Dim-Bulb / Current Limiter Prototype

[thephil]

Yes, the dim-bulb is no miracle device. However, it serves a different purpose than a variac. Some devices will refuse to do anything if you feed them a lower voltage than they desire. So I have both and use one or the other, depending on what I want to accomplish and the device I am working on.

[Jwillis]

Dim bulb current limiters are safety devices when working on high voltage low current devices. So if an unintentional short occurs theirs only a few milliamps instead of the full 12 to 15A coming from mains supply.They make a difference between a small spark and a really bad day.

[Shock]

Of course we'll leave "safety, high voltage low current" to be totally ambiguous so no beginner has any idea what you're talking about.

[PlainName]

Wouldn't "a few milliamps" as opposed to "the full 12 to 15A"  tell even a dim (ho ho) beginner the crux of it?

[thephil]

Dim bulb current limiters are safety devices when working on high voltage low current devices. So if an unintentional short occurs theirs only a few milliamps instead of the full 12 to 15A coming from mains supply.They make a difference between a small spark and a really bad day.

Exactly!

[tautech]

Dim bulb current limiters are safety devices when working on high voltage low current devices. So if an unintentional short occurs theirs only a few milliamps instead of the full 12 to 15A coming from mains supply.They make a difference between a small spark and a really bad day magic smoke.

FTFY

Even tried to catch that stuff and put it back in ?