Posted: 1/13/2010 4:47:00 AM EDT
|
I've got an older torch lamp, the kind with an inverted shallow pan that had a 300 or 500 watt halogen bulb. While an energy hog, it's the only light that by itself can light my great room. As you know, these have been pulled off the market becauses of dumbasses burning down their house with them.
The dimmer switch in mine just broke. If they were still available, I'd just replace it, but since I can't, I want to bypass the switch and put an on-off switch in line on the cord. Do you forsee any problems with this? Did the dimmer just meter the power from 0-100% and a bypass would just be 100% all the time? (that's how I used it anyhow). I'm thinking that as long as the bulb drew current directly from the line as opposed to some transformed current that I'll be OK. Thoughts? |
|
There is a dimmer for sale at Home Depot that looks like an extension cord. You plug it into the outlet and then plug the incandescent lamp fixture into this unit. There is a small box on the end of what looks like an extension cord. The box has a slider that varies the light level. Pushed all the way down, the slider also switches the lamp completely off.
Leviton Plug-In Lamp Dimmer is the name on my unit. Here's a link to a similar one by Lutron: Dimmer & switch They are really cool. ETA - You should remove the defective dimmer and install a simple on/off switch in its place. Used in conjunction with this dimmer, you'll be back in business. |