RE: Dimmers

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Daniel Barrett" <dbarrett1-at-austin.rr-dot-com> 

	Hi Jim-
	The rate doesn't change, the phase angle changes. If the dimmer is at 50%,
the output will be off for the first 90 degrees of the of the AC waveform,
on for the second quadrant, off for the 3rd, etc. As you vary one from full
on to full off, the firing angle becomes later in the cycle.
db



-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 6:28 PM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Dimmers


Original poster: "Jim Mitchell" <Wrenchead-at-starband-dot-net>

Correct me if im wrong but dont triac dimmers just fire at varying rates to
make somthing appear dimmer since the filament of a light bulb never does
extinguish instantly, and that little resistor just changes the firing rate,
right?  So if you put it on an NST which it probably wouldn't like much
since its an inductive load, wouldn't you just get pulses out of the NST at
the SAME VOLTAGE AND CURRENT?  As when I measure the output of a triac
dimmer, it is always 120v, contrary to popular belife, these don't lower the
line voltage and don't like inductive loads.

Regards - Jim Mitchell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 6:00 PM
Subject: RE: Dimmers


  > Original poster: "Philip Brinkman" <peeceebee-at-mindspring-dot-com>
  >
  > I've been using an $8.00 lamp dimmer with attached cord on my Allanson
  > 15,000 volt 60ma
  > transformer for the past two months, It works great, it even has a built
in
  > RF filter. It does get slightly warm when running for long periods... if
I
  > have to buy a new one in a year or so..so what?. It has an attaced 6'
cord,
  > on off switch, and lets me control the power from a safe distance. Plus
it
  > has a plastic case and switches. Just plug and go!
  >
  >
  >  > [Original Message]
  >  > From: Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
  >  > To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
  >  > Date: 11/23/2003 7:48:38 PM
  >  > Subject: Dimmers
  >  >
  >  > Original poster: davep <davep-at-quik-dot-com>
  >  >
  >  >
  >  > >I was about to reply with "No, a dimmer just won't work with an NST".
  >  > >This question has been asked often on this List and that's the usual
  >  > >response.
  >  >
  >  >          ...and its mostly right.
  >  >
  >  > >  But since I happened to have a dimmer and had never
  >  > >personally tried it, I thought I would.
  >  >
  >  > >I was surprised to find that it did work - mostly.
  >  >
  >  >          ...and for how long.
  >  >          May things will work for briefish periods of time that will
  >  >          work a lot less well for extended periods.
  >  >
  >  >          and each design of dimmers varies...
  >  >
  >  >          best
  >  >          dwp
  >  >
  >  >
  >
  >
  >