Light switch getting hot, especially the screw holding cover on

[aphex]

We have a small chandelier in the kitchen with 8 small bulbs (C10 or something) and its all attached to an electronic dimmer switch in the wall (can remember previous dim setting and return directly do it, or even hold for 30 seconds, then fade out).

We had the light on full power for about 10-15 minutes, went over to turn it off and the wall switch is fairly hot to the touch, so much I wouldnt want to touch it for more than a second. Also, the screw directly below the switch is hot as hell as well...

WTF is going on? Too much power for the switch to handle?

 

[BoomerD]

Possibly the dimmer switch is rated for less wattage than the current fixture draws.
It could be that the dimmer switch is going bad as well. IIRC, they're basically just potentiometers (variable resistors?) and can "wear out."
I've had to replace a couple over the years for the same thing, OR because I replaced the light fixture with one that drew more wattage than the dimmer was rated for.

 

[sutahz]

Is the screw bare metal or painted over? If painted over, you may have a short. If its not painted over and you didn't get shocked, then probley not.
I think boomer is on the right track

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Possibly the dimmer switch is rated for less wattage than the current fixture draws.
It could be that the dimmer switch is going bad as well. IIRC, they're basically just potentiometers (variable resistors?) and can "wear out."
I've had to replace a couple over the years for the same thing, OR because I replaced the light fixture with one that drew more wattage than the dimmer was rated for.

If it can remember previous settings, it definitely ain't just a potentiometer. Probably a triac + control logic.

But yeah, add up the wattage on those bulbs, pop the dimmer out and see what the power limit is on that thing.

 

[aphex]

yikes!!!! 8 bulbs at 60 watts each, 480 watts

 

[aphex]

it says its rated for 600 watts

 

[Fritzo]

Sounds like you're drawing more current on that circuit than the switch is rated for. It might be worth it to spend $8 for a heavy duty switch. Also, are you on circuit breakers or on fuses?

 

[Tiamat]

it shouldn't be heating up like that, check the wiring, and try again to see if it heats up.

 

[Jeff7]

Definitely keep a very close eye on it if you do turn it on at all. I don't think that that sort of thing should get anywhere near that warm. I'll start to notice an outlet warming up a little bit if I run a 1500W heating element off of it, but it's probably not even warmed to body temperature. Any kind of excessive heat in wiring tends to make me nervous, as it can sometimes spell "house fire."

How old is the house? It just crossed my mind that it might happen to have some aluminum wiring, and maybe the switch isn't meant for use with it.

 

[BoomerD]

http://home.howstuffworks.com/dimmer-switch.htm

 

[futuristicmonkey]

10-1 it's a loose connection.

 

[0roo0roo]

loose connections perhaps...
aluminum wiring?
its bad if it heats up like that. perhaps replace or upgrade to a higher wattage switch. stop using it asap of course. any outlet or switch that is hot should be replaced immediately..fire hazard.

anyways a fixture that requires 10 bulbs is a bit wasteful.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: aphex
yikes!!!! 8 bulbs at 60 watts each, 480 watts

I doubt C10 bulbs are 60W. More like 10W or less... AFAIK

 

[BoomerD]

C-10 is a very unusual bulb base/type. Maybe E-12 (candelabra-small base) which could be any wattage. I have several that are 60 watts, a couple that are 3 watts (flicker bulbs) and have replaced the 60's with CFL's. C-7 is the small "night-light" size, c-6 are the small x-mas lights (not miniatures) and c-9 are the larger x-mas bulbs. FYI, c-6 and e-12 are interchangable.

 

[aplefka]

Already recommended, but check the wiring. My old drummer was setting up a switch in his garage and almost burnt the house down because he wired it wrong then powered it on.

Still a funny story to hear to this day.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: aphex
yikes!!!! 8 bulbs at 60 watts each, 480 watts

I doubt C10 bulbs are 60W. More like 10W or less... AFAIK

in that case even worse that the switch is overheating with such a small power draw!

 

[DangerAardvark]

Speaking of hot light switches...

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Speaking of hot light switches...

The Lord with Wood
lol

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Speaking of hot light switches...

Oh my GAWD!

:laugh:

 

[ktehmok]

Originally posted by: aphex
We have a small chandelier in the kitchen with 8 small bulbs (C10 or something) and its all attached to an electronic dimmer switch in the wall (can remember previous dim setting and return directly do it, or even hold for 30 seconds, then fade out).

We had the light on full power for about 10-15 minutes, went over to turn it off and the wall switch is fairly hot to the touch, so much I wouldnt want to touch it for more than a second. Also, the screw directly below the switch is hot as hell as well...

WTF is going on? Too much power for the switch to handle?

The dimmer switch has a metal plate with tabs on the front. Those are to dissipate heat. If the switch is ganged (in the same box) with other switches, the tabs can be removed on either side. However, when you do this it lowers the maximum capacity of the dimmer from 600 watts to a significantly lower wattage. Somewhere around 480 watts.

You should be feeling warmth in the plate trim screws if the dimmer has been in use for some time. Because they are directly connected to the heat plate of the dimmer. If it is uncomfortable to the touch if you hold your finger on it, then it is not dissipating heat properly

You can replace it with a 1000 watt dimmer, but if you have to break the tabs off the sides to make it fit, the max wattage rating will go down with it.

C10 or "candelabra" based bulbs are typically 25 or 40 watts. That doesn't seem like enough to cause excessive heat.

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Speaking of hot light switches...

Holy crap that's horrible :laugh:

 

[Quasmo]

My 1000 watt dimmer gets really hot too. But I'm actually using the full 1000 watts (Film lights). Just check the connections, and make sure nothing is bare.

 

[aphex]

well I'm not sure they are c10, when I looked them up online it looked like them, but they definately are 60w each, I can see it on the side.

 

[Rubycon]

Consumer dimmers - 600W types - use the front mounting plate as a heatsink for the triac. Warm operation is normal. Whenever there is doubt, kill the power and remove the switch to check the connections. If the unit has flying leads (wired in with wirenuts) then a bad connection really isn't going to make the plate get hot. (with a bad wirenut or bugged splice you WILL know it though - they can be quite vocal! )