Patent ID: 6365988
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
A power controller for setting the power of an electrical appliance, wherein the power includes at least a first phase and a second phase of a three-phase power supply and the electrical appliance provides a load, the power controller comprising:a power control switch in communication with the load and having contacts displaceable between a first switch configuration of the contacts of the power control switch wherein the load of the electrical appliance is connected to a phase voltage consisting of one of the first and second phases in a switch-on state of the contacts of the power control switch, and a second switch configuration of the contacts in the switch-on state of the power control switch wherein the load of the electrical appliance is connected to a line voltage consisting of both the first and second phases; and a bimetallic heater connected to the power control switch to adjustably pulse the power control switch in the switch-on state, so that the electrical appliance is supplied with adjustable power pulses, the bimetallic heater being connected to one of the phase and line voltages in the first and second switching configurations of the contacts of the power control switch.