Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
dimmer for ac halogen bulb? — Parallax Forums

dimmer for ac halogen bulb?

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2002-12-10 13:28 in General Discussion
Has anyone seen any specs on a dimmer for an ac halogen bulb? I was trying
to do this with a solid state relay and a stamp using PWS but I can't seem
to make it do anything more than flicker blindingly. Thanks!

ian

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-10 08:25
    Halogen bulbs don't like to be dimmed -- they need to run at a certain
    temperature to survive. If you run them at a lower brightness the life is
    severely shortened. I would think a standard household dimmer would run one
    though. If not, some of the cheapy torchiere lamps they sell at Wal-Mart
    have a dimmer -- I'll bet there is a schematic around somewhere.

    Original Message

    > Has anyone seen any specs on a dimmer for an ac halogen bulb? I was trying
    > to do this with a solid state relay and a stamp using PWS but I can't seem
    > to make it do anything more than flicker blindingly. Thanks!
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-10 13:28
    They sell torche dimmer replacement kits at Home Depot and probably
    other stores.

    The last one I pulled apart has a simpe R, C, pot, triac and a diode.

    The triac was a BTA12 400C with a good sized heat sink.

    let me know if you want an EXPRESS PCB layout.

    Dave







    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Rodent <daweasel@s...> wrote:
    > Halogen bulbs don't like to be dimmed -- they need to run at a
    certain
    > temperature to survive. If you run them at a lower brightness the
    life is
    > severely shortened. I would think a standard household dimmer would
    run one
    > though. If not, some of the cheapy torchiere lamps they sell at Wal-
    Mart
    > have a dimmer -- I'll bet there is a schematic around somewhere.
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >
    > > Has anyone seen any specs on a dimmer for an ac halogen bulb? I
    was trying
    > > to do this with a solid state relay and a stamp using PWS but I
    can't seem
    > > to make it do anything more than flicker blindingly. Thanks!
Sign In or Register to comment.