Lighting switch. Connecting a switch equipped with a dimmer. Monoblock dimmer connection diagram

Content:

Quite often there are situations when too bright light begins to irritate and negatively affect mood. In this case, only a switch with a dimmer can help, the use of which will avoid replacing lamps in lamps with less powerful ones. These devices, also known as dimmers, are capable of adjusting voltage in the range of 0-100% of nominal. They successfully replace conventional switches in those places where you need a smooth change in the brightness of the light.

Dimmer connection diagram

Dimmers, also called dimmers, are connected in series to the power supply circuit supplied to the light bulb. These devices may be mechanical or electronic. In the second case, the device, in addition to the main function, performs a number of additional actions. It is able to turn off the lighting after a certain period of time, create the effect of presence, work on command, etc.

All types of switches with a dimmer are designed primarily to work with incandescent lamps. Other light sources, for example, when working with a dimmer, fail very quickly, and the dimmer itself may break.

The control device is connected in the same way as a conventional switch. The only thing that must be strictly observed is the polarity of the connection. In this case, the supply wire is connected to the L terminal. The conductor intended for supply to the luminaire is connected to the remaining terminal.

Electronic dimmers can be connected in parallel with each other. Such a scheme, consisting of two devices, makes it possible to obtain, in fact, walk-through switches that have the function of adjusting the light. The scheme for installing and connecting a dimmer is similar to connecting sockets or switches, with the exception of the obligatory observance of polarity.

After connecting the dimmer, the wires located at the back are carefully bent, and the dimmer itself is placed in the socket. It remains only to install the frame and the adjusting handle.

Connecting a dimmer switch

In addition to the usual connection scheme, other options can be used. One of these schemes is the connection of a dimmer with a switch. In this case, the switch is installed in front of the dimmer in a phase break and, if necessary, controls the supply of electric current.

Further, from the switch, power is supplied to the dimmer, and then to the incandescent lamp. Thus, with the help of a dimmer, the required brightness level is set, and the switch is responsible for turning the circuit on and off.

This scheme has proven itself very well in. The switch itself is installed near the door, and the dimmer is installed near the bed. This allows you to control the light without getting out of bed. When leaving the room, the light turns off, and upon returning it turns on with the same parameters that were set by the dimmer.

Wiring diagram with two dimmers

A scheme in which two dimmers are involved at once has become widespread. They are installed at two points in any room and act as walk-through switches, controlling a single chandelier or lamp.

This method involves connecting three wires to the junction box from each point. Connecting two dimmers is quite simple. It is necessary to connect jumpers to the corresponding first and second contacts in each dimmer. Subsequently, a phase is supplied to the third contact of the first dimmer, which goes to the lamp through the third contact of the second device.

Scheme with two through switches

This connection is used relatively rarely. As a rule, it is used for passage rooms and long corridors. Thanks to this scheme, turning on and off the light can be done from each side of the room.

The pass-through switches themselves are installed in a phase break. Their respective contacts are connected by wires to each other. The dimmer is connected to the circuit in series, after one of the switches. Its first contact includes a phase, which then goes to the incandescent bulb.

The brightness of the light is controlled by a dimmer. However, if the regulator is in the off position, the walk-through switches will not be able to switch the lamps.

Dimmer operation

There is an erroneous opinion about significant energy savings. In fact, the real savings are within 15% at minimum brightness. This is due to the fact that part of the energy is spent on dissipation by the dimmer.

Operation of dimmers should be carried out at an ambient temperature of not more than 27 0 С, in order to avoid overheating. The load connected to the appliance must be at least 40 W, otherwise the dimmer switch will work significantly less. The dimmers themselves must be used strictly for the intended purpose specified in the instruction manual.

Home lighting is an integral part of a comfortable stay in it. For greater ease of use, modern light sources, especially LED lamps, are equipped with a special device - a dimmer.

Light

Such devices appeared almost immediately after the invention of electric incandescent lamps. About what this device is and why it is installed in LED lamps, our article will tell.

Purpose of the dimmer

Modern dimmer for LED light bulbs

A dimmer for LED lamps, as well as for other types of light sources, is a special device designed to change the brightness of the glow. Such a device works through current limitation and, as a result, power.
At the very beginning, such devices were variable resistance. But in such a situation, a significant amount of power was dissipated in space in the form of heat. After some time, autotransformers are used to change the brightness of the lamps. They had significant dimensions, which made their operation uncomfortable.

To date, a modern dimmer is a complex electronic device that can not only adjust the brightness level of the lamps, but also for other functions. For example, using such devices, you can turn off the lighting on timers, as well as smoothly start the lamps. Models that are equipped with a remote control can be adjusted remotely.

Note! Dimmers for LED lamps are the most popular models for private houses and apartments today.

Dimmers, as light level regulators, can be used for various types of lighting fixtures.

Features of devices designed for LED lamps

There are situations when the existing luminous flux emanating from LED lamps does not satisfy you in terms of its brightness. To be able to adjust this parameter, you need to buy and install a dimmer for this type of light source.

Note! This device will be especially relevant if there is a periodic need to change the level of illumination in the room.

LED lighting in the apartment

In order for the dimmer to work in conjunction with LED lamps, a choke must be in the design of the lamp. Such devices are designed for less power when compared with conventional light bulbs.

Note! In terms of power, LED lamps are about 10 times smaller than conventional light bulbs. Therefore, to work with them, dimmers with less power are needed.

Another feature of such devices is that there is no need to lower or increase the current strength to adjust their operation. In this situation, the brightness of the LED lamps can be adjusted by changing the current pulses in the network. When the pulsation frequency reaches 300 kHz, a flickering effect will appear in the lamp. Such an effect is invisible to the human eye.

The design and principle of operation of dimmers

All devices with which you can control the level of illumination have a similar structure. Outwardly, they are a switch, which is equipped with a rotating wheel. Modern models can be equipped with buttons or a touch panel.

Touch control type dimmer

Each device contains in its design two connections to the circuit. You can connect such a device in the same way as a conventional switch. You just need to connect the wires to the terminals correctly. You can use it in exactly the same way, only the list of possibilities will be many times wider.
Such devices work on the following principle: the brightness of the glow of the lamps can change due to changes in the current pulses in the network. In this case, only the pulse width changes, and not its power. Thus, the dimmer operates on the principle of cutting off the voltage amplitude.
Turning the wheel clockwise or pressing a key/sensor will brighten or dim the room lighting.

Compatibility of LED bulbs with dimmers

LED lighting products today represented by a variety of products:

• separate LEDs;
• LED strips;
• LED lamp.

Variety of LED products

The LED lamp is a separate device that is standardized specifically for connection to an existing electrical network.
LED lamps have the following characteristics:

• standard plinth: type G, type E - threaded (E14 and E27), type MR;
• can work from a standard electrical network 50 Hz, 220 V without the use of special and additional devices;

Note! If the light bulb is to operate at 12 volts, then this must be specified in the plan for the use of additional devices.

• luminous flux, similar to those for standard light bulbs.

The structure of the LED lamp

The LED light bulb has the following components:

• diffuser;
• LEDs that are mounted on a special board;
• drivers, thanks to which the necessary mode of operation of the light source is provided;

Note! The driver is the device that provides power to the LED components in the light bulb. It stabilizes the current flowing through the diodes. However, it can be used for dimming.

• systems through which the product is cooled during its operation;
• standard plinth;
• ventilation holes.

To control the brightness level in a conventional lighting system, many leading manufacturers produce special LED bulbs. On the packaging of such products there is always an inscription - “brightness control” or “dimmable”.

Bulb packaging that can be adjusted

Such lights work in the usual way, but their driver is able to respond to the behavior of a standard dimmer. When the knob is turned, the driver starts to generate current pulses with a greater or lesser duty cycle. In this way, you can adjust the brightness of the light by 10%. It is with this brightness that the light bulb will light up when the dimmer is turned on.
This product is slightly more expensive than the regular one. But on the other hand, it has additional features that will not be superfluous in a high-quality backlight system.

Range of control devices

Dimmers are quite widely represented on the lighting products market today. All their diversity can be divided into the following groups:

• modular. They are mounted on DIN rails in switchboards. Used very widely. Such devices can be used to adjust the brightness of lighting, create lighting effects, and also as part of the Smart Home system. The control mechanism here is carried out through remote controls and buttons. The regulator is placed in a mounting box. It can be installed instead of a switch. The control of such a device is carried out using a switch or buttons;

Modular dimmer

• monoblock devices. They can also be mounted in an installation box. It is the most common type of device of this kind. Such a dimmer is installed and connected in the same way as a simple switch - into the break of the phase wire;

Monoblock regulator

• portable blocks. They are used to connect spotlights equipped with LED bulbs. They are controlled by remote radio or infrared panels, as well as remote panels and conventional dimmers.

Remote block

Also, lighting dimmers, according to the control method, have the following classification:

• rotary. In this situation, a rotary knob is used that rotates clockwise and counterclockwise;
• rotary push. To turn on the device, you must press the knob, and the regulation process itself is carried out by a standard turn of the knob;

Note! With turn-push dimmers, you can turn off the load by placing the knob in a certain position.

• push-button (keyboard). There are keys on the front panel that can be used to decrease or increase the brightness;
• sensory. These are the most modern models. Management here is carried out by touching the touch panel.

You can use any type of dimmer in your home.

Compatibility of regulators with LED lamps

Not all dimmers can work with LED bulbs. Here you can use the following options:

• standard devices for adjusting LED bulbs;
• special PWM dimmer.

Note! Some dimmer circuits may not work properly with drivers from certain manufacturers.

Therefore, today the leading manufacturers of light bulbs (for example, Osram and Philips) work in conjunction with the following manufacturers of regulators: Legrand, ABB, Schneider Electric. To assess this compatibility, there are special tables.

Dimmer and driver compatibility tables (example)

Remember that when choosing a regulator, it is necessary to take into account the power of the available light source.

The relevance of using regulators

The question of the advisability of using dimmers to control the level of illumination of LED lamps is quite difficult to answer. After all, any regulator will cost money, besides, it still needs to be properly selected and installed. Therefore, many in this situation are asking the question “do we need dimmers at all?”. To answer this question, it is worth considering the advantages of such regulators. These include the following points:

• implementation of a flexible and easily controlled lighting system;
• reduction of electricity costs;
• no high heat release;
• installation of regulators operating from the remote control at times increase the comfort of using the backlight system;

Dimmer for LED lamps with remote control

• the ability to change the color of the glow and create various lighting effects.

At the same time, the only drawback of such a lighting system is the additional costs for the purchase and installation of equipment.

The dimmer is a very useful device, it can be used in all rooms. With this device, the brightness of the lighting is adjusted. The second name of a dimmer is a dimmer.

With the help of a dimmer, voltage and light are regulated in rooms, rooms and certain parts of an apartment or house. In addition to saving on lighting, using dimmers you can create interesting lighting designs.

• Modular. Install such dimmers, as a rule, in switchboards. With their help, lighting is controlled in stairwells and in corridors. The control is carried out by a key switch or a special button. By pressing this button, a person turns the lamps on and off, if the button is held for more than five seconds, then it becomes possible to adjust the brightness level of the lamps.
• Dimmers that are installed in the installation box. These regulators are used with halogen lamps and incandescent lamps, they are controlled by a special remote button.
• Monoblock dimmers. Such dimmers are installed in a conventional socket and connected like ordinary switches. It is recommended, however, to observe polarity when connecting.

Monoblock dimmers for control are divided into:

In addition to the above gradations of dimmers, they are also divided into types of lamps with which they work:

• Dimmers for halogen lamps 220V and incandescent. Almost all dimmers work with halogen and incandescent lamps. Provided that they work from 220V. Lamps have inertia, but there is no inductance and capacitance. It should be remembered that if the voltage decreases, then the color temperature of the light changes. It will decrease, and the radiation will begin to acquire a red tint. The color can become unpleasant at low lamp voltages.
• Dimmers for low voltage halogen lamps. If 12-24V halogen lamps are to be regulated, a step-down transformer is required in this case. The marking of such a transformer is RL. An electronic transformer requires dimmers marked C. This marking shows that it is possible to work with a capacitive load. Dimmers must be able to smoothly turn on and off the lamps. The service life of such lamps is significantly reduced due to sudden voltage drops.
• Brightness controls for fluorescent lamps. The regulation of such lamps is the most problematic. This type of lamp cannot be controlled by a standard starter. In this case, another starting device is needed. Such a device is called electronic ballast, that is, electronic control gear. With this equipment, the lamp is powered at a frequency of 20-50 kHz. By changing the frequency, you can also change the strength of the current that flows through the lamp, thus changing the level of glow.
• Regulators for LEDs. Pulse-width modulation is used to regulate LEDs. In other words, current pulses are applied to the LED, while the amplitude is optimal, and the pulse duration is adjustable, thus changing the brightness. There is no flicker, because there is a high pulse frequency, it can reach 300 kHz.

Dimmer - connection diagram

Seeing a dimmer, the question of how to connect it and what kind of circuit is needed disappears. It does not differ from a simple switch in size. The dimmer is installed in the same way as the switch in the mounting box. The dimmer is mounted in the mounting box using special tabs. The regulator is connected, like a switch, to break the lighting circuit. Polarity must be observed when connecting.

Is it possible to install a dimmer instead of a switch? Yes. And it's easy. First, the switch is dismantled. To carry out this operation, you need turn off mains voltage, and then make sure that it is missing using the indicator. Further, the frame from the switch is removed, and the screws of the mounting feet are unscrewed with a screwdriver. The switch is removed from the box and disconnected from the wires, for this you need to loosen the screws on the terminals. After these manipulations, you can begin to install the dimmer. All operations that were listed above must be performed in reverse order, you need to start by connecting the regulator to the wires.

Dimmer connection diagram

The wiring diagrams for the switch and dimmer are similar. Like a switch, a dimmer must be installed in series with the load.

For the bedroom, the most optimal and convenient scheme is to turn on the dimmer in series with a simple switch. It is recommended to install a dimmer next to the bed, to be able to control the light and still not get out of bed. Dimmers for LED lamps are becoming increasingly popular in smart home systems. The ability to control lighting allows you to create zoning rooms depending on a particular situation, if necessary, you can highlight and highlight the desired interior items.

How to properly connect a high-quality dimmer

To be able to adjust the lighting from different points, you can use high-quality imported push-button dimmers, for example, French-made regulators Legrand Valena. The peculiarity of this device is that there are additional control buttons in the kit, they can be installed in the desired room, however, there is a limitation fifty meters from the regulator to the remote button, which will be the farthest.

The connection diagram for a dimmer with remote control buttons is as follows. The phase wire goes to the number one dimmer terminal and the first button terminals, which are remote. From the second terminals of the buttons, which are remote, the wire must go to terminal B of the regulator. The load must be connected to terminal number two of the dimmer and the zero wire N.

Before installing the dimmer yourself, you must know a few rules to have an idea how to connect a dimmer:

1. Despite the fact that there are several options for connecting regulators, the dimmer connection diagram is simple - they are installed in series from power sources to a wire that is a phase wire in the mains.
2. In order to be able to adjust the lighting from several points in the room, it is recommended to use an expensive and high-quality dimmer that has additional remote buttons.

A modern dimmer for LED lamps has a complex electrical circuit, the work of which is to adjust. In addition, it serves as surge protection, acts as a load balancer and saves electrical life, extending lamp life.

Regulators for 220 V LED lamps are similar in functionality and structure to models for other light sources. In general, it is a switch with an adjusting wheel or buttons. On the body there are connections to the circuit for connecting wires. The functionality of the regulator is to cut off the voltage amplitude. By turning the wheel or pressing the buttons, the brightness of the lamp, and hence the entire lighting, changes. Dimmers for LED lamps have their own characteristics:

• the dimmer cannot adjust the brightness of each lighting cycle. It is better to do this periodically. If a lower brightness of light is required each time it is turned on, lamps of lower power must be installed in lighting fixtures;
• For the dimmer to work with LED lamps, a choke is required. This is due to the fact that such models are designed for less power;
• LED lamps have 10 times less power than conventional light sources, which requires the use of low-power dimmers for them;
• and, finally, their main difference lies in the adjustment. The brightness of LED lamps is regulated not by a decrease or increase in current strength, but by changing its pulses in the mains.

It is these features that indicate why you can not put a dimmer LED lamps with other types of lamps. The switch and lamps must be compatible.

Management difference

There are different types of dimmers for, which differ in their control:

• mechanical control is performed by a button or a wheel. The mechanism can be rotary, push or turn-and-push. Turning the wheel or pressing a button changes the brightness of the light;
• electronic control has a switch, which has a touch or infrared sensor;
• acoustic adjustment occurs due to the presence of a sensor that responds to loud sounds, such as a person's voice. The disadvantage of this control is an unplanned change in the brightness of the lighting from the sound of accidentally falling objects;
• remote adjustment is carried out through the control panel. With such a dimmer it is convenient to adjust or turn on the lighting without getting up.

Of all the models considered, the rotary switch can be considered the most reliable. Its mechanism is simple and affordable. When performing installation, it is easiest to find accessories. One of the main and popular manufacturers of dimmers is Legrand.

Difference by type of installation

Modern models of LED dimmers have a large assortment, which differ in the type of installation:

• modular models are mounted on a DIN rail and placed in a switchboard. They are controlled by remote controllers. In addition to changing the brightness of the lamps, the switch has additional functions;
• monoblock models are quite common. They can be installed instead of a conventional switch, but they must have a PWM function;
• according to the type of installation, regulators are for hidden and external wiring.

What is PWM?

PWM stands for Pole-Width Modulation. It is used to adjust the glow of LED lamps. The principle of operation of the PWM generator is to generate a high-frequency current of about 200 Hz, which is required for the operation of the LED lamp. The change in the brightness of the glow comes from a change in voltage, width and time of the positive pulse. An electrical signal is generated at the output of the PWM generator, while the frequency and magnitude of the current do not change.

Compatibility of LED lamps

To find out which dimmer you need to purchase, you need to determine its compatibility with the light source. Since LED lamps are adjustable and non-adjustable, not every dimmer can be put in a circuit. Some manufacturers produce LED lamps that work with a specific regulator. You can determine their compatibility according to the tables held by the sellers of this type of product. Before installing the dimmer, you need to study the technical characteristics of the light sources:

1. Non-dimmable lamps cannot be placed together with a dimmer. This will lead to their poor performance, and in case of failure, the seller or manufacturer will refuse warranty service.
2. Dimmable lamps often operate with standard regulators that operate on a phase-cutting principle. But here you need to know that the quality of dimming lighting is affected by the number of LEDs on the switch. Most regulators require a minimum load of 20-45 watts for optimal performance. If 1 incandescent lamp is enough to achieve such power, then 2 or 3 LEDs with a voltage of 220 V will have to be connected.
3. If only 1 LED lamp is required for lighting, it is better to use a low voltage regulator. It is designed to adjust low-voltage LED lighting, which has a magnetic transformer.

When buying LED lamps, you need to pay attention to the packaging. Manufacturers indicate on it whether a regulator can be used. It can be an inscription or a round icon.

Calculation of the maximum number of lamps

When choosing a regulator for do-it-yourself installation on home lighting, you must take into account its power. It will not work to calculate the maximum number of LED lamps for 220 V according to the principle of calculating conventional light sources. The easiest way is to contact a specialist for advice or, if 1 220 V lamp is used to illuminate the room, take it with you to the store and test it for performance by connecting it to the regulator.

But if a decision is made, let's look at the differences between conventional and 220V LED light sources:

• the number of conventional light sources can be calculated by dividing the maximum power of the regulator by the power of one lamp;
• to calculate the maximum number of LED light sources 220 V, you need to divide the maximum power of the regulator by 10. Divide the result by the power of the LED lamp.

Self-installation of the regulator

The process of connecting the regulator with your own hands is quite simple:

1. Turn off the power supply at the electricity meter.
2. At the installation site, it is necessary to cut the electrical wiring and strip the ends of the wires.
3. Apply electricity to the network and find the phase wire with a tester or probe. After that, the power must be turned off again.
4. On the regulator, connect the phase wire to the connector with the letter L, and insert the other wire into the connector with the letter N. After that, clamp the wires with clamps and check the connection.
5. After the whole circuit is assembled, level the dimmer by adjusting it with the adjusting bolts.
6. Fasten the decorative casing from above and, after applying voltage, test the system's performance.

At this stage, if all lighting devices are working properly, do-it-yourself installation of the regulator can be considered finished.

Homemade regulator

The scheme of a homemade dimmer is quite simple. If the house has a soldering iron and radio components, you can solder it with your own hands, of course, it is advisable to have at least minimal radio skills.

To make a regulator with your own hands, you will need a copper wire, a triac, two capacitors, a dinistor, variable and constant resistors, as well as a soldering iron with solder. Install the radio components on a textolite board, and solder them together with a wire as indicated in the diagram.

The principle of operation of a homemade circuit is to supply current from a variable resistor to a non-polar capacitor. In turn, it is charged and gives energy to the lamp. If the circuit is assembled correctly and all parts are operational, the regulator should work.

By installing a dimmer on 220 V LED lighting on his own, the owner will take a step towards creating high-tech housing.

In contact with

It looks like a dimmer for incandescent lamps

In this article, we will consider a device that is sold in electrical stores as a dimmer for incandescent lamps. This is about dimmer. The name comes from the English verb "to dim" - to darken, to become dull. In other words, you can adjust the brightness of an incandescent lamp with a dimmer.

At the same time, it is remarkable that the power consumption also decreases proportionally. Although the dimmer has many more applications, which we will talk about at the end of the article.

The simplest dimmers have one rotary knob for adjustment and two leads for connection, and are used to dim incandescent and halogen lamps. Recently, dimmers have also appeared to adjust the brightness of fluorescent lamps.

In fact, a dimmer is a switch with a dimmer that can simply be connected instead of a rocker switch. But more on that later.

Previously, rheostats were used to adjust the brightness of incandescent lamps, the power of which was not less than the load power. Moreover, when the brightness was lowered, the remaining power was not saved in any way, but was dissipated uselessly in the form of heat on the rheostat. At the same time, no one talked about saving, it simply did not exist. And such devices were used where it was really only necessary to adjust the brightness - for example, in theaters.

This was before the advent of remarkable semiconductor devices - dinistor And triac(symmetrical thyristor). In English practice, other names are accepted - diak And triac. These names have almost entered the Russian electronic reality.

Dimmer connection diagram

The scheme for switching on a dimmer is impossibly simple - you can’t imagine it easier. It turns on in the same way as a conventional switch - in the break of the load power supply circuit, that is, the lamp. In terms of installation dimensions and mounting, the dimmer is identical to the switch. Therefore, you can install it in the same way as a switch - in a mounting box, and installing a dimmer does not differ from installing a conventional switch.

A physics textbook for the 5th grade ... But this is for the sake of consistency.

How to connect a dimmer instead of a switch

Recently, people are increasingly changing conventional switches to dimmers. Changing a switch to a dimmer is very easy. The switch has two outputs (two terminals), the dimmer also has two terminals. We simply connect the dimmer instead of the switch, using the same wires that were connected to the switch.

Polarity doesn't matter. However, if using a phase indicator (indicator screwdriver) you determined where the phase is, then it is better to connect the phase conductor to the L terminal of the dimmer. Just for order.

Turning on a light bulb with a dimmer

The only condition that the manufacturer makes is to observe the connection of the leads to the phase and to the load. Although, as practice shows, you don’t have to bother with this - everything works well with any connection.

If earlier the chandelier was turned on through a two-gang switch, then through the dimer all the bulbs will light up (glow) at the same time. We put a phase on one terminal of the dimmer, and the other two wires on the second.

Types of dimmers

All dimmers that are now on sale can be divided into 2 groups - rotary (with a regulator - potentiometer) and electronic, controlled by buttons.

When adjusting (dimming) the potentiometer knob, the brightness depends on the angle of rotation. And one rotary dimmer works like one switch, you can't get more out of it. I'm talking about feed-through switches, parallel-series switching, etc. My not entirely successful experience is described on SamElectric in an article.

A push-button dimmer is more flexible in terms of control flexibility. You can connect several buttons in parallel, and control the dimmer from any number of places. Of course, this is theoretical, in practice the number of control places is limited to 3-4, and the maximum length of the wires is about 10 meters, and the circuit can be critical to interference and interference. There are also remote dimmers controlled by radio or infrared.

The price of dimmers with a regulator and with buttons differs by an order of magnitude, because a push-button dimmer (for example, a Legrand dimmer) is usually assembled using a microcontroller. Therefore, much more common rotary dimmers, which we will consider below.

There are also industrial varieties of dimmers in the form of solid-state relays with resistor control, this type of dimmer is discussed in the article.

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Dimmer device for incandescent lamps

Here are some photos of rotary dimmer designs.

Gunsan Dimmer Device

Gunsan dimmer - solder side view

Makel dimmer device

Makel Dimmer Device - Solder Side View

As you can see, the dimmer device is very simple, but may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. At the same time, the main difference is in the quality of the assembly and components.

Triac dimmer circuit

The scheme of triac dimmers is basically the same everywhere, differs only in the presence of additional parts for more stable operation at low “output” voltages and for smooth regulation. Also, details are introduced into the circuit to reduce the level of interference emitted by the dimer to the network.

The simplest dimer scheme

The principle of operation of the scheme is as follows. In order for the lamp to light up, it is necessary that the triac passes a current through itself. This will happen when a certain voltage appears between the electrodes of the triac A1 and G (which one - see the datasheet, you can download at the bottom of the article). Here's how it appears.

At the beginning of the positive half-wave, the capacitor begins to charge through the potentiometer R. It is clear that the charge rate depends on the value of R. In clever words, the potentiometer changes the phase angle. When the voltage on the capacitor reaches a value sufficient to open the triac and dinistor (see the datasheet for the dinistor), the triac opens. In other words, its resistance becomes very small, and the light bulb burns until the end of the half-wave.

The same thing happens with the negative half-wave, since the diac and triac are symmetrical devices, and they do not care which way the current flows through them.

As a result, it turns out that the voltage on the active load is “stumps” of negative and positive half-waves, which follow each other with a frequency of 100 Hz. At low brightness, when the lamp is powered by very short “pieces” of voltage, flicker is noticeable. What can not be said about rheostat regulators and regulators with frequency conversion.

At the maximum resistance of the resistor R1, there will be a minimum burning of the lamp, since the triac will open at the end of the half-wave, or will not open at all.

Alternative use of the dimmer

The fact that a dimmer can only adjust the brightness of incandescent lamps is the narrow-mindedness of marketers, it has many more applications.

A dimmer is not only a dimmer, it can be used as a voltage regulator in general, connecting any active load through it - an incandescent lamp, a soldering iron, a kettle, an iron. But the main thing is that the maximum power of the dimmer (in other words, the maximum current of the triac) must correspond to the load.

It is not a fact that the load will behave adequately in this case, and will not be in danger of failing. For example, try dimming your TV) No, better not!

In addition, you can, for example, regulate the temperature of underfloor heating. This eliminates the need to purchase a temperature controller, which costs 3-5 times more.

Minus - there is no feedback and protection against overheating, but in many cases this is tolerable. After all, there is no feedback from the chandelier either - only through the eyes. And from the warm floor - through the legs, right? I put dimmers on underfloor heating, they work great for many years.

Triacs for dimmers. Manuals

You can choose a triac to repair or increase the power of a dimmer using these datasheets:

/ Datasheet, pdf, 183.12 kB, downloaded: 8909 times./

/ Datasheets, pdf, 150.55 kB, downloaded: 11792 times./

Consideration of the principle of operation of the dimmer on video

A friend talks very sensibly about the dimmer device: