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I have a WiFi enabled AC mains light dimmer/switch that uses a back to back MOSFET design. The device sits in series with the load (lightbulb) and therefore does not have its own return/neutral connection.

I'd like some help to understand how its MOSFET / transistor arrangement works as I'm not fully confident I do understand how the control circuitry might be managing the MOSFETs and transistors so that:

  • it always has power for itself (a tiny amount of current flows through the lightbulb at all times, but not enough to light it); and

  • so that a controlled amount of current is allowed to flow through it when any level of light brightness is requested.

Ultimately, what I'd like to do is convert the device to be a user input device only (with minimal modifications to the circuit), connecting directly to the supply and neutral - by somehow disconnecting the path between the two side to prevent dead shorts when any level of light brightness is requested.

For example, could I do this simply by disconnecting the base of each transistor so that they're never open and therefore there is never a direct path between the two sides (i.e. pin 3).

This may seem like a pointless exercise/idea, but actually it would then give me a dimmer that I can use in software (over WiFi) as a user input to control other "smart" things such as mood scene selection.

enter image description here

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  • \$\begingroup\$ If the transistor works as variable resistor, like you intend to make a dimmer, it would blow. The dimmer circuits use phase angle control or PWM. \$\endgroup\$ Oct 20, 2017 at 7:30
  • \$\begingroup\$ Probably not something you should be messing with.. but what are the connections here... esp 1,2,3,4 and 5. maybe add those to the diagram \$\endgroup\$
    – Trevor_G
    Oct 20, 2017 at 7:37
  • \$\begingroup\$ @MarkoBuršič it already is a working dimmer, I don't want it to be \$\endgroup\$ Oct 20, 2017 at 8:39
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Trevor they're just the connections to the control circuitry which receives power for itself (5, 1, 2?), and controls the transistor base (3), I suspect (4) is a monitor. The control circuitry is where the WiFi radio and MCU live. \$\endgroup\$ Oct 20, 2017 at 8:41

4 Answers 4

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Use a photovoltaic MOSFET driver like VOM1271 link.

enter image description here

This is a MOSFET solid state relay .

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Disconnecting pin 3 from the control circuitry does the job, this prevents the transistors from opening up and therefore permanently prevents a low resistance path between the two AC sides.

Unless anybody can see any issues with that?

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Your reverse-engineered circuit looks incomplete. I can't make sense of it.

The simplest thing to do would be to work out the minimum load required to keep the device working without modification. You then permanently wire a load resistor of that value into circuit.

If using a resistor rather than a lamp you need to allow adequate cooling - the same as you would for a tungsten light bulb.

This solution will waste a small amount of power. If you add an indicator lamp - a neon, for example - it will act as a reminder to turn the load off.


Another possible solution is to hook it up to a lower voltage supply.

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

Figure 1. Low-power setup.

The device probably requires enough voltage and current to power up the internal circuitry. There may be a sweet spot at a lower voltage that will give enough power for the dimmer while minimising the load requirement. Try half-supply?

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  • \$\begingroup\$ I had thought about adding a resistor in series with the mains connection (in place of what would normally be a lightbulb), that way I wouldn't actually need to make any modifications to the circuit at all. However, it need to be something about 1.2k (240v / 200mA) - thats 48w of heat to dissipate, in a small enclosed hole in the wall! \$\endgroup\$ Oct 20, 2017 at 11:12
  • \$\begingroup\$ See the update. \$\endgroup\$
    – Transistor
    Oct 20, 2017 at 11:26
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I designed several back to back MOSFET dimmers. I am reasonably sure, that: - the schematics has several mistakes. Please double-check your MOSFET gates schematics. - point 5 is a connection to the control CPU's input, sensing the AC to get the Zero Detection - point 1 is a connection to the control CPU's output, controlling each half-sine wave MOSFET switching PWM - point 2 is digital ground

To achieve the MOSFETs to be off, their input must be a low (ground) signal from the control circuitry Before the 1kohm gate resistor pair.

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