Help needed for the Electronically Challenged MOM

[TexasLumens]

Justin, for a long while I have built a work light that most customers want to be dimmable. I use this switch... http://www.luxeonstar.com/Harness-for-E-or-I-Drivers-6-Wire-With-Pot-p/3021hep.htm it comes with the harness for the driver... for work lights I use the harness... for flashlights I cut the plug off the harness and do some modifications because of space limitations. I have a lot of these in the field and have never had the pot fail. Here is the main page for the drivers.... you can pick and choose from there. http://www.luxeonstar.com/LED-Power-Drivers-s/50.htm The drivers are bulky for flashlights and a bear to work with but super dependable. I finished a light last month for a customer that works in a feed yard.... drives his 4 wheeler with one hand and uses the other hand for the flashlight... I used this switch for his light and he is super happy with it as he can operate it with his one hand technique. This is the driver I put in that particular light... http://www.luxeonstar.com/700mA-Ext-Dimmable-BuckPuck-Driver-With-Leads-p/3023-d-e-700.htm ... Hope this helps. Dan.

[Rufusbduck]

@comfychair

Slightly OT: Is there a guide for dummies that shows how to use either a fixed resistor or a second pot to limit the output from the main pot? I fought and cussed and pulled my hair out a while back trying to rig something to do that but never could get there.

For example on my desk/keyboard lamp, the external pot turned to full clockwise is too much current, 3.5A, I need the max to be around 2A. I thought it would be ‘simple’ (ha ha!) to use two pots in series, but no joy. Then tried using one of the pots in variable resistor mode inline with the center (output) pin of the main pot, no worky again. Got frustrated and gave up, using it now in ‘just remember not to turn the knob too far’ mode.

Measure the pot resistance at the setting that gives you the max current you want and buy a fixed resistor of that value. Now your pot will dim from that high down to low.

[comfychair]

@Rufusbduck

@comfychair

Slightly OT: Is there a guide for dummies that shows how to use either a fixed resistor or a second pot to limit the output from the main pot? I fought and cussed and pulled my hair out a while back trying to rig something to do that but never could get there.

For example on my desk/keyboard lamp, the external pot turned to full clockwise is too much current, 3.5A, I need the max to be around 2A. I thought it would be 'simple' (ha ha!) to use two pots in series, but no joy. Then tried using one of the pots in variable resistor mode inline with the center (output) pin of the main pot, no worky again. Got frustrated and gave up, using it now in 'just remember not to turn the knob too far' mode.

Measure the pot resistance at the setting that gives you the max current you want and buy a fixed resistor of that value. Now your pot will dim from that high down to low.

Inline with the wiper?

[Rufusbduck]

@comfychair

@Rufusbduck

@comfychair

Slightly OT: Is there a guide for dummies that shows how to use either a fixed resistor or a second pot to limit the output from the main pot? I fought and cussed and pulled my hair out a while back trying to rig something to do that but never could get there.

For example on my desk/keyboard lamp, the external pot turned to full clockwise is too much current, 3.5A, I need the max to be around 2A. I thought it would be ‘simple’ (ha ha!) to use two pots in series, but no joy. Then tried using one of the pots in variable resistor mode inline with the center (output) pin of the main pot, no worky again. Got frustrated and gave up, using it now in ‘just remember not to turn the knob too far’ mode.

Measure the pot resistance at the setting that gives you the max current you want and buy a fixed resistor of that value. Now your pot will dim from that high down to low.

Inline with the wiper?

Yes.