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TPC0001 TPC0002 TPC0003 TPC0004 TPC0005 TPC0006
TPC0007
TPC0008 TPC0048
TPC0049
Four Channel DC Dimmer Switch
|
The Trouble With Dimmers |
|
Household dimmer switches are generally very simple and use devices called
SCR's to switch the lights on and off faster than the eye can see. They
depend on a stable waveform from the electric company for their operation,
but they alter the very waveform upon which they depend! This can result in
erratic operation, especially when more than one dimmer switch is installed
on the same circuit. In addition, SCR type dimmers can produce excessive heat
for their size, audible noise, and electromagnetic interference. These
drawbacks are usually offset by the low cost of their design. |
|
Advantages of a good dimmer |
|
Finally, in shipboard applications where a source of low voltage is already
present in the ship's battery, it becomes completely impractical to use a
household dimmer switch. In such applications, it is far more practical to
use a device which is fed directly from the ship's own DC battery and
produces a variable low voltage DC output. These devices, called switch-mode
power supplies or DC-to-DC converters, are more complicated and expensive,
but also more stable, cool running, lightweight, and do not cause
interference or audible noise. Manufacturers exist for relatively inexpensive
DC dimmer switches, but these do not insulate against transients in the input
battery voltage and cannot protect against premature bulb failure. Negative transients such as the brief
dimming caused by starting the engine are likewise passed through. A proper dimmer switch regulates it’s
output against all fluctuations, rather than simply reducing it to some
fraction of the input. The TPC0001
does all that. |
Brief Specs:
Operating efficiency:
94%
Input DC voltage range:
10
volts - 42 volts
(Compatible with 12V, 24V, and 32V marine
systems)
Maximum output power:
500
watts per channel
Multiply
by four channels
Maximum input current:
20
Amps per channel
(Fuse
for 25A)
Features:
Silent,
programmable, remote controlled
Optional clock, calendar and timer functions
Four
channels, expandable to 256 channels
Precisely
regulated output in 0.1 volt increments
Optional
voice activation and control
Fully
protected against overloads, shorts, and over-temperature
Low-battery
shutdown and/or audible alarm
Prioritized
shutdown (each channel has it’s own threshold voltage)
Many
other programmable features
Page last updated on 2/4/2004 12:58 AM