Development of Remote Controlled Light Dimmer Based on Microcontroller

Abstract

Light dimming has been possible for many decades by using adjustable power resistors and adjustable transformers. However, these conventional methods which have been used in movie theatres, stages and other public places, suffer from significant imperfections. They are big, expensive, have poor efficiency and they are hard to control from remote location. These also involve a lot of human labor, energy and time wastage. This paper presents the design and implementation of an intelligent microcontroller-based remote controlled light dimmer that make the entire system smarter and easier to operate. A remote control is designed to control the light intensity as well as switch on and off the light. The system works by varying the duty cycle (On/Off time) of the full AC voltage that is applied to the light being controlled. A Triode for Alternating Current (TRIAC) and Diode for Alternating Current (DIAC) were used to control the power of the lamp. The system is found operational and effective within the range of 0.01m to 5.00m in accordance with the design specifications.