Touch Dimmer

Light fixtures equipped with a touch dimmer can be turned on, off, and dimmed with a simple touch. The metal housing responds to even the slightest touch and then dims the light; for this reason, a light fixture with a touch dimmer is sometimes also referred to as a touch light. In most cases, light fixtures with touch dimmers can be dimmed in three levels. The mechanism behind this can be explained by the electric field generated by the metal housing. The built-in circuitry measures this field precisely and reacts as soon as someone touches the touch dimmer, because a touch causes a minimal change in voltage. This change is due to the electrical current produced by a person’s heartbeat, which, although very small, is still sufficient to activate the touch dimmer. For this reason, the dimmer can only be controlled by skin contact and does not work when touched with a glove or any other object. Due to its small size, this type of touch dimmer can be installed in table lamps, floor lamps, or wall sconces, as well as in pendant lights; the only requirement is that the lamp’s housing must be made of metal. This way, the entire ambiance in the room can be adjusted and changed with a single touch, without the hassle of searching for the switch. This is exactly what dimmers are usually used for: very bright light is good for detailed work, while dimmed, darker light makes the room cozier.