Has anyone tried to use a dimmer switch as a soft-start device? I suspect that the chopped up ac would not work. Just wondering---------- thanks, Dewey

You can use it on old AC tube type devices. I've done it before, even on old tube type televisions with no bad results. I wouldn't let the set operate for a super long time like that, though. At full power there is little chance for harm, but at half power is when you have the spiky AC. Honestly, though, the roughest form of "AC," if you would like to call it that (really pulsating DC), is that from a mechanical vibrator, which causes no trouble.

I've done it before, though, with no trouble. You can try it, too. To be safe, don't operate the set for more than an hour that way. If you feel like monitoring the set longer, you can try it. Of course you're not likely to use the dimmer for anything other than a soft starter anyway, as it introduces enormous amounts of interferance.

Thomas

:You can use it on old AC tube type devices. I've done it before, even on old tube type televisions with no bad results. I wouldn't let the set operate for a super long time like that, though. At full power there is little chance for harm, but at half power is when you have the spiky AC. Honestly, though, the roughest form of "AC," if you would like to call it that (really pulsating DC), is that from a mechanical vibrator, which causes no trouble.
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Thanks Thomas, I think I will give it a try. I'm gonna rig up a box with a voltmeter. Thanks again, Dewey
:I've done it before, though, with no trouble. You can try it, too. To be safe, don't operate the set for more than an hour that way. If you feel like monitoring the set longer, you can try it. Of course you're not likely to use the dimmer for anything other than a soft starter anyway, as it introduces enormous amounts of interferance.
:
:Thomas

::You can use it on old AC tube type devices. I've done it before, even on old tube type televisions with no bad results. I wouldn't let the set operate for a super long time like that, though. At full power there is little chance for harm, but at half power is when you have the spiky AC. Honestly, though, the roughest form of "AC," if you would like to call it that (really pulsating DC), is that from a mechanical vibrator, which causes no trouble.
::
:Thanks Thomas, I think I will give it a try. I'm gonna rig up a box with a voltmeter. Thanks again, Dewey
::I've done it before, though, with no trouble. You can try it, too. To be safe, don't operate the set for more than an hour that way. If you feel like monitoring the set longer, you can try it. Of course you're not likely to use the dimmer for anything other than a soft starter anyway, as it introduces enormous amounts of interferance.
::
::Thomas

I'll do it right this time----------
Thanks Thomas, I think I will give it a try. I'm gonna rig up a box with a voltmeter. Thanks again, Dewey

Light dimmers were designed for use with resistive loads only. If your radio has a transformer, I would not recommend using a light dimmer in place of a Variac. A Variac puts out symmetrical AC. A light dimmer is not designed for symmetry. You could end up with some DC applied to the radio's transformer; it could saturate, pulling a very high current. A light dimmer maybe OK to use with AC/DC sets that have no power transformer.

Rich

:::You can use it on old AC tube type devices. I've done it before, even on old tube type televisions with no bad results. I wouldn't let the set operate for a super long time like that, though. At full power there is little chance for harm, but at half power is when you have the spiky AC. Honestly, though, the roughest form of "AC," if you would like to call it that (really pulsating DC), is that from a mechanical vibrator, which causes no trouble.
:::
::Thanks Thomas, I think I will give it a try. I'm gonna rig up a box with a voltmeter. Thanks again, Dewey
:::I've done it before, though, with no trouble. You can try it, too. To be safe, don't operate the set for more than an hour that way. If you feel like monitoring the set longer, you can try it. Of course you're not likely to use the dimmer for anything other than a soft starter anyway, as it introduces enormous amounts of interferance.
:::
:::Thomas
:
:I'll do it right this time----------
:Thanks Thomas, I think I will give it a try. I'm gonna rig up a box with a voltmeter. Thanks again, Dewey

When using a light dimmer for long periods of time, you may run into trouble with transformer operated devices, but when using it as a soft starter for short term monitoring purposes (say 20 minutes maximum), I have found that it causes no harm. I have used them for up to an hour. If the transformer starts getting too warm, you can simply turn it off. Of course, if you are soft starting a device of unknown condition, the transformer may be getting warm from internal problems. I would not use the dimmer on any modern electronic device. A tube type device is crude enough that it will not likely be damaged, especially for short periods of time. If the dimmer put out solid filtered DC, the transformer would surely be ruined, but whatever pulsating mess that dimmers put out, it does not constitute solid DC in any way. I've never looked at a dimmer's output on an oscilloscope, so I don't know what it looks like, but I know that it pulsates at regular 60 cycle intervals, which is what a power transformer requires.

If we all recall vibrator operated radios, we can see here that the transformers do not receive symmetrical AC. Each side of a center tapped primary, where the center tap is tied to the negative side of the supply, receives a positive jolt each time the point for each side of the center tap closes. Each side does not receive perfect sign wave positive negative AC, but rather pulsating DC.

Thomas

:Light dimmers were designed for use with resistive loads only. If your radio has a transformer, I would not recommend using a light dimmer in place of a Variac. A Variac puts out symmetrical AC. A light dimmer is not designed for symmetry. You could end up with some DC applied to the radio's transformer; it could saturate, pulling a very high current. A light dimmer maybe OK to use with AC/DC sets that have no power transformer.

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:Rich
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::::You can use it on old AC tube type devices. I've done it before, even on old tube type televisions with no bad results. I wouldn't let the set operate for a super long time like that, though. At full power there is little chance for harm, but at half power is when you have the spiky AC. Honestly, though, the roughest form of "AC," if you would like to call it that (really pulsating DC), is that from a mechanical vibrator, which causes no trouble.
::::
:::Thanks Thomas, I think I will give it a try. I'm gonna rig up a box with a voltmeter. Thanks again, Dewey
::::I've done it before, though, with no trouble. You can try it, too. To be safe, don't operate the set for more than an hour that way. If you feel like monitoring the set longer, you can try it. Of course you're not likely to use the dimmer for anything other than a soft starter anyway, as it introduces enormous amounts of interferance.
::::
::::Thomas
::
::I'll do it right this time----------
::Thanks Thomas, I think I will give it a try. I'm gonna rig up a box with a voltmeter. Thanks again, Dewey