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How do I make a dimmer for my christmas lights?
I have some x-mas lights(the incandescent kind, not LEDs) hanging on the ceiling in my bedroom but they are a little too bright sometimes, so I thought it would be fun to attach some sort of dimmer switch to them. Do I need anything special or can I just hook up any old potentiometer I can find in my junk bin?
Discussions
10 years ago
even if you could do it with just a potentiometer, you get a lot of ring from the bulbs (maybe not audible if they are tiny bulbs, buy you may get a reaction from any pets ;-)
However, if you use a properly rated one in combination with a triac and choke, you should be able to do this without much heat or ring.
here is one place that describes how it works
and for a slightly more complicated but safer dimmer, try here
10 years ago
I'm guessing it has to do with high-voltage potentiometers...
Reply 10 years ago
. A properly sized pot (high-power pots are often called rheostats) will do the job very well, but will generate a lot of heat (wasteful and possibly dangerous) when the lights are dimmed.
Reply 10 years ago
Haha, yes, I'm sure they do. Haven't you seen my Exploding Resistor video?
Reply 10 years ago
. Yes I did. And the exploding cap, too. Both are very interesting, but nothing I haven't done accidentally more than once. heehee
Reply 10 years ago
Hehe.
10 years ago
https://www.instructables.com/id/The_FX_Light_Dimmer
10 years ago
Like NachoMahma said "no", you can't hook-up any old potentiometer. What will happen is either nothing until you turn the knob, and then the pot' will burn out (possibly quite violently), or the pot' will burn out immediately (possibly quite violently). If this is a mains operated set of lights I'd also recommend finding a mains dimmer switch.
L
Reply 10 years ago
what is a "mains operated set of lights"?
Reply 10 years ago
Like you see here in this Instructable
L
Reply 10 years ago
. Assuming they do run on mains, that should be exactly what he needs.
Reply 10 years ago
> what is a "mains operated set of lights"? . Plugs into the wall receptacle. Operates on 110VAC (US) or 220VAC (most other places).
10 years ago
wall dimmer is ok if there are no electronics (only the red ant bulb)
10 years ago
. A pot will generate a lot of heat. I suggest using a wall switch dimmer.