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-   -   Dimmer switch hot (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=45611)

  • Nov 29, 2006, 02:28 PM
    smishy
    Dimmer switch hot
    We recently changed over fluorescent lighting to track lighting with a dimmer switch. Recently I noticed that there was a bit of a blue spark when we turned the switch off and the switch itself was warm. What would the problem here be?:confused:
  • Nov 29, 2006, 03:02 PM
    ceilingfanrepair
    How many light fixtures do you have attacted to your tracks and what wattage bulbs?
  • Nov 29, 2006, 03:42 PM
    smishy
    There are a total of 9 bulbs (60w each). The dimmer switch we bought is the correct one for the amount of lights we have running from it - are all dimmer switches hot or should we try a new one?
  • Nov 29, 2006, 04:11 PM
    tkrussell
    Yes all dimmers are hot and designed to disipate the heat through the front aluminum plate on all dimmers. The heat is usually mentioned in the manual.

    This heat is mentioned because if dimmers are "ganged" along with other dimmers, extra steps are needed to be taken, such as derating the dimmer rating.

    Can you find yours at the manufacturers website to confirm this?
  • Jun 28, 2007, 06:50 PM
    Stratmando
    Probably 600 Watt dimmer, 9 X 60 = 540 Watts, one more bulb, and you would be at limit, you could reduce bulbs to 52 watts
    (X 9 = 468 Watts).
    Or you could use higher wattage Dimmer. Should be fine.

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