Dave Bell wrote:
> David Fansler wrote:
>
> >Darren - I do not pretend to be an expert - but here is what I see.
>
> >    2.  The load would go between Hot Out and Hot In.
> >    3.  You would supply a Neutral (white wire) to Return.
> >    4.  You would supply Hot (balck wirefrom power company) to Hot In
> >    5.  Ground (green) is a good idea.  It can be tied to Neutral (which
> >        is done in US breaker boxes).
>
> Couple problems here, David!
>
> 2. Load should go from Hot Out to Return!  The dimmer sits between Hot In
>    and Hot Out, and serves to reduce the outpur to the load.

Well, look at where that Triac is again;  It's to Return, so indeed the
load goes between Hot In and "Hot Return", bad design IMHO <G>  Hey, the
"Hot Return" terminology and the VERY unusual placement of the Triac,
fooled me at first too.  MOST are done as you mention (to produce NO hot
connection to the load when fully dimmed) - This one, isn't, both sides
of the load are "hot" in that situation.

> 3. True.
>
> 4. True.
>
> 5. Don't!  This is done in US breaker boxes, *but that's the only legal
>    place to do it*! The Green/Grounding conductor should go to case ground
>    if there is a metal case, and not be tied to the circuit anywhere.

Agreed!  I sorta missed that originally.  The whole reason for a
separate ground wire's for SAFETY, so you have a good solid ground no
matter what.

> Dumb ASCII sketch:
>
>                  ______________
>                  |            |   Hot Out
>  Hot In  --------| dimmer ckt |------------/\/\/\/\/\---+
>                  |            |                         |
>                  |            |                         |
>                  --------------                         |
>                         |                               |
>  Neutral ---------------+-------------------------------+


Nope;  Look at the Triac's positioning - this is it:
                                        dimmer ckt
                                     ______________
                              Hot Out|  +--|>|--+ |
   Hot In  ---+-------/\/\/\/\/\-----|--+--|<|--+-|-------+
              |         LOAD         |    /       |       |
              +----------------------|            |       |
                              Hot In --------------       |
                                           |              |
   Neutral --------------------------------+--------------+

>  Ground  --------+
>                 _|_
>                 \ /
>                  V
>
> Dave Bell

  Mark

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