Load too heavy for light switch?

[Dazaroonie]

Hi,

In our new kitchen we have 25 X 50W mains halogen ceiling lights controlled by a standard 10A MK light switch. Recently we have noticed that the light switch becomes warm when the lights are turned on.

Today I checked that the screws were nice and tight which they were so I swapped the switch with another one I had in the house (although this one is only 6A) and now all seems fine, the switch remains cold to the touch.

Would you say it was just a faulty switch or do we have too many lights for the switch?

Any help with this would be great.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Lectrician]

1250 watts is around 5-6 amp.

It is a poor design to have that many lights switched by one switch. It would be usuall to split that amount onto a 3 or 4 gand (or larger) switch, and possibly a couple circuits.

The 10amp switch should have been able to cope with the load. I expect that the 'warm to the touch' may still have been with in the tolerance the switch was manufactured for.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

In our new kitchen we have 25 X 50W mains halogen ceiling lights

Glad to see you're doing your bit for the environment...

 

[Dazaroonie]

Ok thanks Lectrician at least it's not serious, I'll see how it goes with the new switch.

Glad to see you're doing your bit for the environment...

Ha, ha yeah with me it's having a nice bright kitchen first and.. er... saving the environment second

Dave

 

[Adam_151]

I too have a nice bright kitchen... mines lit by two 5' 58W switch start fluorescent fittings

 

[Cartboy52]

In our new kitchen we have 25 X 50W mains halogen ceiling lights

 

[Dazaroonie]

Sorry I thought I'd posted in a DIY help forum not on a Save Our Environment web community, it's my kitchen!!!

Did I mention the kitchen is 20ft X 25ft

Anyway thanks again Lectrician.

 

[ColJack]

it's probably just the switch contacts getting oxodised due to heavy load switching..

 

[GaryMo]

I too have a nice bright kitchen... mines lit by two 5' 58W switch start fluorescent fittings

Very popular in the 80's weren't they?

 

[Taylortwocities]

And downlights were very popular in the '90s.

 

[GaryMo]

And downlights were very popular in the '90s.

Still popular around these parts (North West).
We do work for many people with varying financial status and all want downlights.
Most would be horrified if a fluorescent fitting was suggested!

 

[IJWS15]

And I thought we had a lot with 12 x 50W - Now 11x50W plus 1 x 7W

Will eventually get another 5 or 6 x 7W bulbs for them!

 

[mdbalson]

I have 9x 50w downlights & 4x 50w on 2x 2 bulb halogen bar lights above the sink, plus 4x 36cm fluro's in light up the worktop.

But mine are switched as:

5 downlights on 1st gang of switch 1

4 downlights on 2nd gang of switch 1 & also switched by 2nd gang of switch 3 (2 way switching)

The undercupboard lights on 3rd gang of switch 1

the 2x 2 bulb halogen bar lights on 1st gang of switch 2




Switch 1 is a 3 gang by the kitchen door

Switch 2 is a 3 gang by the backdoor (2nd gang is ulititly room light, & 3rd gang is the back floodlight)

Switch 3 is a 2 gang by the bathroom door (1st gang is bathroom light)


The Kitchen is 4m 50 by 2m 30

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Sorry I thought I'd posted in a DIY help forum not on a Save Our Environment web community, it's my kitchen!!!

And it's everybody else's planet, you ignorant and selfish ****

 

[Taylortwocities]

Steady BAS, we'll be berating evreyone with a 10.5KW instant shower next. Hey, lets do that!