Electronic control systems and methods

An electronic control system connectable to a source of electric power, operable in a two wire mode and a three wire mode, comprising a hot terminal, a dimmed hot terminal, a neutral terminal and a power supply, the power supply drawing a power supply current from the source of electric power, wherein said power supply current only flows between the hot terminal and the dimmed hot terminal when said electronic control system is operating in said two wire mode, and wherein a portion of said power supply current flows between the hot terminal and neutral terminal when said electronic control system is operating in said three wire mode.

An apparatus for controlling the amount of power delivered from a source of power to a load comprising:

• a first main terminal and a second main terminal, said first main terminal connectable to said source of power and said second main terminal connectable to said load to allow current to flow from said source of power to said load;
• a power supply that draws a power supply current from said source of power through said load;
• a third terminal connectable to said source of power, wherein when said third terminal is energized by said source of power a portion of said power supply current flows through said third terminal instead of through said load.

A method of reducing flicker in a lamp driven by an electronic transformer in a system powered by an AC line voltage, comprising the steps of:

• providing current to said electronic transformer trough a series connectable dimming circuit, wherein said current flows for a user selectable first conduction time in an AC line voltage half cycle;
• and
• providing a non-overlapping second conduction time in the same half cycle of the AC line voltage just prior to the next zero crossing of the AC line voltage.

A power controlling device for controlling the amount of power delivered from a source of power to a load comprising:

• a first and a second main terminal, said first main terminal connectable to said source of power, said second main terminal connectable to said load to allow current to flow from said source of power to said load;
• and
• a power supply that draws a power supply current from said source of power and through said load, said power supply having an efficiency greater than about 50%.