quasi variac controlled wallwart

hitsware · 14th September 2010, 01:41 AM

If one plugs a wallwart into a light dimmer ?

DigitalJunkie · 14th September 2010, 02:00 AM

It might work,kinda,depending on the dimmer. Most dimmers can not handle inductive loads,only (mostly) resistive loads.

You may also have noise on the wall wart output,due to the 'chopping' of the dimmer.

leadbelly · 14th September 2010, 02:00 AM

It'll probably work OK if you use the expensive dimmers intended for fluorescents and not the cheap ones for incandescents. Of course you haven't said what you are trying to achieve so it's hard to say if it's a good idea.

star882 · 14th September 2010, 02:49 AM

A normal dimmer won't work with inductive loads, but a ceiling fan speed control will.

hitsware · 14th September 2010, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by star882

A normal dimmer won't work with inductive loads, but a ceiling fan speed control will.

What's the differance ?

star882 · 14th September 2010, 01:29 PM

The triac is rated for inductive loads, there's more filtering, and the circuit is designed to always be DC balanced.

stoc005 · 14th September 2010, 03:25 PM

Beware of light weight walwarts. They are transformer-less and contain a switch mode power supply. Won't work at all on a dimmer.

14th September 2010, 01:41 AM	#1
hitsware diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2002	quasi variac controlled wallwart If one plugs a wallwart into a light dimmer ?

14th September 2010, 02:00 AM	#3
leadbelly diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta	It'll probably work OK if you use the expensive dimmers intended for fluorescents and not the cheap ones for incandescents. Of course you haven't said what you are trying to achieve so it's hard to say if it's a good idea. __________________ Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines. Enzo Ferrari

14th September 2010, 02:49 AM	#4
star882 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007	A normal dimmer won't work with inductive loads, but a ceiling fan speed control will. __________________ "Fully on MOSFET = closed switch, Fully off MOSFET = open switch, Half on MOSFET = poor imitation of Tiffany Yep." - also applies to IGBTs!

14th September 2010, 01:29 PM	#6
star882 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007	The triac is rated for inductive loads, there's more filtering, and the circuit is designed to always be DC balanced. __________________ "Fully on MOSFET = closed switch, Fully off MOSFET = open switch, Half on MOSFET = poor imitation of Tiffany Yep." - also applies to IGBTs!

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14th September 2010, 02:00 AM	#2
DigitalJunkie diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Portland,Oregon Blog Entries: 4	It might work,kinda,depending on the dimmer. Most dimmers can not handle inductive loads,only (mostly) resistive loads. You may also have noise on the wall wart output,due to the 'chopping' of the dimmer.

14th September 2010, 03:25 PM	#7
stoc005 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Midwest in the USA	Beware of light weight walwarts. They are transformer-less and contain a switch mode power supply. Won't work at all on a dimmer.

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