If the main goal is to see how cheap you can do it....

Try painting the bottom contact on each light bulb with resistance paint. If
it's still too bright, just add another coat.

Rusty O

"Ed" wrote in message
.. .
A very cheap solution would be to put a resistor in series with the lights
and an SPST switch in parrallel with the resistor (to short it out). You
need to figure out the resistance on the chain of bulbs, find a suitable
similar resistance (for 1/2 power... more for less light, etc) Power rating
needs to be figured out as well. For 1/2 power, it should match the total
of all the lights... less if you raise the resistance.

THis doesn't give you the variable resistance but it is a couple dollar
solution that may solve the problem.



Rusty wrote:
The Blue Sea dimmers are about two by three inches and about one inch
thick. They have five wires coming out one end. These wires go to 1)
Ground, 2) Power, 3) Bright, 4) Dim, 5) Light. The wires themselves are
labeled for their use. The switch you use to control the dimmer is
designated (ON) OFF (ON).

(ON) means 'Momentary On' so the switch returns with a spring when you
press on the top or the bottom and returns to the middle OFF position
when you release it. Switches like this connect a circuit from the center
connection to the bottom connection when you push on the top of the
switch. They connect the center position to the top connection when you
push on the bottom of the switch. Note: This is backwards to what you
might expect.

To wire the dimmer you connect the 'Ground' lead to DC negative, the
'Power' lead, and the center connection on the switch, to DC positive.
The 'Bright' lead connects to the bottom of the switch and the 'Dim' lead
connects to the top of the switch. The 'Light' lead goes to your light
bulbs and of course you connect the other end of each light bulb to DC
negative. Don't forget that DC positive lead to the center connection of
the switch, it won't work without it.

Now when you push on the top of the switch the lights will get brighter
and when you push on the bottom of the switch they will get dimmer.
Another good feature is the dimmer will 'remember' the last setting and
return to it if you turn off the power and later turn it back on again.

These dimmer units are available in 2 amp, 5 amp, and 10 amp versions.
They can also be used to control the speed of DC powered fans.

If you just want a simple rotary knob dimmer, Cole Hersee makes two
different models also available through West Marine and several other
suppliers. These, and the low amp Blue Sea system, all run about the same
price.

I answer to Johnhh's question, home dimmer switches haven't been made
with variable power resistors in more than thirty years.

Rusty O


"Johnhh" wrote in message
...

I guess I just always assumed they were just variable resistors. There I
go assuming again--it gets me every time. Were they ever made with
variable resistors?

How do the Blue Sea one's work?