ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Violation Photo Forum Homemade Dimmer Switch

What happens if your TV gets plugged in there by mistake and you dim it? Would it damage the TV?

It would likely damage both TV and dimmer, and possibly cause an injury.

I have one in a metal box with a metal cover with the top marked "Ctl 600W MAX" and the bottom marked as unswitched. I used a 14# cord and use mine for specific applications. I doubt it would over dissipate if I plugged most TVs into it. It's harder to predict what the front end of a set would do because of variations between sets. I think most sets would survive with a shutdown. The lowered input average voltage might cause a switching element to have a higher duty cycle and average current causing a failure. I have seen a camera control unit power supply die that way. Specifics were a sine wave input of 77 VAC, rather than a phase controlled 120, but the net result was the same.
Joe

I would add that I think the guy should be shot for clashing a white duplex with an ivory or almond dimmer and cover like that!

[This message has been edited by JoeTestingEngr (edited 10-30-2006).]

Hemingway what kind of damage/pi you think it would cause?

FWIW back in '77 my parents bought a house that was built in '48. The living room had 5 outlets, 3 of them controlled by a standard dimmer switch. They never used the dimmer but they did have their TV and stereo plugged into the receptacles that were controlled by it.

Eventually the dimmer was replaced by a standard wall switch, the kind that make the loud "click" when turned on and off, sort of like a circuit breaker does.

I built a similar device to control the heat output on my soldering iron. I used a metal box and taylor cover as well as cabtyre. I am sure it is not "approved"

Dawg,

Damage to the TV set and Dimmer, and personal injury should something explode or ignite. It would likely only happen if you tried to dim the load though. I'm not too sure of this as I have never done it, but I advise against finding out.

Hmm, something else for Mythbusters.

Ian A.

A few years back I had to reduce the flow on a pond pump. I called the motor manufacturer and he said he'd send me a speed control. I received a 600 watt generic rotary dimmer and a bill for $20 (plus shipping).
It worked and has been working ever since, doesn't hurt the motor either.
Don't know about the listing but the mfg said this is what they have been using for years.

I had an old blender with no speed control, just an on/off switch. On a whim, I installed a 600W dimmer in it. It worked for maybe a week before it started sporadically turning on and off, or would only work on high speed. I figured the dimmer just couldn't handle the motor load. I wonder how come the pumps work so well?

-John