Dave:

OK, help me understand...
Does this mean that a longer soft-start period will cause a higher inrush?

Chris
(ps: that's why I love this list - I actually learn things here...)

The simulations I did showed the MOSFET dissipating a little over 18
watts average over the three line cycles during which current limiting
was taking place; and this is with a current inrush whose duration is
something like an order of magnitude longer than might reasonably be
expected.

With no inrush (that is, the lamp starts out at its "hot" resistance
value), the MOSFET dissipation during the slow-start interval drops to 7
watts for 50 milliseconds.

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