User:DavidB4/workspace
The following is personal workspace. Once content is ready, I will migrate it to the appropriate location. I may use this for any number of purposes, but generally it will be used for drafts.
Please to not change the value of this content. If you see a typo or some other small problem, feel free to change this. For anything else, please ask first. Thanks!
A dimmer switch is a device which allows for the adjustment of power supplied to one or more electric lights. In some rare cases, they are also used for other electric devices, but in many cases doing so would harm the device, so this is rare.
Types
Variable resistor
The first kind of dimmer switch made use of a variable resistor. In this kind of device, a semiconductor strip is placed between two contact arms--one is stationary, one is adjustable. The semiconductor permits the flow of electricity, but does resit it somewhat. The stationary contact arm is placed at one end of the semiconductive strip, and the adjustable one is permitted to move across it. When the latter arm is placed right near the stationary arm, electricity flows from one arm through a small amount of the semiconductor, and out to the other arm. Since it only passes through a small amount of semiconductor, the power flow is minimally effected. However, when the adjustable arm is moved down the strip, away from the stationary arm, the amount of semiconductor the power must flow through increases. This prevents progressively more electricity from passing through, as the arms separate.[1]
This simple system is then installed in a switch, where the user can easily move the adjustable arm. The resulting supply is then connected to some device, usually a light bulb. If the operator wished for a higher power supply, they can simply slide or twist the dimmer control to decrease the amount of semiconductor the energy must pass through. If the operator wishes to reduce the electrical supply, the amount of used semiconductor can be increased, by sliding or twisting the control in the opposite direction.[1]
Switching circut
Triode alternating current switch=
Coil-rotation transformer
Autotransformer dimmer
(Variac)
Solid-state
(aka semiconductor)