bill is almost totally eliminated. In large venues, this may result in a substantial annual savings. Some clients have reported cost savings of up to 16%. The additional cost of SineWave dimming was repaid within two years, on the basis of lower energy bills alone.
Voltage drop
The effect of harmonic currents present with phase-controlled dimming causes a higher voltage drop through load cables for all but full-on settings, which leads to heat dissipation in both the cables and mains transformer. The usual solution to this problem is to over-rate the cable diameter to accommodate harmonic currents, and this is an added cost to the system compared with a SineWave dimming system. The Amsterdam Opera project included over-stage bars powered from 3-phase mains cables from the grid and supplied through motorized winches (windlasses). This would not have been possible with the size and weight of an over-sized cable needed for phase-control dimming, and the heating effects of the coiled cable on the winch (windlass).