[rays31]

I replaced a chandelier above my dining room table with 5 standard type A 100 watt bulbs. I'm concerned about two things. One, when I replace the light fixture, the new light had two black cords so I placed one on the black lead and one on the white lead is that what I should have done? Two, now the dimmer switch is very warm when the chandelier is left on. Do I have a loose connection, or did I wire it wrong or do I need a higher wattage dimmer switch?

[tkrussell]

The two black cords, one wire is identified by ribs or notches in the insulation, these two wires must connect to the white neutral in the ceiling outlet box.

Need to check the wattage rating of the dimmer. The lowest I am aware of is 600 watts.

Dimmers do get warm, will even tell you this in the instructions.

500 watts of load is fine on a 600 watt dimmer, if stand alone, not in same box with another dimmer.

[rays31]

Thanks tk!! I didn't notice notches but one of the wires have writing on it. Would it work if the wires were switched? The dimmer is in the same box as another switch but not a dimmer.

[Stratmando]

It should not affect the load if reversed, just not correct, the writing is likely on the smooth(hot conductor).
Iv'e seen 300 watters, and I think even a 150, not for sure on the 150 though. Increasing the dimmer Wattage should reduce Heat.
They do make 1000 Watt dimmers that will fit in a single gang device.

[rays31]

OK. That helps a lot. I will buy at least a 600 Watt dimmer for sure. So more is OK too? If the dimmer is 1000 watt it will still work? Sorry for being so ignorant.

[Stratmando]

You may have a 600 watt Dimmer now, you are near the end of the capacity if you have a 600 watt dimmer, the 5 bulbs is 500 watts, a 1000 Watt dimmer will run cooler but may be a little expensive, dimmers do get warm, if the heat worries you, use the 1000 Watter.

[tkrussell]

While 600 watt dimers only use the aluminum plate under the knob to dissipate heat, most 1000 watt dimmers have fins to help disspate the heat, since they are built to handle more wattage and would have more heat to deal with.

Note to anyone that wants to gang more than one dimmer in a box, special consideration is needed to handle this heat. A 1000 watt dimmer will then get reduced in wattage by derating to 80% if combined with other dimmers.

Dimmers get hot. Using a better grade dimmer and using a larger dimmer than needed will help with the heat.

Just my $0.02 worth.

[Stratmando]

To add to TK's when you use more than 1 dimmer next to each other you have to remove the little aluminum tab on the sides where they meet, reducing the effective wattage.
This show those tabs:
Lutron 3-Way - Incandescent Dimmer - Paddle and Slide Switch - 1000 Watt - Di: Compare Prices, View Price History and Read Reviews at NexTag

[Stratmando]

Dimmer and higher watt makes the switch hot, But i don't know what was happened, either that was dimmer watt issue or higher.

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Can you clarify, how many, and what wattage bulbs did you have before?
How many watts does you current dimmer handle, may be stamped in the aluminum.

[rays31]

I'm not sure what the wattage was, they were a bunch of the little candlelight bulbs. I threw away the fixture already! Thanks for all the advice everybody! I'm at work. My wife checked the dimmer switch and says there is nothing marked on it. I will by a new one just to be safe.