Light Dimmer

The light sources such as tube light or bulbs blink according to their particular watt rating. If you
need more light, then you have to use high watt bulb and if you need low light, then you have to
replace with low watt rating bulb. But, if there is not needed to change the brightness of the light
from the same light source, here is the simple light dimmer circuit project, which is used to
control the brightness of the light according to our requirement. This light dimmer circuit is used
to control the voltage which gets to the light. This circuit has been possible for many decades by
using variable transformers and resistors.

These methods have been used in public places like theaters and stage lighting, homes,
conference halls, restaurants, etc. But, light controlling methods are inexpensive, big and
efficiency is less and they are very hard to control for the remote areas. In the year between 1960
to 1970, power electronics have increased rapidly, TRIACs and thyristors came to the market. It
is very easy to design small and low cost light dimmer circuits with high efficiency.

The basic circuit of light dimmer using TRIAC is shown below and this circuit depends on phase
control. The variable resistor VR1 plays as a main controller in the light dimmer circuit. The
capacitor ‘C2’ in the circuit below gets charge from the main supply. In the circuit, variable
resistor VR1 and D1 DIAC are used to control the brightness of the lower level. To overcome the
interface problem, R2 & C3 are used. Here in this light dimmer circuit, without any change
DIAC can be replaced by the BC148 transistor. When the transistor is used instead of DIAC,
then the base terminal of the transistor not connected and remaining terminals like emitter and
collector are connected without the help of polarity. In this circuit, diode is used as a DIAC.

Working of light Dimmers

Modern light dimmers work by changing the duty cycle of the AC voltage which is applied to
the lights being controlled. For instance, if the voltage is applied to half of the AC cycle, then the
light bulb will appear with less intensity when it gets the full AC voltage. Because it gets the low
power to heat the filament. These light dimmers use the brightness knob to control at what point
each cycle to switch the light ON and OFF.

Typical light dimmers are built with thyristors and the fixed time when the thyristor is activated
virtual to the zero crossings of the AC power is used to determine the level of power. When the
thyristor activates then it keeps directing until the current passing through when it goes to zero.
The phase can be changed when the TRIAC is activated, you change the duty cycle and thus the
brightness of the light.

Here is the sine waveform of the normal AC power get from the receptacle

As you can observe, by changing the turn ON point, the power flowing to the bulb is variable
and hence the o/p of the light can be controlled. The benefit of thyristor over variable resistors is
that they waste very little power either they are ON or OFF. Typically thyristor causes 1 to 1.5 V
voltage drop when it passes the load current.

This is all about what is TRIAC, light dimmer circuit using TRIAC, working of light dimmers.
We hope that you have got a better understanding of this concept.Furthermore, any queries
regarding this topic or power electronics project ideas, , please give your valuable suggestions by
commenting in the comment section below. Here is a question for you, what are the applications
of light dimmers