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Control a Bs2 On Ac.....Like How a Light Dimmer Switch Works — Parallax Forums

Control a Bs2 On Ac.....Like How a Light Dimmer Switch Works

sam_sam_samsam_sam_sam Posts: 2,286
edited 2006-02-19 07:13 in BASIC Stamp
Hi EveryOne

I want to use a bs2 as a dimmer controler for AC
Like the light dimmer switch that you buy at the store
Can this be done and what parts do i need to use and is there a schematic on how to hook it up
What should i put in the Parallax search to find some demo code and a schematic for this if this has been tried before

I have a hard time finding what i am looking for on Parallax search

Can anyone help

Thank for any help that you can give me

Sam

Post Edited (sam_sam_sam) : 2/10/2006 11:08:16 PM GMT

Comments

  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2006-02-10 23:19
    Sam,

    Having serious concern for your personal safety, I'm going to suggest that this may not be a project you want to pursue -- if you make a wiring mistake you could be hurt badly, even killed. Most lamp dimmer circuits require tricky timing that is not possible with a BS2 anyway; you would be forced to put a digital pot into a standard dimmer circuit and this could lead to problems if not done exactly right.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2006-02-10 23:20
    If you have some experience with high voltage design, heres an article on making a homebrew dimmer: http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/a/u/aus156/reports/Final_Report_CSE596.pdf and here

    http://www.epanorama.net/documents/lights/lightdimmer.html


    If you are inexperienced working with high voltages, I would either purchase a kit such as:

    http://www.electronics123.com/s.nl/sc.8/category.39/it.A/id.1902/.f

    or get the X10 firecracker kit (your safest choice).


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    ·1+1=10

    Post Edited (Paul Baker) : 2/10/2006 11:24:19 PM GMT
  • sam_sam_samsam_sam_sam Posts: 2,286
    edited 2006-02-11 03:00
    Jon

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR·CONCERN·ABOUT·MY·PERSONAL SAFETY

    Having serious concern for your personal safety, I'm going to suggest that this may not be a project you want to pursue -- if you make a wiring mistake you could be hurt badly, even killed.


    I have worked with ELECTRICTY FOR A LONG TIME··(ALSO I AM A A/C TECH)
    if you make a wiring mistake you could be hurt badly, even killed
    I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR· ELECTRICTY and know that if you are not care full·you·can get badly hurt or even killed

    Three·thing that i do when testing a· AC Circuit
    Frist·I Use A 1\2 FAST ACTING FUSE OR SMALLER

    Second
    I have this Circuit on my work table and nothing else and have a·
    REMOTE SWITCH·to turn it ON AND I STAND BACK FROM THE TABLE
    ·I ALSO HAVE· SAFETY GLASSES ON

    Third
    I also use an AMP METER and check the AMPS the Circuit is pulling

    ONE LAST THING

    I also check the WIRING Four or FIVE times to make sure that i have it wired up right

    NOW IF ANYONE (AND I MEAN ANYONE) CAN TELL ANY ME ANY·OTHER· SAFETY THINGS OR CONCERNS
    THAT I MIGHT HAVE OVER LOOK PLEASE FEEL FREE TO·TELL ME·YOUR··CONCERNS

    NOW SAYING THIS


    ·Most lamp dimmer circuits require tricky timing that is not possible with a BS2 anyway; you would be forced to put a digital pot into a standard dimmer circuit and this could lead to problems if not done exactly right.

    DOSE anyone know how to this part

    ·TO put a digital pot into a standard dimmer circuit··························· idea.gif
    WHAT· problems· could I run in to using·standard dimmer circuit
    And is this a SAFER way to go·
    ·WHAT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO·WIRE·A·DIGTAL POT·in this· circuit
    COULD ANY PLEASE·TELL ME HOW TO DO THIS THE SAFE WAY

    Also which of these two Digital Pot

    Stock#:·604-00015··· <!-- product category -->
    <!-- display product name -->Digital Pot DS2890-000
    or this

    Digital Potentiometer, 10k

    Stock#:
    604-00010

    What is the Different between these two and which one should i use

    Where can i find a demo code for·each one·

    Most lamp dimmer circuits require tricky timing that is not possible with a BS2 anyway

    Is ther ANY controler that could do this

    I am going to do ALOT OF READING AND LOOKING AT CIRCUITS BEFORE I START THIS PROJECT
    so if anyone can help me

    I WANT TO THANK ANYONE THAT CAN IN THIS MATTER

    MY·PERSONAL SAFETY IS THE # ONE THING AND I WILL BE CAREFULL

    Sam························· idea.gif





    Post Edited (sam_sam_sam) : 2/11/2006 3:27:58 AM GMT
  • sam_sam_samsam_sam_sam Posts: 2,286
    edited 2006-02-11 03:10
    ·HI Paul

    THANKS PAUL FOR THIS POST

    YES I·have some experience with high voltage
    AND I WILL BE CAREFULL

    If you have some experience with high voltage design, heres an article on making a homebrew dimmer: http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/a/u/aus156/reports/Final_Report_CSE596.pdf and here

    I looked at this any may use part of what they have if i do not find something beter

    Sam
  • sam_sam_samsam_sam_sam Posts: 2,286
    edited 2006-02-15 22:04
    HI EveryOne

    DOSE anyone know how to this part

    TO put a digital pot into a standard dimmer circuit
    WHAT problems could I run in to using standard dimmer circuit
    And is there a SAFER way to go
    WHAT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO WIRE A DIGTAL POT in this circuit
    COULD ANY PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO DO THIS THE SAFE WAY

    Also which of these two Digital Pot

    Stock#: 604-00015 <!-- product category -->
    <!-- display product name -->Digital Pot DS2890-000

    or this
    Digital Potentiometer, 10k

    Stock#: 604-00010

    What is the Different between these two and which one should i use

    Where can i find a demo code for each one

    Most lamp dimmer circuits require tricky timing that is not possible with a BS2 anyway

    Is ther ANY controler that could do this

    I am going to do ALOT OF READING AND LOOKING AT CIRCUITS BEFORE I START THIS PROJECT
    so if anyone can help me

    I WANT TO THANK ANYONE THAT CAN IN THIS MATTER

    MY PERSONAL SAFETY IS THE # ONE THING AND I WILL BE CAREFULL

    Sam
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-02-15 23:09
    There's a current Forum/thread/discussion on Digital POTs (you must've overlooked it) -- http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=570951

    Digital POTs are for low, very low current uses.

    Additionally, the potentiometer used to control a typical dimmer is part of the AC circuit, and I figure, a digital POT would be unsuitable.

    However, you might consider using a motor (perhaps a servo) linked to a POT shaft to turn/adjust with.· This way the microcontroller would be electrically isolated from the AC Dimmer.

    Just a suggestion.

    Post Edited (PJ Allen) : 2/15/2006 11:49:30 PM GMT
  • TINkER_MANTINkER_MAN Posts: 3
    edited 2006-02-16 02:12
    ·HI PJ Allen
    Thanks for the post

    I was considering doing this.............

    However, you might consider using a motor (perhaps a servo) linked to a POT shaft to turn/adjust with.· This way the microcontroller would be electrically isolated from the AC Dimmer.

    This is a good idea but........

    ·How do i do this

    ·Where do i get (PARTS...... SEVRO what TYPE·

    ·What TYPE of LINKAGE.........
    ·Do i use to link the· LIGHT DIMMER POT Shaft··to· SERVO Shaft
    Where do i get the PARTS from

    This is my biggest problem·is What TYPE of LINKAGE..Do i use to link the· LIGHT DIMMER POT Shaft· to· SERVO Shaft

    ·I have not done·this before so if you can give Some Pointers On How To Do This That Would Be
    GREAT
    ·


    Thank You For Your Help In This Matter

    Sam

    ·

    Post Edited (TINkER_MAN) : 2/16/2006 2:17:56 AM GMT
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-02-16 02:59
    TinkerMan, Sam_sam_sam, et al. (how many handles does a guy need?) -- If you want to learn about servos, here's a link:· http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28125

    · A journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step.

    · As to exactly where to go to get thus·& sundry, that's the $64 Question, sometimes.· You will have to scounge parts and·make your own a lot of the time and if you can't or don't want to spend money then the emphasis is on scrounging (scrapping "junk", looking for gears and so on.)· There just aren't, so far as I know, "everything you need or could ever want" kits.

    · So, if you want to do this sort of thing, you need to be of a mind to improvise.· Another part of the deal is the looking around.·

    · Parallax sells a lot of stuff www.parallax.com·(servos!)

    · Also, www.robotstore.com and www.goldmine-elec.com and www.alltronics.com and www.allelectronics.com to name a few.

    · When you go to sites, always look for "links", references to other sites with more stuff, other stuff.· Usually there is always a site search tool, so try "motors", "gears", whatever you're looking for.·
  • Bruce BatesBruce Bates Posts: 3,045
    edited 2006-02-16 06:13
    TinkerMan -

    Here are some motorized potentiometers if that's of any use to you:
    http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category/470010/Motorized.html

    Regards,

    Bruce Bates

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  • sam_sam_samsam_sam_sam Posts: 2,286
    edited 2006-02-19 07:13
    HI EveryOne

    Thanks ·Bruce·& PJ For The Post
    The·INFO· helped alot
    Thanks again

    Sam
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