Ac power control with integral power factor correction

A power controller for a reactive alternating current (AC) load, comprising:

• first and second input terminals for coupling to an AC power signal;
• a voltage sense circuit for sensing a voltage level of the AC power signal;
• a current sense circuit for sensing a current level of the AC power signal;
• a series pass element coupled between the first input terminal and the reactive load for passing the AC power signal to the reactive load;
• and
• computing and control means coupled to the series pass element, the computing and control means providing a pulse width modulated (PWM) control signal for the series pass element responsive to the voltage and current levels of the AC power signal and a power reduction level input signal, wherein the computing and control means varies a duty cycle of the PWM control signal during each AC power cycle of the AC power signal to maintain a high power factor.