Quote:
Originally Posted by JesseK
This is safely possible via a commercial dimmer that uses a TRIAC. It basically digitally sets a timing on the output at 60 Hz minus a delta, and the delta variable is what controls the dimming. Nothing ever gets hot, there are no pots that will over load and you're not using more than the load of the light bulb in the electricity.
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Jesse,
In order to limit the parts count virtually all dimmers have the Triac and associated circuitry connected directly to the mains at some point. There is no isolated power supply. X10 dimmers use Triacs. The decoding chip and associated electronics are designed to run at the mains voltage. There is no low voltage, isolated power supply making parts of it 120 volts above ground/earth. For ecomonmy of scale, large ligthing systems may mave a controller on one isolated power supply while the dimmers themselves are connected through optical couplers to help isolate the low voltage control from the high voltage load.