Isn't the Heat-Troller a PWM Device?

[Breathless]

OK, I'm about to hang some PIAA LP530 LED driving lights up at handlebar height. At something less than full brightness they could do double duty as daytime wakey-wakey lights, but that'd call for a dimmer. A Heat-Troller is, I think, a PWM-based controller and is rated for a 15A load. I'd be grateful if someone who knows more about LEDs than I do would comment on the advisability of attempting this.

Or, if there is another way to accomplish the same end, I am all ears.

And if I need to say it, dare I hope for something less costly than another Heat-Troller?

Thanks

 

[puppychow]

The heat-troller if it theoretically works in this case will give you flickering lights and not necessarily a dimming effect. I doubt the heat-trollers pulse widths occur at a high enough frequency to provide a visual dimming effect for the LED lights. Just my 2 cents.

From the heat-troller's website: " The Heat-Troller is a pulse-width modulated controller with a 1 second cycle time. That means that over a 1 second period, the power is turned on from about 10% to 100% of the time, adjustable with the knob on the controller. "

As I suspect a 1 second cycle is sufficient for heated gear, but not for a visual 'dimming' effect for LED's. I "think" you need at least 120 cycles per second.

Paging Ionbeam or Fred W.

 

[Breathless]

Didn't think it through completely and I'll bet you're right. :big_boss:

Thanks.

 

[Makuna]

As I suspect a 1 second cycle is sufficient for heated gear, but not for a visual 'dimming' effect for LED's. I "think" you need at least 120 cycles per second.

Paging Ionbeam or Fred W.

LED dimming is done by PWM, but usually at a much higher frequency. While 120hz should be acceptable, 1hz is not. Many high end LED dimmers will have much higher frquency; but they all vary and rarely are they documented so buyer beware.