Abstract: In an appliance having a relatively low voltage control section controlling one or more AC power loads through switch devices such as triacs, the triacs are gated sequentially within each half cycle such that the peak load on the low voltage control circuitry caused by gating the plural triacs is equal to the load created by gating only a single triac. Distribution of the gating of plural triacs is accomplished through the use of a timing circuit or microprocessor, or RC timing circuits having differing time constants.

Abstract: In a domestic appliance such as a washer, dishwasher, dryer, beverage preparation device or the like having several control circuits driven by varying voltage supplies, the input control circuit is supplied with a relatively low voltage and is electrically isolated from higher voltages within the circuitry of the appliance. An optical isolator is provided in the communication channel between the input control circuit and a power control circuit which is connected to circuit elements connected to the A.C. line voltage. The low voltage supply driving the input control circuit is also isolated from the A.C. line voltage. All operator accessible components are coupled to the input control circuit and are therefore isolated from the A.C. line voltage.