Dimming fluorescents

Are these self dimming or using external dimmers?

I have found that if the bottom level is not set correctly for the exact ballasts, then each ballast will turn on when they feel like it. If your using ETC dimmers look look for "2 wire fluorescent" settings and try setting the minimum level to 10%. If that works then you can try 5% or less.

If you need help with the settings call tech support or your local dealer.

Oh, this is a very interesting idea. Would the 2 wire fluorescent setting be a profile in the patch settings? Or is it a setting somewhere else? 

Well, as the dimming is done at the dimmer rack, you should look there first.

However, you may want to take a look at what kind of ballast you are using on the fixtures as well.

Dimmable fluorescent fixtures come in several different "flavors" as it were.  The ballasts come in 2 wire, 3 wire and 4 wire (amongst others) configurations.  And each of those ballasts have different types.  a 1%, a 2%, a 5%, a 10%, a 50%, etc. 

Lets assume for a second that you have a 2 wire, 10% ballast..  For the first thing, you should check to make sure that the setting at the dimmer rack notes that the dimmer is set for a fluorescent curve.  This changes several things, but most notably the voltage floor is set to 56v.  This helps the arc be kept even at the lowest levels possible.

Now - a 10% ballast is going to dim down to give you, at its lowest level, 10% of the measured light output of the fixture at it's highest level.  If you dimmer isn't set right, and your cue doesn't take this into account when dimming up, you can see a significant delay in starting the fixture up.

Even in the best situation (a 1% ballast) I still see a pause when dimming up a fluorescent from off.

Well, as the dimming is done at the dimmer rack, you should look there first.

However, you may want to take a look at what kind of ballast you are using on the fixtures as well.

Dimmable fluorescent fixtures come in several different "flavors" as it were.  The ballasts come in 2 wire, 3 wire and 4 wire (amongst others) configurations.  And each of those ballasts have different types.  a 1%, a 2%, a 5%, a 10%, a 50%, etc. 

Lets assume for a second that you have a 2 wire, 10% ballast..  For the first thing, you should check to make sure that the setting at the dimmer rack notes that the dimmer is set for a fluorescent curve.  This changes several things, but most notably the voltage floor is set to 56v.  This helps the arc be kept even at the lowest levels possible.

Now - a 10% ballast is going to dim down to give you, at its lowest level, 10% of the measured light output of the fixture at it's highest level.  If you dimmer isn't set right, and your cue doesn't take this into account when dimming up, you can see a significant delay in starting the fixture up.

Even in the best situation (a 1% ballast) I still see a pause when dimming up a fluorescent from off.