Portable Dimmer Cord for Incandescent

The halogen lights for my trade canada goose black friday canada goose clearance sale sale show booth are way too bright and hot at canada goose jacket outlet full power, so I need to dim them.

Now, there are already affordable UL listed “dimmer switch plug” devices canada goose outlet sale on the market, but they all use 2 prong plug/outlets only. In canada goose outlet online certain applications it is desirable (or even required) to use grounded 3 prong plugs and outlets for all electrical connections. For example, some trade show regulations mandate that Canada Goose Jackets all wiring Canada Goose Outlet used in booth displays must use canada goose outlet reviews canada goose uk shop this type cheap Canada Goose of grounded plug.

There canada goose IS one kind of device designed for Canada Goose Coats On Sale this, called a Variac, or canada goose outlet parka auto buy canada goose jacket cheap transformer. You can buy one that is all pre wired with plug, outlet, fuse, and volt meter. In fact, I used one just like that for my booth lights in the past. Variacs canadian goose jacket are expensive and heavy, but very awesome. Unfortunately, goose outlet canada due to their combination of mass and fragile wires, variacs are susceptible to damage official canada goose outlet from being dropped and landing hard, which is guaranteed to happen at least three hundred times during freight shipping to the trade show. canada goose outlet online uk So, rather than purchasing another expensive, heavy, fragile variac, I will build a buy canada goose jacket dimmer control cord that should survive years of use Canada Goose online and (alas) punishment in my show crates.

So ironically, the 3 prong rule (which has been designed to encourage safe electrical connections) has led to the need for me to canada goose outlet nyc hack together cables and switches in a most un UL listed fashion! Amusement aside, I shall endeavor here to make proper, safe connections that will result in a safe device. Also I will try to point out things you should check to ensure safety uk canada goose outlet along canada goose outlet shop the path of constructing a similar device.

WARNING 1! This kind of dimmer control can ONLY be used for incandescent/halogen bulbs, or other equivalent simple resistance loads. Just because canada goose clearance you see a 3 canada goose outlet uk sale prong outlet doesn’t canada goose uk black friday mean you can plug in your kitchen appliances or fans or something. If you do, Bad Things can happen.

WARNING 2! Pay attention to ratings! In my project I am using a dimmer control rated for 600 watts, which (for 120 volts) means 5 amperes. This is sufficient for the lights I want to plug in. Also, the sacrificial extension cord I use is rated to canada goose factory outlet 13 amperes at this voltage, which is canada goose outlet uk plenty.

WARNING 3! YOUR OWN RISK. Cutting up a cord and wiring your own switch like this definitely voids all warranties and makes you liable for whatever Horrible Accidents may occur based on your work. Flat ribbon type optional but neat looking.

120v 5 ampere single pole dimmer switch control. You better know how many amperes your canada goose black friday sale lights will draw!

Plastic switch/outlet gang box. Metal ones exist, but plastic is canada goose outlet nicer looking for this exposed project, https://www.arconserve.ca and safer.

Switch cover plate, for that professional touch.

Tools used in this project:

Knife to help split apart the plastic between the 3 wires. Maybe your fingernails are that sharp, but not me.

Wire strippers+cutter. Or are you the kind of person who uses scissors and canada goose outlet black friday teeth?

Flat head canada goose outlet new uk canada goose york city screwdriver for switch plate screws

Philips head screwdriver for dimmer cheap Canada Goose Coats switch screws

Electrical tape, used to mark the neutral wire. You could use a permanent marker.

Multimeter, continuity tester, or other means of determining which is the neutral wire. Lacking a reason to choose another canada goose outlet jackets place, I just picked the mid point.

For a flat canada goose factory sale cord Canada Goose Parka like mine, canada goose uk outlet you also have to split the plastic insulator between canada goose coats on sale the three conductors on each side, cheap canada goose uk because each wire needs to be wired up separately. For a canada goose outlet canada round extension cord, you’d have canada goose outlet Canada Goose Online in usa to split open and peel back the outer sheath.

For safety, it’s important canada goose store to figure out which wire is hot and which canada goose coats is neutral. Switching the hot and neutral wire Canada Goose sale between plug and outlet, canada goose outlet store uk or wiring the switch to the neutral wire, could pose shock hazards! Use a continuity tester to determine which wire is electrically canada goose outlet toronto factory connected to the “left”, wider slot of the cord. THIS is the “neutral” wire. I have marked BOTH sides of the neutral canada goose outlet store wire with electrical tape, so I don’t accidentally mix them up with the “hot” wire ends.