Additional uses for a dimmer plug/socket?

Michael_K

Lidl in N Ireland have a dimmer socket, manual or automatic, for sale from tomorrow Monday (5-6-06) at £4.44.
http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home_ni.nsf/pages/c.o.20060605.p.Electronics

Apart from table lamps with a standard bulb, can they be used with anything else?

I was wondering if I could use it with my rice cooker to reduce the power it uses. It's 630W and boils water off very fast.

And what's an automatic dimmer socket? Is that a dimmer with a timer?

All I know so far about dimmer plugs is:
1. They can't be used with CFTs (low energy lights).
2. They have a maximum power level, ie the wattage of the lamp to be used should be less than the dimmer's maximum wattage.

Edit:
The 'automatic dimmer socket' is actually labelled Twilight Switch, switches on/off automatically at dusk/dawn and has a timer and a random function. More a burglary deterrent.

raymond

As most domestic light bulbs are in the range 40-100W and your cooker is 630W I would have said no, but they are probably gone now anyway.