Saving resources is the principle of a rational owner. This can be attributed to careful handling of electrical appliances. For example, with incandescent lamps, which tend to fail frequently.
To ensure the longevity of the “Ilyich lamp” service, it is worth resorting to the use of a simple design called a protection block. It can be assembled at home or purchased in a store.
Soft start units have different power limits. Therefore, when purchasing, it is better to make sure that this model can withstand high voltage surges. That is, the device must have a maximum reserve of 30% more than what your network supplies.
It is also important to know the general power rating of all lamps in the house. The power range of units sold today is from 150 to 1000 watts.
The higher this permissible value, the larger the size of the device. Take this into account as you will need to find a place to install the block. The cost of protection devices ranges from 200-400 rubles.
Where to install the protection unit?
The blocks are installed directly for each lamp individually. It is better to place them in the cavity under where the wiring is hidden. Since the block is small in size, it will fit anywhere. You can install them either yourself, if you understand electrical engineering, or with the help of a specialist.
You can also use one block for several lamps. For example, if the ceiling has built-in lighting from many lamps or a chandelier with bases.
Before you begin, you should thoroughly understand the structure of the device in order to correctly identify possible malfunctions and adhere to the standard procedure for carrying out repair work.
For soldering, it is possible to assemble a hot air station yourself at home. Find out how to do this. To operate such a tool you need to know how to use it correctly.
Acceptable installation option in a junction box. Usually powerful models are placed there, which will cover the entire chain of electric lamps in the house. If you also have a transformer installed to reduce power, then the unit should be the first in the circuit, that is, the main 220 V flow is intended only for it. And then distribution to the entire private network.
Important! Place the devices so that they can be easily reached in case of replacement or repair.
It is better to avoid firmly covering the area where the soft-start unit is located with wallpaper, plasterboard (which can be effectively placed in the ceiling) and plaster.
Installation of the protection unit circuit and incandescent lamp
Connect the device to the circuit as follows:
- the input of the protection unit is connected from the phase in front of the incandescent lamp (comes from the switch), it acts as an intermediary between the cable that powers the lamp;
- the output from the unit is connected to the other end of the cable, which leads directly to the lamp.
When you turn on an incandescent light bulb, you can observe for 3 seconds how the light from a bright flash is converted into a dim stream of light. This means that the block in the chain is working successfully.
If you measure the voltage at the input and output with an electronic multimeter, you can see the difference in voltage reduction.
There is nothing complicated about installing soft start units. Do not forget about safety precautions when working with electrical circuits, as well as the correct calculation of power when purchasing a device.
A short video about the features of smooth switching on of 220 V incandescent lamps
Many people have probably noticed that an incandescent lamp burns out mainly when turned on. This happens because at the moment of switching on the cold filament of the lamp has a low resistance, a current surge occurs that exceeds the operating current of the lamp. It is this current surge that has a detrimental effect on the lamp, reducing its service life. In order to extend and increase the service life of the lamp, you need a device that, at the moment of switching on, will smoothly increase the current from the minimum to the nominal value. There are many schemes and ready-made devices; I offer my own version of a device for increasing the service life of incandescent lamps, which you can easily assemble yourself.
Scheme
Technical characteristics at the ratings indicated in the diagram
- Load power: 500W*
- Input operating voltage: ~ 230V
- Output voltage: about ~200V
- Smooth voltage rise time from 0 to 200V: about 3 seconds
- Recovery time after shutdown: about 30 seconds*
Notes
The power of the incandescent lamp used will depend on the cooling of the triac; with a load of up to 150 W, you can do without a radiator.
Compared to microcontroller devices, this type of device has the main disadvantage of the need for recovery. The fact is that it is the charging time of the discharged capacitance of capacitor C1 that sets the time for the smooth increase in voltage at the output of the device, and after turning off the device, the discharge time of the capacitor C1 through R1 is approximately 25-30 seconds. In fact, it turns out that if you turn the device on/off at intervals of less than 10 seconds, the rate of voltage rise across the lamp will be high, and there will be no smooth switching effect.
Also, at the moment of switching on, a nonlinearity in the rate of voltage rise is observed (this is not critical and is not a disadvantage). For example, in 1 second the voltage rises from 0 to 70V, in 0.5 seconds from 70 to 120V, in 1.5 seconds from 120 to 200V.
Setup and installation
By reducing resistance R1, the recovery time of the device is reduced, but at the same time the operating voltage on the incandescent lamp is reduced. As the resistance R2 decreases, the time of smooth voltage rise across the lamp decreases, while the operating voltage increases. Also, by increasing the capacitance C1, you can increase the time of smooth voltage rise, but the recovery time of the device will increase. I advise you to configure the device with resistor R2; it needs to be selected so that the voltage across capacitor C1 is approximately 4.5V.
Please note that I soldered C3 by surface mounting, since I did not immediately realize that it was needed in this device, if desired, it can be easily added to the board.
Good luck to all! Be careful with high voltage!
List of radioelements
| Designation | Type | Denomination | Quantity | Note | Shop | My notepad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VS1 | Triac | BT136-600E | 1 | To notepad | ||
| VD1, VD2 | Rectifier diode | 1N4148 | 2 | To notepad | ||
| C1 | 1000uF 6.3V | 1 | To notepad | |||
| C2 | Electrolytic capacitor | 47uF 50V | 1 | To notepad | ||
| C3 | Capacitor | 10-22nF 630V | 1 | Metal film | To notepad | |
| R1 | Resistor | 22 kOhm | 1 | To notepad | ||
| R2 | Resistor |
It is important for every thrifty owner to ensure that all light bulbs function as efficiently as possible. In order to extend the time of use of these lighting devices and mitigate significant voltage drops when turning on/off, a device for smooth switching of incandescent lamps, or UPVL, is used.
Many of us have witnessed how a light bulb “bangs” - burns out when turned on. This happens because too sharp amplitudes when turned on greatly wear out the filament. When not in use, the resistance will be quite low. When heated during the normal switching on of the light, a fairly high current immediately begins to flow in a spiral, up to 8 amperes. High current when voltage is applied forces the coil to work at its limit, and the life of the light bulb is reduced.
Connection using a protection unit
Typically, to solve this problem, a protection unit is used, which performs the function of the UPVL. When used with incandescent lamps of this device, the voltage when turned on does not increase so sharply, but gradually increases. Thus, the filament does not experience unnecessary overloads, and the life of the light bulb increases.
Let's take a closer look at the operating diagram of this device using the example of a Uniel Upb-200W-BL unit connected in series to a 75 W incandescent lamp. In this circuit, the current first passes through the block and only then goes to the lamp. As a result, an additional voltage drop occurs, and the lamp receives not the standard 220, but 171 V. Moreover, due to the passage of current through the protection unit, the voltage increases to 171 V smoothly in 2-3 seconds.
Reducing the incoming voltage also helps to increase the life of the light bulb. But, on the other hand, the reduced voltage significantly reduces the luminous flux, by approximately 70 percent, and this is a significant indicator. Therefore, when using a protection unit, it is necessary to take into account illumination losses and use lamps that are more powerful than conventional ones.
The unit considered in our diagram can withstand power up to 200 W, which means that lamps of approximately the same power can be connected to it. But it is better to set a small margin of 20-25 percent and use lamps with a total power of no more than 160 W in the circuit. Due to the power reserve, the lamps and the unit itself will last longer. Naturally, you should not apply voltage more than 200 W to the unit itself.
Note! As the incandescent lamp's wattage is lowered, the color temperature changes and the light becomes redder. Changes in lighting color can affect a person's well-being.
The scheme for smoothly switching on incandescent lamps is quite simple. The block is installed in series from the switch to the lamp, that is, in the break of the phase wire.
The protection block itself can be placed in two places:
- next to the lighting fixture;
- at the switch - in this case the unit is located in a distribution or installation box.
The choice of location depends on the size of the protection unit; for a device that is too large, you will have to allocate a separate place. The disadvantage of placing it in a socket box is that the protection unit will not have sufficient air access for cooling.
Attention! The protection unit cannot be installed in rooms with high humidity.
How to make a protection block yourself
To create a block, you can use the following scheme.
The device works according to the following principle:
- First, the field effect transistor is turned off. It receives stabilization voltage. The lamp does not light;
- When voltage is received from resistor R1 and diode VD 1, capacitor C1 is charged to 9.1 V. This is the maximum level, which is limited by the parameters of the zener diode;
- When the set voltage is reached, the transistor gradually opens and the current increases. The voltage will drop at the drain. The lamp filament will begin to light up smoothly;
- The second resistor controls the degree of discharge of the capacitor. Due to this resistor, the capacitor can continue to discharge even after the power is turned off.
Important! Self-installation of any electrical devices must be carried out in strict compliance with safety regulations.
The use of this protection unit allows not only a smooth start-up of incandescent lamps, but also protects them from unpleasant flickering during operation of the lamp.
Using Dimming
Smooth switching on of incandescent lamps can also be done with dimmers or dimmers. The name dimmer comes from the English “dim”, which means to dim. Here, the voltage level is adjusted automatically or mechanically (by rotating the knob) in a way. For simple dimmers, the control circuit is built on a rheostat - a variable resistor. Now semiconductor triac or transistor switches are used for these purposes. In modern electrical engineering, devices with a timer, sensor or remote control are mainly used to smoothly switch on 220 W incandescent lamps. Typically, dimmers are installed instead of a standard switch.
Important! When installing a dimmer on incandescent lamps, it is impossible to achieve energy savings. Reducing light levels by 50 percent saves only 15% of electricity.
In rotary dimmers, the intensity of halogen lamps is adjusted by turning the potentiometer knob. In electronic ones, all parameters are set automatically.
Additional Information. The dimmer may interfere with sensitive measuring devices and radio receivers. The use of the device sometimes causes additional background noise during the operation of sound recording equipment. All this must be taken into account when installing devices.
You can assemble a simple regulator with your own hands.
The scheme consists of:
- BT134 – 700 V triac, which can be replaced with KU208G, MAC212-8, MAC8S, BT138 or BT136;
- DB3 – dinistor, you can also use KN102, HT40 HT34, HT32, DC34, DB4;
- a non-polar capacitor with a capacity of 0.1 to 0.22 µF (250 V);
- resistor (10 kOhm) with a maximum power from 0.25 to 2 W;
- compact variable resistor (resistance level approximately 500 kOhm);
- wires for connection to the main circuit.
The assembled device is sequentially installed in the zero phase of the wire going to the lamp. A triac allows current only at a certain potential difference. Charge accumulation occurs on a capacitor, which is connected to a triac. In this case, the charging speed is determined by the resistance level of the variable resistor. The very level of this resistance is set by the user. The lower the resistance of the variable resistor, the brighter the lamp burns.
The advantage of this homemade device is that during operation there is no drop in the voltage level, and the illumination does not suffer. On the other hand, a smooth start of a halogen lamp is achieved by mechanically turning a triac, the speed of which is difficult to adjust. Precise parameters can only be set on modern automatic devices, which are more difficult to assemble with your own hands.
When choosing a dimmer device for smoothly switching on an incandescent lamp, it is necessary to take into account that some types of equipment start working from a minimum value when the filament glows slightly. Others immediately give a significant jump, which also leads to a large voltage drop across the lamp.
Using a dimmer may result in increased magnetostriction and high-frequency whistling or noise coming from the incandescent lamp. This phenomenon is typical for high-power incandescent lamps. If the lamps operate without a dimmer, then the additional sound is almost inaudible.
Microcircuits for phase control
In radio engineering, special microcircuits have been developed, the main task of which is the phase regulation of various parameters. One of these radio components is the KR1182PM1 microcircuit.
It serves to smoothly start incandescent lamps. Moreover, this microcircuit provides not only switching on, but also smooth switching off of the device. KR1182PM1 is designed for current up to 150 W and has several outputs:
- 2 power – for serial connection to a circuit with a load;
- 2 auxiliary;
- 2 for the adjustment resistor and other radio components for control.
KR1182PM1 is connected to the circuit as follows.
When switch S is opened, capacitor C3 begins to smoothly charge to a value determined by the values of resistor R2 and the input current level of the controlled voltage-to-current converter (VTC) in the microcircuit. The output current at the UPNT also gradually increases, and the turn-on delay of the thyristors decreases. Thus, the light bulbs turn on gradually. When the key is closed, C3 will discharge through R2, and this process will also occur smoothly.
Smooth switching on will allow you to avoid failure of low-power incandescent lamps, because problems with burnout are not related to the power level. Even if the connection device has 12V light bulbs installed through a step-down transformer, without a soft start the lamp will fail faster.
Video
During the ongoing burnout of incandescent lamps, including on the landing, several incandescent lamp protection schemes were implemented on the Internet. Their use has yielded positive results - lamps have to be changed much less frequently. However, not all implemented device circuits worked “as is” - during operation it was necessary to select the optimal set of elements. At the same time, a search was made for other interesting schemes. As you know, smooth switching on of incandescent lamps increases their service life and eliminates current surges and interference in the network. In a device that implements this mode, it is convenient to use powerful field-effect switching transistors. Among them, you can choose high-voltage ones, with an operating voltage at the drain of at least 300 V and a channel resistance of no more than 1 Ohm.
Scheme for smooth switching on of incandescent lamp No. 1
The author gives two schemes for soft starting of lamps. However, here I want to offer only a circuit with an optimal operating mode of the field-effect transistor, which allows it to be used without a radiator at a lamp power of up to 250 Watts. But you can study the first one - which is simpler in that it is included in the break of one of the wires. Here, after charging the capacitor, the voltage at the drain will be approximately 4...4.5 V, and the rest of the network voltage will drop across the lamp. In this case, the transistor will release power proportional to the current consumed by the incandescent lamp. Therefore, at a current of more than 0.5 A (lamp power 100 W or more), the transistor will have to be installed on a radiator. To significantly reduce the power dissipated by the transistor, the machine must be assembled according to the diagram given below.
Scheme for smooth switching on of incandescent lamp No. 2
The diagram of a device that is connected in series with an incandescent lamp is shown in the figure. The field-effect transistor is included in the diagonal of the diode bridge, so it receives a pulsating voltage. At the initial moment, the transistor is closed and all the voltage drops across it, so the lamp does not light. Through diode VD1 and resistor R1, capacitor C1 begins to charge. The voltage across the capacitor will not exceed 9.1 V, because it is limited by the zener diode VD2. When the voltage across it reaches 9.1 V, the transistor will begin to open smoothly, the current will increase, and the voltage at the drain will decrease. This will cause the lamp to light up smoothly.
But it should be taken into account that the lamp will not start to light immediately, but some time after the switch contacts are closed, until the voltage on the capacitor reaches the specified value. Resistor R2 serves to discharge capacitor C1 after the lamp is turned off. The drain voltage will be insignificant and at a current of 1 A will not exceed 0.85 V.
When assembling the device, 1N4007 diodes from used energy-saving lamps were used. The zener diode can be any low-power one with a stabilization voltage of 7...12 V.
I found a BZX55-C11 at hand. Capacitors - K50-35 or similar imported ones, resistors - MLT, S2-33. Setting up the device comes down to selecting a capacitor to obtain the required lamp ignition mode. I used a 100 uF capacitor - the result was a pause of 2 seconds from the moment the lamp was turned on until the moment the lamp ignited.
It is also important that the lamp does not flicker, as was observed in the implementation of other schemes.
The warranty life of an ordinary incandescent lamp declared by manufacturers is 1000 hours. This is about 40 days of continuous work. But in practice, the “Ilyich light bulb” lasts much longer. And thanks to this, its popularity among consumers does not decrease. The only weak point of the lamp is the tungsten filament, which is sensitive to sudden changes in voltage in the network. But there are simple devices that eliminate this risk and smooth out uneven current supply.
Operating principle of UPVL
The soft-start device is applicable for incandescent lamps with tungsten filament. In addition to a number of household lamps, this category also includes halogen lamps, which are used in powerful floodlights. The principle of operation of the device is to slow down the supply of voltage to the filament at the moment of switching on. This makes it possible to smoothly heat up the coil, bypassing the jump phase, which lasts hundredths of a second. As you know, it is at this moment that burnout most often occurs. Thanks to the action of the electronic circuit of the device, the current is supplied with a gradual increase, for 1 to 3 seconds.
The tungsten filament of an incandescent lamp at room temperature has low resistance, which leads to high currents and burnout of the filament when turned on
The longest burning lamp in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, was recorded in the city of Livermore, California. From 1901 to the present day, this “hundred-year lamp,” as it was dubbed, has continuously illuminated the fire station. Moreover, over all these years it was turned off only a few times for a short time. Modern researchers often cite it as confirmation of the theory of “planned obsolescence.”
The "Century Lamp" was handcrafted and features a carbon spiral
The soft start device has small dimensions and weight. And thanks to this you can install it:
- in the protective cap of the chandelier where the wires exit;
- in the switch socket;
- in a junction box;
- in the space above a suspended or suspended ceiling.
The dimensions of the device allow installation even in the cavity of a socket box
The installation location is selected based on accessibility and ease of installation. The best option is one in which the device has good natural ventilation. The connection diagram is simple - the device crashes into a break in one of the conductors (phase or neutral) of the supply cable.
The soft-start device crashes into a break in one of the wires that are connected to the lamp
If incandescent lamps with an operating voltage of 12 V are used for lighting, the UPVL is installed in front of the step-down transformer. With this connection, protection from unfavorable network surges also extends to the transformer, which is also important.
One of the positive side effects of soft-firing lighting fixtures is the softening of the harsh glare when switched on. This protects human eyes from unnecessary overload, especially when the light is turned on in complete darkness.
The UPVL device is not used for fluorescent and LED lamps, since they operate on different design principles.
To calculate the power of the UPVL, the total power of consumers is calculated. In practice, this is expressed by adding up the power ratings of all the lamps to which the device will be connected. To ensure that the device does not operate at the limit of its capabilities, 20% is added to the total power. For example, if the circuit is supposed to include 5 lamps of 100 W each, then their total consumer power will be 500 W. To this number add 20% - 100 W and get the desired value of the UPVL power - 600 W.
The soft start device can be installed inside the junction box
A chain of stores selling electrical goods sells factory-produced UPVLs. Among them there are both domestic and foreign models. The names may vary, but in principle it is a plastic container with dimensions smaller than a matchbox. Often the emphasis in the name is on the protective function of the device for halogen lamps. But the device is quite applicable to ordinary incandescent lamps. Another possible name for the device is a phase regulator. This is usually the name given to more powerful UPVLs with a slightly modified control system. The price of such a device can vary from 300 to 600 rubles, depending on the rated power.
The lamp soft start device must not be used to smoothly start the motors of power tools and other household appliances.
For those who have basic knowledge of radio electronics, we can offer independent production of UPVL. Here are several schemes with which you can extend the life of a lighting lamp many times over.
Thyristor circuit
The thyristor circuit uses simple and accessible parts. The basis is the thyristor VS1 and four diodes VD1 - VD4, connected into a rectifier bridge. In addition, you will need a capacitor C1 with a capacity of 10 μF and resistors R1 (variable capacity) and R2.
In a thyristor circuit, voltage is supplied to the lamp after a period of time, which is set by variable resistance R1
When voltage is applied, electric current passes through the lamp coil and is rectified in the diode bridge. After passing through the resistor, charging of the capacitor begins. Reaching the voltage threshold, the thyristor opens and lamp current flows through it. As a result, the tungsten filament gradually heats up. Using a variable-capacity resistor R1, you can adjust the “acceleration” time of the lamp.
Triac circuit
Using triac VS1 as a power switch results in fewer parts being used in the circuit.
The operating principle of a triac circuit is similar to a thyristor circuit, but it contains fewer parts
Throttle element L1 serves to suppress interference when the power switch is opened. By and large, it can be excluded from the scheme if necessary. The circuit that sets the time consists of resistance R2 and capacitor C1, fed through diode VD1. Resistance R1 reduces the current at control electrode VS1. The principle of operation of the circuit is similar to the previous one - a temporary pause is created while the capacitor is filled, the triac opens and current flows through it, powering the EL1 lamp.
The device, based on a triac regulator circuit with a variable capacitor, has compact dimensions due to the small number of parts
Circuit on a specialized chip
The circuit is based on a specialized microcircuit KR1182PM1 (or DIP8 in the imported version), equipped with two thyristors and two systems for their control. Capacitance C3 and resistance R2 regulate the duration of the on (off) time. To separate the control and power parts, a triac VS1 is used, the current on the control electrode sets the resistance R1. External capacitors C1 and C2 are installed to regulate the operation of the thyristors of the internal circuit of the microcircuit. To protect against interference, resistor R4 and capacitor C4 are used.
UPVL based on a specialized microcircuit not only smoothly turns on and off the lamp with a slight delay, further increasing its service life
When connecting the device to the voltage supply line to the lamp, the contacts of switch SA1 must be in the closed position. Capacitor C3 gains capacity when contacts SA1 open. During a gradual increase in current through resistance R1, which controls the power switch at the output of the IC, the triac VS1 and the lamp EL1 connected to it in series start up smoothly.
It is noteworthy that this circuit not only slows down the heating of the coil during switching on, but also slows down its extinction. The lamp goes out as smoothly as it comes on. The delay duration is set at the device assembly stage by selecting the capacitance of capacitor C3. If desired, you can increase the lamp start delay to 10 seconds. The smoothness of shutdown is controlled by resistance R2.
Do not confuse the device for smoothly switching on a lamp with a dimmer. UPVL is an automatic regulator that smoothly increases the current on the lighting device at the moment of switching on. A dimmer is a device that is used to manually adjust the brightness of lighting.
A characteristic property of UPVL and phase regulators is that the device reduces the output voltage to the lamp (from 230 to 200 V). This further increases its service life.
Video: device for smoothly switching on a lamp using field-effect transistors
Application of a soft start device
Installation of the device does not require high qualifications. Anyone with a screwdriver and a voltage indicator can handle the installation. In the cable leading to the lamp, a break is made in one - phase or neutral - wire and the device is connected to it. It is best to fasten the wires using terminal blocks, as this guarantees a stable and reliable connection. If it is not possible to use terminal blocks, it is recommended to solder the twists with tin solder.
Operation of the UPVL does not require additional attention. Factory models come with a warranty of up to 3 years. In practice they work much longer.
When assembling the device, one should not forget that high mains voltage can cause harm to human health. Before connecting the wires, you must make sure that there is no current in the lamp power cable.
Video: how a phase regulator works on triacs
A device for smoothly switching on a lamp saves not only energy consumption, but also the cost of purchasing burnt-out lamps.
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