Dimmer question...

[Noozer]

I have a lamp dimmer that I'm hoping that I can use for a project. Before I
go and start a fire or suffer a meltdown I thought it best to ask for
feedback...

At one end of the dimmer there is a polarized plug that you plug into the
wall. The other side of this plug provides a polorized outlet into which you
plug your lamp.

The other end of the dimmer cable is a slider with and LED. Sliding this
control lowers and raises the brightness of the lamp.

What I wish to do is instead of plugging a lamp into the dimmer outlet, I
want to splice into the dimmer cable. I'm assuming that the dimmer outlet is
electrically the same as the wire travelling to the dimmer.

Am I out to lunch on this, or do I have my head on straight?

 

[Noozer]

"Noozer" <dont.spam@me.here> wrote in message
news:AwmRe.52264$Hk.2723@pd7tw1no...

I have a lamp dimmer that I'm hoping that I can use for a project. Before I
go and start a fire or suffer a meltdown I thought it best to ask for
feedback...

The lamps that I'm working with are these...

http://www.jascoproducts.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/go/shop_pucks.html?E+scstore

The square part at the top flips open, you lay the cable into it, then flip
it closed. This pierces the cable and makes the electrical connection.

 

[John Fields]

On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 18:43:37 GMT, "Noozer" <dont.spam@me.here>
wrote:

"Noozer" <dont.spam@me.here> wrote in message
news:AwmRe.52264$Hk.2723@pd7tw1no...
I have a lamp dimmer that I'm hoping that I can use for a project. Before I
go and start a fire or suffer a meltdown I thought it best to ask for
feedback...

The lamps that I'm working with are these...

http://www.jascoproducts.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/go/shop_pucks.html?E+scstore

The square part at the top flips open, you lay the cable into it, then flip
it closed. This pierces the cable and makes the electrical connection.

---
You're not supposed to dim halogens, because lowering the filament
temperature shortens their life since they can't get into the
halogen cycle.

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

 

[Brandon Anderson]

That's not completely correct. While it is true that, unlike
traditional incandescent lamps, halogen lamps do not last LONGER
dimmed, they do not, on average, have shorter lifes when frequently
dimmed. It is extremely common to dim halogen lights, especially in
theatrical setting (what do you think most of the lamps are?). But I
don't know how any of this answers his question...




On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 15:32:20 -0500, John Fields
<jfields@austininstruments.com> wrote:

On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 18:43:37 GMT, "Noozer" <dont.spam@me.here
wrote:


"Noozer" <dont.spam@me.here> wrote in message
news:AwmRe.52264$Hk.2723@pd7tw1no...
I have a lamp dimmer that I'm hoping that I can use for a project. Before I
go and start a fire or suffer a meltdown I thought it best to ask for
feedback...

The lamps that I'm working with are these...

http://www.jascoproducts.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/go/shop_pucks.html?E+scstore

The square part at the top flips open, you lay the cable into it, then flip
it closed. This pierces the cable and makes the electrical connection.

---
You're not supposed to dim halogens, because lowering the filament
temperature shortens their life since they can't get into the
halogen cycle.

 

[Brandon Anderson]

Assuming I'm reading this correctly, you are NOT correct in your
assumption. Let's look at how this works:

Mains Hot --------------Dimmer--------------Outlet for lamp
Mains Neutral---------------------------------Outlet for lamp

By splicing into the cable BEFORE the dimmer, you are simply doing the
same thing as using a 2-fer (plugging two things into one circuit). If
you want to dim the lamp, you will need to circuit the lamp AFTER the
dimmer. If this is what you meant, then "running to the dimmer"
should be "from the dimmer" to avoid confusion. Hope this helps.


On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 18:19:12 GMT, "Noozer" <dont.spam@me.here> wrote:

I have a lamp dimmer that I'm hoping that I can use for a project. Before I
go and start a fire or suffer a meltdown I thought it best to ask for
feedback...

At one end of the dimmer there is a polarized plug that you plug into the
wall. The other side of this plug provides a polorized outlet into which you
plug your lamp.

The other end of the dimmer cable is a slider with and LED. Sliding this
control lowers and raises the brightness of the lamp.

What I wish to do is instead of plugging a lamp into the dimmer outlet, I
want to splice into the dimmer cable. I'm assuming that the dimmer outlet is
electrically the same as the wire travelling to the dimmer.

Am I out to lunch on this, or do I have my head on straight?

 

[Noozer]

"Brandon Anderson" <bdanderson@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:a3qch1pg9j548dpj2tpgc3mn9699h8al3d@4ax.com...

Assuming I'm reading this correctly, you are NOT correct in your
assumption. Let's look at how this works:

You are right... After a few hours sleep I realized that it's just easier to
put a normal line cord on the lamp and plug it into the dimmer normally.

 

[John Fields]

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 02:32:16 GMT, Brandon Anderson
<bdanderson@austin.rr.com> wrote:

That's not completely correct. While it is true that, unlike
traditional incandescent lamps, halogen lamps do not last LONGER
dimmed,

---
Sure they do. After all they're just incandescents running at a
higher filament and bulb temperature with a halogen as the fill gas.
The point is that if they're consistently run below the temperature
required to de-halogenate the tungsten evaporated from the filament,
that tungsten will never return to the filament and the 10 to 20%
increase in life halogen lamps enjoy _at full output_ will be
sacrificed.
---

they do not, on average, have shorter lifes when frequently
dimmed.

---
That depends on how frequently they're dimmed, how long they're
dimmed, and the depth to which they're dimmed.
---

It is extremely common to dim halogen lights, especially in
theatrical setting (what do you think most of the lamps are?)

---
Who gives a shit?
---

But I don't know how any of this answers his question...

---
My statement wasn't designed to answer his question, it was
cautionary . Yours, clearly, was neither, so if you have a problem
with non-answers why did you bother to post anything?

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

 

[Jasen Betts]

In article <AwmRe.52264$Hk.2723@pd7tw1no>, Noozer wrote:

I have a lamp dimmer that I'm hoping that I can use for a project. Before I
go and start a fire or suffer a meltdown I thought it best to ask for
feedback...

At one end of the dimmer there is a polarized plug that you plug into the
wall. The other side of this plug provides a polorized outlet into which you
plug your lamp.

The other end of the dimmer cable is a slider with and LED. Sliding this
control lowers and raises the brightness of the lamp.

What I wish to do is instead of plugging a lamp into the dimmer outlet, I
want to splice into the dimmer cable. I'm assuming that the dimmer outlet is
electrically the same as the wire travelling to the dimmer.

Am I out to lunch on this, or do I have my head on straight?

maybe, the only way to tell is to open the plug and see what's connected to
what) (or open the controller, (or cut the cable) and use a continuity
tester to see what's connected to what) IIRC some dimmers use only two wires
(if yours is like that it won't work for you)

IMO Your best option is to plug the dimmer into an extension lead, that'll get
you the configuration you want with a minimum of risk.

Bye.
Jasen