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Electrical: Switch vs. Fixture Wattage

darrel | Posted in General Discussion on June 30, 2005 07:48am

I bought a bath fan with a heater. We’re wanting to install two timer switches…one for the fan, one for the heater.

The switch says 500W:

http://www.elights.com/deceltimswit2.html

The fan’s heater says 1500W:

http://www.geindustrial.com/products/specs/bfretail/e-det369.pdf

I assume that that is the load on the circuit and that the switch is well below the needed wattage. Is that correct?

If so, anyone know of a digital timer switch that can handle 1500W? Leviton’s switches only appear to go up to 1000W.

Or, am I just not remembering my 1 semester of electricity from college (which is very likely… ;o)

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Replies

  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | Jun 30, 2005 04:47pm | #1

    You are right.

    If you can't find an electric time delay switch an other option is to use a relay.

    Did not know that GE was in the bath fan business.

    1. darrel | Jun 30, 2005 07:16pm | #2

      "You are right."Damn. Is a 1500W heater that unusual? I found it odd that the timer switches were all rated at 500 or 1000.Relay, eh? OK, methinks I'll just let the electrician handle it from this point on. I was hoping to get everything purchased ahead of time for this, but it sounds like I may need to have him deal with the suplly houses directly to get some of these items.Thanks, Bill!

      1. User avater
        BillHartmann | Jun 30, 2005 07:33pm | #3

        Heaters are going to be in the 1000 watts, 1200 watts, 1500 watts.I hever though about it, but I guess that most of them are just on on/off switches.

        1. darrel | Jun 30, 2005 07:59pm | #4

          Would you say a 1000W switch is OK for a 1000W heater? If so, that might be a solution. Or should the switch always be rated more than the heater load?Either way, sounds like we're going to want a separate circuit just for the heater. So, I'll just have to see what the electrician says. Thanks for all the info, Bill.

  2. Bill10 | Jun 30, 2005 08:24pm | #5

    For what it's worth "Intermatic" makes timers and there are an assortment of wall switches that should meet your needs. Home Depot carries them as well. Do a Yahoo search for Intermatic switches and pick one.

    Bill

    1. darrel | Jun 30, 2005 09:45pm | #6

      The problems with the intermatics is that they were rather inellegant solutions. They were highly programable, but in doing that, were rather confusing. The other switches were nice due to the simplicity of them.I'm hoping we can still use one of those and then maybe go with a relay.

      1. Bill10 | Jul 01, 2005 07:47pm | #7

        Yes, they are not the best looking, but recessed in the wall with a decorative hinged door would make them functional. Until someone comes up with a better style, the relay sounds like the way to go.

        Cheers.

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