Let there be light, just the way you like it
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Light dimmers are being extensively used these days.
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Light dimmers are used to raise or lower light levels to make it appropriate to the need. They are used extensively in public spaces such as restaurants and theatres and in homes too.
The rudimentary light controls employed resisters or variable transformers. They were bulky, expensive and inefficient to a large extent. The new generation dimmers are based on Triac or Thyristor as the power control device and are efficient. They ar
e not bulky and come in various shapes and colours to meet home needs.
Controlling voltage
In physical terms, the dimming of the light is achieved by controlling the voltage that gets to the bulb. If adjustable power resisters were used initially to control the voltage, electronics has come to play a big role now in light dimmers, making them cheaper, easily and more finely controllable and more efficient.
Dimmers have now become essential parts of homes and automobiles too. Various levels of light help night driving just as varying light levels can be used in a family drawing room.
From being just on or off, dimmers now help light up areas, including theatre stages to appropriate levels. For example, dimmers can now be made to slowly fade out instead of being just on or off.
Most homes use remote light dimmers. Generally they are knob-operated for home purposes, aesthetically designed and textured to meet the home decor needs.
Since electronics is into play, there are also programmable dimmers which offer convenience over the ordinary dimmers. As homes grow more sophisticated and the need for energy saving is emphasised, light dimmers are being more and more seen as part of intelligent lighting levels that will be part of home automation.
Dimming a bulb can save high levels of energy and experts claim varying levels of energy savings through use of dimmers. They also say that life of the lamps can be extended using dimmers.
In house automation, dimmers can save energy through appropriate light levels by detecting occupancy.
Movements in a room can be detected and fed to the light control device which in turn will either raise or lower the light levels.
In areas where air-conditioning is used, lowering the heat level in a room through use of dimmers will save energy.
Home security
Finely controlled light dimmers can play a key role in home security too.
Using different modes of lighting can ensure that a home is lighted at normal levels for a period even if there are no occupants in the house.
Using timing devices or movement detectors can help vary the light levels depending on the requirements.
In general, dimmers help us improve the quality of lighting in our environs be it home or office.
Large spaces too have come under the influence of light controllers such as in a hospital or a museum where light levels are controlled for comfort or efficiency.
The fact that home automation is catching up has led to continuing research and development improving the light dimmers to make them ultimately a major part of our lives.
K.A. MARTIN
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