Is it possible to add a dimmer switch to a USB LED lamp?

[John Jones]

I bought a USB desk lamp. It has a power switch + 2 switches to increase/decrease brightness. But these buttons are hard to press, very slow to operate, and even the darkest setting is still very bright.

I'd love to add a true dimmer switch, so I can quickly turn it on and set the brightness in one switch.

Is this possible?

 

[danadak]

Crapshoot whether or not that would work. Depends on whats down stream of the USB
port, the circuit used to drive the LED. Maye take a pic of circuit board inside lamp and
post it so we can see connections to LED,. to USB, A well focused closeup pic.

Regards, Dana.

 

[John Jones]

Thanks. The circuit is inside the sealed button unit, which I'd have to smash open to get to. Not sure I want to do that as it would likely make it more difficult to use again!

 

[danadak]

A couple of questions -

1) Are yiou experienced electrically prototype building ? Like simple rewire/solder connections ?

2) Can you do any type of embedded programming ?

3) Do you have to use USB power or can it be AC line source ?


Thought is open base of lamp, disconnect LED driver module, and add a simple LED controller
that uses USB power. But you would have to know LED current allowed and its approximate
V to do this where it starts to turn on. A constant current driver that operates up to LED on full
brightness Voltage.


Regards, Dana.

 

[Dr_Doggy]

open it up , most likely is only a resistor in there, replace it with a 1k ohm pot.

 

[John Jones]

Thanks, guys

3) Do you have to use USB power or can it be AC line source ?

Sorry, it's got to be USB.

1) Are yiou experienced electrically prototype building ? Like simple rewire/solder connections ? 2) Can you do any type of embedded programming ?

No and no! I'm very inexperienced with electronics :-(

I wonder if anyone might be able to take a look at this for me? I could mail it to you with return postage included (in the UK), and will pay you if you're successful?

 

[rjenkinsgb]

Can you post a link to the same desk lamp on a suppliers website, so we can see how it is constructed?
It sounds quite similar to the controller on my magnifier lamp.