I built a littlelight box to use with synths and stuff - basically its a radio shack box with BNC connectors that the gooseneck lamps fit on to. But I need a way to limit the current that will not melt the plastic enclosure… This can be on topic because my next DIY synth will have a sea of knobs, and one of these BNC lamp sockets.
I think my choices are chopper circuit or rheostat (ie, heat)
just wondering if anyone ever messed around with this
Rheostat:
Pros:
Cheap
Reliable
Cons:
Requires one per lamp (to do it right anyway!)
Wastes energy as heat when dimmed (bad for battery operation)
PWM drive:
Pros:
One device with multiple triacs can control all of your lamps
Would easily adapt to different bulb types
Cons:
Expensive
Relatively complex
Zero-cross detection and switching required (or you will have EMI/noise in everything else)
Difficult to failsafe (can’t re-patch it to full output easily during a control failure)
You should consider LED’s http://www.littlite.com/products.php?category=10 the upfront cost is higher,
but way cheaper in the long run since you won’t have to feed the bulb monster…
Best!
Smash
well, by your description it looks better to just throw in 2 rheostats. (less cons that the PWM thingy)
well, that should be easy enough to do - hopefully the heat will not do any melting or burning! (I could always get a metal enclosure…)