Reducing power of halogen lamps

mkoblic · 2012-02-28T01:14:14+00:00

I have a bedside lamp with a 100W halogen lamp which runs directly off110V. In the base of the lamp is a small rotary switch about 3/4" indiameter. It has three positions: Full intensity, reduced intensityand off. No other parts are discernible.The question is: How does the lamp achieve the reduction in lightintensity (about half)?I actually know the answer because I took the switch apart but when Iwas looking for it before on Google etc. I could not find it.I am posting here to see how widely this trick is known.Oh, and the lamp is *metal*.Michael Koblic,Campbell River, BC

Feb 28, 2012 34 Replies

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Stormin Mormon 14 years ago

You ever cook hot dogs with the plug, cord, and two nails?

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

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The concept of dangerous electrical circuits brings back all kinds of nostalgic memories.

When I worked for a film company (a 1000 years ago) there were two favorite ways of boiling water for coffee on location:

1) A large wattage resistor connected directly to mains used as an immersion heater. Note: The mains were 220V.

2) A cup with two plates on top of each other but not touching, each connected to mains. Pour water directly into the cup, plug in. This arrangement boiled water literally in 3 seconds.

Yet the only mortality I remember was work-related: A broken cable under water.

Michael Koblic, Campbell River, BC

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Stormin Mormon 14 years ago

That looks fun!

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

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Winston 14 years ago

Electricity, is there no problem it can't solve?

--Winston

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etpm 14 years ago

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Wild_Bill 14 years ago

Wow.. Christmas dinner at the orphanage!

Just goes to show that hotdogs aren't just for ordinary days.

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Wild_Bill 14 years ago

The commercially produced product was the Presto HotDogger (as seen on Tv, probably).. Nope, not so much a viable product these days, but from back around the time of Yard Darts and other cool amusements.

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Michael A. Terrell 14 years ago

I was at a thrift store a few weeks ago, where they tried to give me a 'Hot Dogger' along with some printers.

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Michael A. Terrell 14 years ago

Did you hold the nails while it cooked? ;-)

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Stormin Mormon 14 years ago

No, for that I use my hot dog.

Christ>

Did you hold the nails while it cooked? ;-)

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Winston 14 years ago

I'd take the printers and leave the 'Hot Dogger', personally.

--Winston

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Michael A. Terrell 14 years ago

I did.

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Michael A. Terrell 14 years ago

Wimp! ;-)

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Michael A. Terrell 14 years ago

The most I've ever paid for a microwave was $2. It had a bad door switch that was replaced with one from my salvaged stock. A few months later the HV cap went bad and was replaced with a good used part. It is the only one I ever bought, and I've used them for 28 years. The first was a huge stainless steel Amana RADAR Range that was built for commercial use. It needed a 20A circuit, and was big enough for thrre liberal to dry their hair at the same time. :)

Some people just don't like high iron hotdogs. ;-)

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Bruce L. Bergman (munged human 14 years ago

Amazing thing about those Hot Doggers - the first generation used a food-grade Stainless for the spikes and they worked fine - then they used some sort of a Zamac alloy, and you wonder why the dogs tasted "off"...

Yeah, a Microwave doesn't make metal transfer into the food.

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