Electrical type question
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
Electrical type question
I am taking an apprentice course to be an electrician. I am just beggining it though and dont know alot of stuff yet! I was curious if this would work. Get a male extension type end, wire it to dimmer switch, and add a outlet on the end. Would that work if a guy was trying to reduce the current going to something that was plugged in the outlet? I am sure it would, but ya know!
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: London Canada
I really wouldn't do that. First because whatever you plug into that cord probably won't like the fact that it has a lower voltage and needs 110-120V. Second dimmers are not really rated for serious ampacity. You plug anything over a couple of amps and the dimmer will go poof up into smoke and probably arc really nicely (not a good thing). It sounds kinda like you want to make your own variable speed controllor. A speed controller is smiliar but still differant then a dimmer. I would use the correct device for what you want to do and I would not use any electrical product or device other then what it was designed for.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
Yes I was going to try and make a speed controller of a sort. I just have seen dans and whatnot, and was thinking maybe a guy could build a portable type one that you could use for different things. There would be no splicing or anything done, I was thinking of using some nmd9 14/2 and running it into a device box with a dimmer into it, was just curious if this would actually work. Since there is 120 volts on those fans and lights, I thought it would work on just about anything that is around the same voltage. Wasnt sure about how much current the switch would take though.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Roseburg, OR
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Connecticut
Sounds like your talking about using two variac transformers switches. If you had the first one set at a 1/4 power and want to be able to use the second to go from 0 to max which would be a 1/4 power of primary. To make it do micro changes? It would never go higher then the max 120 volt of the first variac transformer. If your talking about switching 208/230 to 120 volt you would need a step down transformer. And it would be cheaper to use straight 110. or am I missing your thought?
Something like this?
http://variac.com/staco_variable_transformer_3pn221.htm
Something like this?
http://variac.com/staco_variable_transformer_3pn221.htm
Last edited by Dungeon_Master; Jan 26, 2006 at 07:11 PM.
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variable speed controller
The dimmer adds resistance to bring the voltage down, for dimming incandescent fixtures or lamps, A motor controller works as a small variable transformer, and not all motors are variable speed. The sewing machine idea is not a good one either, I'm not sure about the newest sewing machines but the old ones used a DC motor, so they did use dimmer type switches (foot pedal) They could plug it into the wall and as long as the foot pedal is depressed it would control the speed BUT if you bypass the foot pedal with these particular DC motors then they would just run away in some cases 10,000rpm's plus, or until you kill the power. NOT all DC motors can be plugged into the wall, so don't try it.
Harbor Freight offers a variable speed router control for a reasonable price, if you must have one, but there again it must be rated for such use.
Good luck
Harbor Freight offers a variable speed router control for a reasonable price, if you must have one, but there again it must be rated for such use.
Good luck
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Home, at last!
Dimmers are for lights, anything else, call us before you use it. I think most of us here like seeing firemen in action.
You want variable A/C, buy a variac but beware, not all equipment running on 120 volts A/C like lower voltage.
You want variable A/C, buy a variac but beware, not all equipment running on 120 volts A/C like lower voltage.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
I still have a heavy guage cord with a "SLAP" type wall switch mounted in a project box that splits into two extensions to plug in bedside lamps so you can turn them off by reaching over instead of getting up.
I used to have one with a dimmer switch - but it was for lights only.
Even if they are used for lights, you need to look at the spec for such a device and see how many lights or watts (watts being the big one) they are rated for.
A single cutoff switch for a single device might make a good safety shut-off, but it needs to have a fuse or a breaker in the unit.
I used to have one with a dimmer switch - but it was for lights only.
Even if they are used for lights, you need to look at the spec for such a device and see how many lights or watts (watts being the big one) they are rated for.
A single cutoff switch for a single device might make a good safety shut-off, but it needs to have a fuse or a breaker in the unit.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,899
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From: Cullman Alabama
You keep thinking and dreaming and inventing, Preppy. You'll look back some day and marvel at how much you've learned.
Learn it all. That field is so wide and deep you just dont know where your next job will be or what it will be.
But it will all be interesting.
I almost gave up a really good carreer field to do electrical work. For the simple reason I could go anywhere and find work in a heartbeat, but some places have different working conditions, closer to recreation, and lot's of business opportunities.
Do good, keep your eyes and ears open.
Learn it all. That field is so wide and deep you just dont know where your next job will be or what it will be.
But it will all be interesting.
I almost gave up a really good carreer field to do electrical work. For the simple reason I could go anywhere and find work in a heartbeat, but some places have different working conditions, closer to recreation, and lot's of business opportunities.
Do good, keep your eyes and ears open.
Last edited by Thudpucker; Jan 27, 2006 at 09:14 PM.