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capacitor wiring to dim light


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henry_shadowjet 
Member - Posts: 3
Member spacespace
Joined: July 03, 2010
Location: Australia
Posted: November 08, 2010 at 1:28 AM / IP Logged  
Hi all,
I just have a question, this should be simple but it's just doing my head in. If you want to make a light circuit to slowly dim when the switch is turned off with a capacitor, how do you do the wiring?
A wiring diagram would be really appreciated.
Thank you very much in advance for your time and attention.
Cheers!
One day I will become the most powerful Jedi ever... One that could even stop people from dying!
oldspark 
Gold - Posts: 4,913
Gold spacespace
Joined: November 03, 2008
Location: Australia
Posted: November 08, 2010 at 1:38 AM / IP Logged  
Wire the capacitor in parallel with the light.
The capacitor discharges thru the light when the power is switched off.
The "time constant" t = RC seconds where R = resistance of the light & C = capacitance (Ohms, Farads, seconds) and t is the time to discharge about 2/3rds of the voltage (ie, to 1/3 voltage remaining).
henry_shadowjet 
Member - Posts: 3
Member spacespace
Joined: July 03, 2010
Location: Australia
Posted: November 08, 2010 at 1:52 AM / IP Logged  
hi there!
Thanks for replying so quickly! Much appreciated.
I'm just wondering about the theory of it, not to question your solution or anything. If capacitor "stores" electricity, why can't it be wired in series with the light?
Such as:
(battery +) --> (capacitor) --> (light) --> (battery -)
Thanks :)
One day I will become the most powerful Jedi ever... One that could even stop people from dying!
oldspark 
Gold - Posts: 4,913
Gold spacespace
Joined: November 03, 2008
Location: Australia
Posted: November 08, 2010 at 5:19 AM / IP Logged  
Think of it as the capacitor is the battery once the power source is disconnected.
(Is a capacitor ACROSS a load in series or parallel if they are the only components? Same for a battery and light. But put a battery and capacitor and light in series, and DC current will NOT flow... IE - the lamp will light but dim as the capacitor charges.)
henry_shadowjet 
Member - Posts: 3
Member spacespace
Joined: July 03, 2010
Location: Australia
Posted: November 08, 2010 at 5:48 AM / IP Logged  
I think I'm beginning to get it. Thanks a lot :)
One day I will become the most powerful Jedi ever... One that could even stop people from dying!

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