Electrical Question

[Dottore]

We recently had a new light fixture installed in the ceiling and placed on a dimmer switch. It's a feature light with various tiny bulbs—which is quite bright—though I'm not sure what the combined wattage of the thing is.

With the dimmer on high, the dimmer switch gets extremely hot in 6 or 7 minutes. So hot you can barely touch it. Clearly something wrong there. Contractors response is "don't turn it on high" and "you chose the lamp".

Now electrical matters are one of my great failings in life. Are there heavy duty dimmer switches out there that might avoid this problem? Is the lamp drawing too much power? Is this a potential fire hazard?

My apologies in advance for what must be a stupid question.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Dottore

We recently had a new light fixture installed in the ceiling and placed on a dimmer switch. It's a feature light with various tiny bulbs—which is quite bright—though I'm not sure what the combined wattage of the thing is.

With the dimmer on high, the dimmer switch gets extremely hot in 6 or 7 minutes. So hot you can barely touch it. Clearly something wrong there. Contractors response is "don't turn it on high" and "you chose the lamp". Obviously, he is looking for recommendation


Now electrical matters are one of my great failings in life. Are there heavy duty dimmer switches out there that might avoid this problem? You'll need to find out the total watt and type of light and match the appropriate dimmer for it.

Is the lamp drawing too much power? Possibly, for the dimmer that you got.



Is this a potential fire hazard? For sure, don't use it.

Where ever you bought the lamp they should be able to find you the proper dimmer. Hopefully it was not through the contractor...

My apologies in advance for what must be a stupid question.

Definitely not a stupid question.

[Mark Henry]

Not right, that hot it should be tripping a breaker as well. Don't believe the contractor, call a licensed electrician.
Check the amps on the light, but it must be under 15 amps and the switch should be rated for that.

[flatbutt]

That contractors attitude is appalling. I'm no electrician but it would seem that the switch can't handle the current. Fortunately we have people who really know this stuff.

[RWebb]

I would be inclined to contact whatever agency regulates electrical contractors where you live...

[billybek]

It may be possible that the dimmer is not the right type or the wrong wattage rating.
Find out from the wholesaler or the installer what the total wattage of the fixture is.
The installer should have known what the fixture requirements were and to safely install it he should have known to check the dimmer for compatibility.
Edit: It is the installers responsibility to check that the fixture can be installed safely and will operate safely. That is why you paid him!

[carambola]

yes there are heavier duty dimmers out there. 1000w dimmers are easily found, you probably have a 600 watt dimmer. what type of fixture did you have installed, how many bulbs?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I would be inclined to contact whatever agency regulates electrical contractors where you live...

Then what would they do?

[look 171]

Tell us what kind of light is it and the total wattage. Get a pic of the bulb if you can. All dimmers do run a little warm.

Jeff

[john70t]

110volts x 15amps(typical)=1650 Watts draw.
That's a lot of lightbulbs.
Unless there's something else heavy operated by the same dimmer circuit(not allowed), no single light fixture should pull near that much.

It could be a bad dimmer switch with a short, it could be something else. Nothing should get hot to the touch. DO NOT USE and kill the breaker if possible. Call the company for someone else.

[LakeCleElum]

My good friend's son is a licensed electrician. I asked him if I saved on my power consumption by using a dimmer? His reply was that: No, the dimmer is a heat sink and absorbs the power, you still use the same.

I installed several dimmers when I built this house. Two of the lights are big Chandlers with up to 15 bulbs. I used just a normal dimmer switch, wired it myself and not had a problem. Haven't checked for heat, but this may be normal?

Reading: http://www.smarthome.com/solution41.html

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by look 171

Tell us what kind of light is it and the total wattage. Get a pic of the bulb if you can. All dimmers do run a little warm.

Jeff

Here's a picture of the chandelier light fixture in the foreground. Not sure of the wattage.

The dimmer is not just warm. It is really hot.

Many thanks for all the excellent advice.

[TimT]

Amazing view...

Love the Ikea poang chair

[Laneco]

Well I am an electrician. Dimmers come in a few sizes and styles. They will get hot but if you can not touch it, yes turn it off. If you have a incandescent fixture you need a incandescent dimmer like wise fluorescent dimmer with fluorescent fixtures. Load is the next big item you need to know the load and only load the dimmer to 80% (1000 watts, load it only 800 watts as not to overload the dimmer). I have had brand new items bad out of the box. dimmers and occupancy sensors more so. Hope this was of help.
Steve

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by TimT

Amazing view...

Love the Ikea poang chair

Yeah. Me old mum's flat. She moved to an old folks home last year—so I've had her flat completely gutted and renovated. It's a tower that stands on it's own and has only one unit per floor—so has 360 degree views.... She's at the top.

It's also the most secure flat I've ever seen, because the lift opens inside the flat, and you can't use the lift without the key fob. This turned out to be a huge problem for my mother, because when she would tip over from time to time and require emergency services, there was absolutely no way for them to get to her unit!

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Dottore

We recently had a new light fixture installed in the ceiling and placed on a dimmer switch. It's a feature light with various tiny bulbs—which is quite bright—though I'm not sure what the combined wattage of the thing is.

With the dimmer on high, the dimmer switch gets extremely hot in 6 or 7 minutes. So hot you can barely touch it. Clearly something wrong there. Contractors response is "don't turn it on high" and "you chose the lamp".

Now electrical matters are one of my great failings in life. Are there heavy duty dimmer switches out there that might avoid this problem? Is the lamp drawing too much power? Is this a potential fire hazard?

My apologies in advance for what must be a stupid question.

What everyone else here has said, but a couple more things:

What is the rating of the lamp? Maybe you simply need to reduce the wattage of the bulbs in the fixture. You have said it is too bright at the full setting.

Also, make sure you aren't also overloading the lamp. That can also cause a fire.

Also, make sure that you are not overloading that circuit. Sometimes people have higher rated breakers than they should have in a circuit.

Finally, I think you need a "second opinion", from a different contractor.

[Baz]

Just wanted to say NICE VIEW and PAD!


Now back to the electrical comments from those who know more than I......

[LWJ]

What Steve said.

1) Check the voltage of the fixture. 120V? There are low voltage fixtures but I don't think that is one. (Check, however)
2) Check Specs on the dimmer. There are lots of different kinds. You need to match the voltage and the type to the fixture.
3) I forgot to tell you to turn off the breaker first, before you start poking around.
4) Even though you said you are not strong on this, if you are comfortable unhooking the fixture and dimmer you could bring them into a home improvement store to get a free opinion. For that matter, post info here and you might get a free electrician's opinion. Which I am not.

Good luck. Heat and electricity are usually bad.

Larry

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by look 171

Then what would they do?

here they can jerk their permit or just bludgeon them into submission, tho monetary damages are more usual

[look 171]

I am not sure what would happen down here? I bet they will say you need to contact a lawyer. If it passed inspection, then you are on your own.