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hoganem

07:05AM | 09/22/03
Member Since: 02/13/03
90 lifetime posts
Bvelectrical
Would a standard 120v light dimmer switch control the volume on a speaker?

I'm looking for an easy way to quiet an in-wall speaker without turning down the whole system.

I am having two speakers mounted in the wall on each side of my headboard. I want to be able to turn them down (or up) separately from the TV they'll be hooked to. My wife wants a speaker mounted next to my head so I can watch TV and she can sleep without hearing it as much!!! I am hard of hearing and tend to have the TV too loud for her!!!

k2

09:39AM | 09/22/03
Member Since: 06/06/03
1250 lifetime posts
Interesting question! I'm not an electrician, and I've never attempted doing what you suggest...but offhand I'd be hesitant to try it. I hope a more knowledgable person writes in. But in the meantime....

I'd be afraid of changing the impedance--and both speakers and amplifiers are 'matched' in that regard. Also, stereo volume controls are actually part of a "pre-amp"; they modify the "input" signal--they're not dealing with the amplified result.


Tom O

12:53PM | 09/22/03
Member Since: 09/17/02
487 lifetime posts
I don't know if I can mention specific store names here, but if you've got questions, they've got answers. Go there & tell them what you want to do. They'll sell you the right part.

Tom

joed

02:47PM | 09/22/03
Member Since: 09/17/02
527 lifetime posts
Electronic light dimmer will NOT work to control a speaker. It will cause distortion if it does anything.

hoganem

04:23AM | 09/23/03
Member Since: 02/13/03
90 lifetime posts
Thanks Guys,

I was at one home electronics store and they tried to sell me a $50 volume control knob. That's when I started getting "creative" with my thinking thought of the dimmer switch. I then went to a local electronics shop and they sold me a basic 10 watt LPAD. I'll mount it in a gang box and put a cover plate over it, should do the trick, $3.50.

Thanks



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