Replies

1. 
   WillGeorge | Jan 25, 2005 06:58pm | #1

   I assume this is some kind of dimmer switch. I believe they have a heat-sink for the controlling TRIC. Some dimmers do get warm and depends on wattage of lamps in the fixture. Just a thought.

   
   

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   Edited 1/25/2005 10:58 am ET by Will George

2. 
   aimless | Jan 25, 2005 08:04pm | #2

   Kaz,

     You need to post this on Breaktime, which is the forum associated with Fine Homebuilding. Electricians are FAR more likely to hang out over there. House Chat is the forum for Inspired House, which is more about architecture and decorating.

    

   Amy

3. 
   DANL | Jan 27, 2005 03:11pm | #3

   I've noticed this in several houses I've visited with dimmers--I'm not an electrician, bt I believe part of the way a dimmer works is sort of the way a rheostat works and part of the dimming process ends up changing the excess light to heat--I know this is not what really happens, but is the simplest way to explain it.

4. 
   UncleDunc | Jan 27, 2005 11:31pm | #4

   If "very hot" means too hot to hold your hand against it, or hot enough to discolor the switch plate, or hot enough to smell scorched, you need to replace it. If it just means noticeably warmer than the other three, you probably don't.

5. 
   gizmo2006 | Feb 06, 2005 07:59am | #5

   Kaz,

   I'm an electrical contractor and generally when a dimmer is "hot to the touch" it's because the wattage rating of the dimmer is near it's maximum rating.

    Example #1: A given dimmer has a maximum wattage rating of 600 Watts. The light fixture it is controlling has four (4) 60 watt bulbs. The four (4) 60 watt bulbs added together equals 240 watts. The total wattage of the connected light fixture is less than half of the maximum wattage rating of the dimmer (Thus, the dimmer will handle the connected load without over-heating (the dimmer will not be hot to the touch)

   Example # 2: A home owner installs two (2) new light fictures when he finishes the basement. His wife decides she wants the fixtures on a dimmer. The husband installs a 600 watt dimmer to control both lights. Each light ficture is rated to handle four (4) 60 watt bulbs. The wife tells her husband that 60 watt bulbs will not give them enough light. The husband installs four (4) 75 watt bulbs in each fixture. When you add up the total wattage of both fixtures, you can see what happens. Two fixtures with four (4)  75 watt bulbs in each fixture or a total of eight (8) 75 watt bulbs. If we add up the eight (8) 75 watt bulbs, the total wattage for those two connected fixtures is 600 watts. Since the maximum wattage rating for the dimmer is 600 Watts it runs "hot" and you can expect a shorter life for that dimmer.

   Solution: Check the total connected load of the light/lights controlled by the dimmer. If the total connected load is near the maximum rating of the dimmer have lower wattage bulbs installed or change the dimmer to a higher wattage rating. I always keep the connected load to 75-80% of the maximum wattage rating of the dimmer.

   Note:All eletrical work should be performed by a licensed  electrician.

   I hope this helps!

   Delbert