TRIAC Light Dimmer

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This little circuit can be used to dim lights up to about 350 watts. It uses a simple, standard TRIAC circuit that, in my expirience, generates very little heat. Please note that this circuit cannot be used with fluorescent lights.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
R1	1	50K Pot
R2	1	15K 1/2W Resistor
C1, C2	2	0.068 250V Capacitor
L1	1	Lamp To Be Controlled (up to 350 watts)
L2	1	Neon Lamp
TR1	1	40502 TRIAC
MISC	1	Case, Knob, Heatsink For TR1, Wire, Socket For L1

Notes

This circuit is for 117VAC only. 220 or 240 V will burn up the circuit. L1 can be a maximum of 350 watts.

The circuit must be installed and used in a case.

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Comments

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anonymous TRIAC Light Dimmer Sunday, March 29, 2009 2:43:20 PM

The neon lamp in the circuit above (L2) can be replaced with a diac. When the diac's breakover voltage is exceeded, the triac gets fired. What do you think of this modification?

asskicker TRIAC Light Dimmer Friday, March 06, 2009 11:03:29 PM

this project is very bad

anonymous TRIAC Light Dimmer Friday, January 30, 2009 10:44:42 AM

1: how can you make this use more channels (16 or so) and 2: what actually controlls the dimming of this and 3:will this work with leds and not have a flickering problem ??? If not how can you make it work with leds so there is no flickering problem as it is dimmed..

anonymous TRIAC Light Dimmer Wednesday, January 28, 2009 7:22:45 PM

Why does the circuit have a neon lamp? Can it be replaced, if so, by what?

anonymous TRIAC Light Dimmer Tuesday, August 05, 2008 9:48:59 PM

can i have circuit to dim DC by dimming AC only?

Ganesh Thenge TRIAC Light Dimmer Wednesday, June 25, 2008 3:10:20 AM

How the phase is controlled by triac?

anonymous TRIAC Light Dimmer Wednesday, May 21, 2008 5:17:17 PM

what value is that supposed to be? .068F? or .068uF??

yasir TRIAC Light Dimmer Tuesday, April 22, 2008 4:53:01 PM

hii, plz message the working of this circuit & how can vary the bright of the lamp (in gate of triac which element varying current , voltage or freequancy of the gate pulse)

doctorDHD TRIAC Light Dimmer Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:01:39 AM

Here is a link to a 220VAC dimmer http://www.electronics-project-design.com/Light-Dimmer-Circuit.html

Zanes TRIAC Light Dimmer Wednesday, March 19, 2008 7:35:17 AM

sir, do i have to change the type of triac if i intend to use 220VAC supply?

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anonymous	TRIAC Light Dimmer	Sunday, March 29, 2009 2:43:20 PM
The neon lamp in the circuit above (L2) can be replaced with a diac. When the diac's breakover voltage is exceeded, the triac gets fired. What do you think of this modification?
asskicker	TRIAC Light Dimmer	Friday, March 06, 2009 11:03:29 PM
this project is very bad
anonymous	TRIAC Light Dimmer	Friday, January 30, 2009 10:44:42 AM
1: how can you make this use more channels (16 or so) and 2: what actually controlls the dimming of this and 3:will this work with leds and not have a flickering problem ??? If not how can you make it work with leds so there is no flickering problem as it is dimmed..
anonymous	TRIAC Light Dimmer	Wednesday, January 28, 2009 7:22:45 PM
Why does the circuit have a neon lamp? Can it be replaced, if so, by what?
anonymous	TRIAC Light Dimmer	Tuesday, August 05, 2008 9:48:59 PM
can i have circuit to dim DC by dimming AC only?
Ganesh Thenge	TRIAC Light Dimmer	Wednesday, June 25, 2008 3:10:20 AM
How the phase is controlled by triac?
anonymous	TRIAC Light Dimmer	Wednesday, May 21, 2008 5:17:17 PM
what value is that supposed to be? .068F? or .068uF??
yasir	TRIAC Light Dimmer	Tuesday, April 22, 2008 4:53:01 PM
hii, plz message the working of this circuit & how can vary the bright of the lamp (in gate of triac which element varying current , voltage or freequancy of the gate pulse)
doctorDHD	TRIAC Light Dimmer	Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:01:39 AM
Here is a link to a 220VAC dimmer http://www.electronics-project-design.com/Light-Dimmer-Circuit.html
Zanes	TRIAC Light Dimmer	Wednesday, March 19, 2008 7:35:17 AM
sir, do i have to change the type of triac if i intend to use 220VAC supply?