quasi variac controlled wallwart

[hitsware]

If one plugs a wallwart into a light dimmer ?

 

[DigitalJunkie]

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]

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]

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

 

[hitsware]

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

What's the differance ?

 

[star882]

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

 

[stoc005]

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