Patent ID: 8279564
Filing Date: 2012-10-02
Classification: H05B,Y02B

Abstract:
1. A power limiting apparatus comprising a thermally insulated housing having an input conductor adapted to be connected with an AC power source that extends through said housing and an output connector extending through said housing adapted to be connect to a lamp; a thermally responsive switch mounted within said housing switchably connecting said input connector with said output connector through a series resistor of relatively low resistance; a parallel resistor of relatively high resistance mounted within said housing in parallel with said switch; and a bypass conductor connected to said input conductor and to said output conductor through a diode, whereby should the lamp exceed its maximum power rating in use the temperature within the housing may rise to a level sufficient to cause the temperature responsive switch to open and thereby place the parallel resistor in series with the series resistor to reduce without terminating current flow through the lamp.