Dimmer switches are simple electronic devices that are used to control the brightness level of lighting. Many homeowners have dimmers installed to control lighting, save money on their electric bills or as an extended feature of their security system. Dimmer switches can easily be installed by electricians or by people who are knowledgeable about hooking up these types of devices. Keep reading to understand how dimmer
switches work and how they can benefit your home environment. Dimmer switches simply raise or lower the brightness in electric light bulbs. They are often used in homes and businesses to conserve energy and to control the lighting environment. Dimmer switches can be hooked into your smart home’s functions for controlling the ambiance in your home. You can automatically set the lights to dim at a certain time with timers or smart controls, or adjust the
light level manually. There are several advantages to installing dimmer switches in your home. Related: Easy Ways to Improve the Lighting in Your Home The key to using a dimmer switch is knowing how to get the best results out of the device, so it helps to understand how it works. Dimmer switches use simple electrical principles to function depending on their type. Your basic dimmer switch simply reduces the amount of electricity flowing through a circuit to reduce the brightness of a light. However, modern dimmer devices work differently. Modern dimmers take electricity that is flowing through a light’s circuit and switch it on and then off. When this happens, it diverts electricity from the light bulb. The amount of electrical current flowing through the lightbulb is reduced. Keep in mind that the on/off flow of electricity or “switching cycle” is controlled by your home’s AC current. A dimmer switch changes the direction of electrical flow every time that it is used to dim or brighten the lights. The flow of electricity always alternates between positive and negative. When the circuit alternates it will automatically shut the circuit off or on. Ultimately, the dimmer switch controls the electrical cycle for dimming a light. When the switch is turned down low the cycle takes longer to complete, and the light emits a lower level of brightness. When it’s turned up, it burns brighter because the on/off cycle flows more easily. The cycle also takes less time to complete. Types of Dimmer SwitchesElectricians have devised different types of dimmer switches throughout the past 100 years. Dimmer switches with on/off functions offer better control of power usage and they help to save more money, which is why these types are commonly used today. Dimmer switches are created with 4 basic designs: integrated, touch, slide and rotary.
A Las Vegas electrician can install dimmer switches in your home. Fowler Electric can safely set up your switches and lights so that you can start saving energy and control the mood in your home. Have a question? Shoot us an email! If you’d like to upgrade your lights and switches, give Fowler Electric a call today. Or set up an appointment for a free estimate below. 702-778-4346 Photo by Reinaldo Kevin on Unsplash Please follow and like us: Post navigationCan you put a dimmer switch in any light?Can You Put a Dimmer Switch on Any Light? Most light fixtures work with a dimmer switch, and you can use a dimmer switch with all sorts of light bulbs, including incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and LEDs.
How does Dimmable lighting work?The most common LED dimmers are phase-cutting dimmers. All phase-cutting dimmers work by switching the AC mains supply to the LED lamp on and off twice in every mains cycle. This has the effect of reducing the flow of electrical energy to the LED lamp or fixture, so reducing its light output.
How do modern dimmer switches work?A modern dimmer switch "chops up" the sine wave. It automatically shuts the light bulb circuit off every time the current reverses direction -- that is, whenever there is zero voltage running through the circuit. This happens twice per cycle, or 120 times a second.
Does a dimmer reduce voltage or wattage?A dimmer switch doesn't control amps, and it doesn't directly control volts. Instead, it interrupts the alternating current (AC) voltage. It's not reducing the voltage but limiting the flow by switching the current on and off, which provides the dimmed effect.
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