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Post by unreg on Feb 12, 2021 18:09:42 GMT -5
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Post by unreg on Feb 12, 2021 18:46:54 GMT -5
From Lutron’s Rotary Dimmer (2nd link above) instructions: 7. Recommended minimum load is 40 W. ^that’s good, if this switch will work , bc my soldering iron is 40 W!  edit: Actually, the wall provides the power load to the dimmer; that power from the dimmer is sent to the electrical outlet; therefore, I could use a 10 watt soldering iron and the circuit would work regardless. My post directly above my completed picture post, below, talks about this edit. |
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Post by unreg on Feb 13, 2021 1:43:37 GMT -5
Nope, that’s not a triac-based dimmer bc triac, after looking it up, refers to a dimmer that works exactly how you described reTrEaD. (Removed link bc it was failing to work correctly.) Guess it has to say triac if it’s a triac-based dimmer.  |
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Post by unreg on Feb 13, 2021 2:14:31 GMT -5
Guess it has to say triac if it’s a triac-based dimmer. Nope again; this quote, below, was found in a DuckDuckGo link summary for a page that was at lutron.com... Forward Phase- Also known as leading edge, incandescent, MLV, or triac-based dimming. The vast majority of dimmers installed today are this type. This is a line-voltage dimming method. Reverse Phase- Also known as trailing edge, ELV, or FET-based dimming. But that page no longer contains that text... at least on this phone’s Firefox browser. |
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Post by gumbo on Feb 13, 2021 8:43:28 GMT -5
Trailing edge dimmers are what is required for dimming (dimable!) LED light bulbs/globes....these dimmers usually carry some notation on the packaging to suggest they will be suitable for LED lights...
If that text is missing in the description (or it says categorically that it will NOT suit LED lights), it's probably a fair bet that it's a leading edge dimmer...
In Oz, there's presently a legislated push to bring in the common use of LED lights in the domestic market to reduce the overall energy consumption, here as is the present case for a number of other countries, older leading edge dimmers are being replaced with trailing edge examples to assist the compliance with the take-up legislation...the (used) old leading edge dimmers (for incandescent bulbs) are being thrown out in droves...
...check 'old-stock' bins in electrical supply stores...you may find what you're looking for cheap or free...
HTH
Peter
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Post by unreg on Feb 13, 2021 13:53:22 GMT -5
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Post by unreg on Mar 2, 2021 10:36:50 GMT -5
Picked up my dimmer yesterday! But, it says ECO, in the link of the dimmer I obtained, bc it says, in small print on the package’s back,”Maximum light output of 85% guarantees 15% energy savings over standard switches.” So now my soldering iron will be restricted to a max of 85% of its 900°F? It also says, at the top of a small chart, on the back: So the electricity output is always reduced at least 15%.... Though, 900°F * 85% = 765°F; hmm... 765°F seems like a nice guitar soldering iron temp. It could take a bit longer to heat up, but maybe this will be ok. 👍 |
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Post by unreg on Mar 2, 2021 11:42:34 GMT -5
Though, 900°F * 85% = 765°F; hmm... 765°F seems like a nice guitar soldering iron temp. It could take a bit longer to heat up, but maybe this will be ok. 👍 No, I’m going to get the cheaper (~$6) dimmer... 765°F may be a bit low. |
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Post by gumbo on Mar 9, 2021 8:12:15 GMT -5
Remind me what SOLDER you are using and whether it contains lead....
...you should be able to sufficiently heat LEAD-FREE Solder at 765F... !
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Post by unreg on Mar 9, 2021 11:48:22 GMT -5
Hi Peter. Thank you 😊 I’m using Sn 62/Pb 36/Ag 2 Rosin-Core Solder. I think Pb is lead. Ag is silver, I remember that! It’s ok though, the ~$6 dimmer works wonderfully. I can keep the dial at full to heat my soldering iron quickly... and then turn it about 90° to arrive at a nice temperature where my iron’s tinned tip won’t burn/blacken almost instantaneously. I can’t measure how hot the tip is after the ~90° turn bc the temp device that came with my multimeter is restricted to measuring a maximum of 375°F. Buying a new temp device is supposedly possible, but isn’t necessary now. I want to post a photo of my dimmer to electrical outlet, but I don’t think it’s ready for a photo yet. It definitely works wonderfully; two days ago it was quite easy to use my soldering iron to replace a waffle iron’s power cord for my uncle. 👍😀 |
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Post by unreg on Mar 9, 2021 15:51:49 GMT -5
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Post by unreg on Mar 10, 2021 22:36:18 GMT -5
Thank you so much reTrEaD! And thank you gumbo for your extremely helpful illumination of lamp dimmer history!
This is how it looks... just need some outlet covers.
My uncle provided me an electrical outlet and explained how to hook one up. He also provided the boxes (generally used in a wall), the pipe that's connecting them, and the two covers... I discovered, found, and bought a blank wall plate insert at Home Depot, brought it to my uncle, and he drilled a hole in the center of it for me (as a Home Depot shopper advised). I used one of his leftover cords, cut it up a bunch; it’s providing power correctly to the entire two boxes. It was quite a learning experience.  Bought some items ~$2 that I can't use, but it was fun.
Your idea, reTrEaD, works wonderfully! PRAISE GOD!!
p.s. the chicken-head knob wasn't needed bc Lutron's knobs have a small point; but, I may get one later. Oh Lutron’s dimmer allows the knob to be pressed down to, in my case, turn off/on the outlets; which is really cool bc I can leave the dimmer at useable soldering temperature setting; don’t have to turn the dial all the way to shut the circuit off. |
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Post by gumbo on Mar 11, 2021 9:18:04 GMT -5
Hi Peter. Thank you 😊 I’m using Sn 62/Pb 36/Ag 2 Rosin-Core Solder. I think Pb is lead. Ag is silver, I remember that! . 👍😀 That is a relatively common alloy combination for "Leaded" solder...although some of the cheaper versions omit the silver content... ...I have found that the addition of silver certainly makes the stuff flow better...it also helps when reworking. ...yes, Pb is Lead, and "Sn" is 'Tin'..  Cheers, Peter |
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Post by unreg on Mar 11, 2021 11:46:18 GMT -5
...I have found that the addition of silver certainly makes the stuff flow better... After reTrEaD posted a www.kester.com/knowledge-base/faq%2345312-2-silver-when-a-silver-alloy-is-recommendedkester link, I followed it and discovered, in their “Sn60 vs Sn63” faq: So, until now, I’ve been under the impression that my solder only flows better bc it contains less Lead... thank you Peter. Cheers, Matthew p.s. Though, if it contains silver, then that should decrease the percentage of Lead, right? Hmmm... |
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Post by gumbo on Mar 12, 2021 5:26:55 GMT -5
...well...probably we could go on for another four-mile roll of solder here....but the main thing (I think) is to find out what works for you, your gear, and whatever it is that you are attempting to solder.. Work out what it is that you need to achieve in terms of mechanical and electrical connection...experiment on scrap until you've worked it out (writing down at the time what you've been doing, using and the iron temperature necessary to achieve the desired results)...keep a readable record of what works and what doesn't so that you can (a) gain confidence, and (b) replicate the results next time.. Soldering either becomes easier (if you know how to approach it) or more difficult and treacherous (if it frightens the cr@p out of you enough to intimidate the way that you approach it).....a number of life's little challenges can also fall into this same category....like welding, plumbing, concreting, relationships, and deciding whether to buy a dog or a banjo. Just treat the whole exercise as something that happens to be part of the process in getting somewhere ELSE (like playing music !) Reading between the lines, you're mostly already there.....sometimes the journey is NOT the most important thing after all, despite what supposedly knowledgeable people say to the contrary...the next time they contemplate buying a dog or a banjo. Different metals, solder alloys, iron temperatures and BASIC CLEANLINESS (whether or not it is considered) ALL contribute to the final result...and whether you are satisfied with the outcome...there's rarely a one-size-fits-all Magic Bullet that can truly pull your @rse out of the fire every time you need it.... ....which is one of the reasons I have a couple of cats instead. Come to think about it, it IS quite peaceful, here on this mountain-top.... ...until I need to solder something, that is...  |
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Post by newey on Mar 12, 2021 8:09:58 GMT -5
and deciding whether to buy a dog or a banjo. That's an easy one. Women like guys with dogs. Who dates a banjo player? |
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Post by reTrEaD on Mar 12, 2021 14:21:17 GMT -5
and deciding whether to buy a dog or a banjo. That's an easy one. Women like guys with dogs. Who dates a banjo player? Ackshully ...  Technically, it's a Ganjo. But close enough. |
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Post by newey on Mar 12, 2021 21:22:34 GMT -5
Yeah, well, I later thought that I should have made an exception for Steve Martin as well.
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Post by gumbo on Mar 13, 2021 8:59:43 GMT -5
But to be fair, The GOOD side to a banjo is that you can take it to the park and leave it by its favo(u)rite tree, and it WON'T follow you home..... ...the BAD side is, if you get all regretful and go back to check on it the next morning, you'll probably find two or three more waiting for you as well. I rest my banjo case.... Derailers unite ! g-f-b |
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Post by unreg on Mar 13, 2021 14:20:46 GMT -5
...the BAD side is, if you get all regretful and go back to check on it the next morning, you'll probably find two or three more waiting for you as well. Note: This BAD side can be GOOD too, if you joyfully follow these simple steps: A.) Quit your job; buy 1 banjo; leave it in that park. B.) Return to the park, the next morning, and retrieve the surplus banjos. C.) Sell your entire banjo load to the confused banjo community. Jump to step B. *Just make sure to never remove your banjo from its favorite tree. |
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Post by gumbo on Mar 13, 2021 18:22:40 GMT -5
...the BAD side is, if you get all regretful and go back to check on it the next morning, you'll probably find two or three more waiting for you as well. Note: This BAD side can be GOOD too, if you joyfully follow these simple steps: A.) Quit your job; buy 1 banjo; leave it in that park. B.) Return to the park, the next morning, and retrieve the surplus banjos. C.) Sell your entire banjo load to the confused banjo community. Jump to step B. *Just make sure to never remove your banjo from its favorite tree. What's the current penalty for being a Banjo Dealer ? Does it involve solitary confinement ? |
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Post by unreg on Mar 14, 2021 15:23:25 GMT -5
What's the current penalty for being a Banjo Dealer ? Does it involve solitary confinement ? It seems to me that a Banjo Dealer penalty would be impossible bc you are often finding banjos underneath that tree each morning. If all Banjo Dealers entered solitary confinement, buying a banjo would be quite difficult. —- Just reread my previous post and it struck me that it was probably read wrong. 😔 You gumbo used “you” referring to anyone reading that post. My post was made with the same type of “you” in my mind. My quoted post wasn’t attempting to talk directly to you Peter; sorry, bet that’s how it was read 😔 due to the fact that it followed a quote from your post. |
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Post by gumbo on Mar 14, 2021 16:09:30 GMT -5
Absolutely no offense was taken and no, I didn't take it personally.....all along I was referring to the 'collective' you..(as we both were) Cheers, Peter |
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Post by unreg on Sept 8, 2021 18:36:29 GMT -5
(To all) When wiring electricity (like between dimmer and electrical outlets and wire to the wall), solder isn’t used… so the addition of wire pieces to tie it all together went quickly. Important ideas to understand: 1.) When wiring house wiring (like an electrical outlet) 12 gauge wire is used. 2.) Electrical outlets usually can be connected to with stripped wire wrapped around a screw OR by pressing a stripped wire into a hole. The holes are less reliable so my uncle recommends using the screw to connect wire. 3.) 12 gauge wire is quite thick so it only allows one wrap around each screw. - Before wrapping a wire around a screw, take notice of the direction that the screw tightens. Make sure to wrap the wire in that tightening direction so that when tightening the screw, the wire strands don’t break up. 4.) The electrical boxes used in walls may come with many holes (bc in a wall, wires may be fed into them from any direction). - Home Depot also sells Closure Plugs. A Closure Plug is a thin circular piece of metal that screws into one of these holes. Each bag contains multiple (4?) Closure Plugs. Note: My boxes use 3/4” Closure Plugs bc their holes are 3/4” in diameter. 3/4” is plenty of room for the simple wiring of this dimmer electricity reducer contraption. Caution: It is possible to buy boxes with larger holes. So be aware of listed measurements if you purchase the boxes, pipe, closure plugs. EDIT: While wiring the to-wall-plug cord, dimmer, electrical outlet, boxes, and adding the closure plugs and covers, it was entirely done WITHOUT connection to electricity. Obviously, be careful. 🙂 EDIT/FINAL-NOTE: My quote originated here: guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/9408/soldering-iron-super-inexpensive-temp?page=1^There explains the bold may I just added. |
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Bought some items ~$2 that I can't use, but it was fun.
