In article ,
Harry Bloomfield wrote:
David pretended :
Thanks. The dimmer switch was mentioned and is a good idea. The only
reservation was that I remember them as a knob with push for on and
off and turn for brightness. Is there such a thing as a "normal"
switch with a variable setting for brightness??

Dimmers are not a very efficient way to run ordinary lamps and
especially halogen lamps. Light output drops markedly as a larger
proportion of the power goes to producing heat.

True. However, if a light is too bright it reduces that output. It may
reduce the paper efficiency - but it doesn't cost you more in electricity.
If you are concerned about the very best working light for your penny,
change to a more efficient method of providing that light. But the problem
is (as in the OP's case) some want the device producing the light to be
attractive too.


Halogen lamps can be
blackened by the use of a dimmer.

I've read this many times and it simply doesn't happen here - with lots of
assorted halogen on dimmers. Only time I've seen blackened halogen bulbs
is in a car headlight. And I've no explanation as to why. Car headlights
are near always run with the voltage at near the 'correct' value. Very few
would run them for long with the engine stopped, so voltage below about
13.5v.

You can get dimmers which fit inline and are operated by a remote
control. LED's can be dimmed, but they have to be a variety designed to
work with a dimmer.

And the dimmer has to be trailing edge.

--
*A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.