Hot Dimmer Switch

uptight · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 9:59 pm Post Subject: Hot Dimmer Switch

The metal plate on my lutron dimmer switch is very hot to the touch when the switch is on. What might the problem be?

andy · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:03 pm Post Subject: Re: Hot Dimmer Switch

uptight wrote:

The metal plate on my lutron dimmer switch is very hot to the touch when the switch is on. What might the problem be?

1: do you have it on low? could just be heat from making the light dimmer. how hot is hot?

plugwash · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 11:16 pm Post Subject:

i'd guess the dimmer is either underrated or faulty, domestic dimmers should not get hot.

uptight · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:33 pm Post Subject: I've found the culprit!

I’ve determined that the combined wattage of the halogen recessed lights connected to the switch is greater than that of the switch itself. Therefore causing it to work too hard and ultimately get hot. Solution will be to either switch to lower wattage bulbs or replace the switch with one that has a higher wattage capacity.