Dimmer Switch

Tim, My wife bought a new pre-lighted Christmas tree this year. It has 21 strings of lights and the manufacturer said that 5 strings = one amp, so our tree draws less that five amps. Is there a way of dimming this tree? A dimmer switch or a step down transformer???
Thank you,
Bob Stubbs

Bob,
You are just under 600 watts so a standard dimmer switch should work.

Tim -- How much heat is acceptable? I recently installed a new Lutron Diva dimmer switch. The switch itself is warm when the lights are on, but the screws on the switch plate actually get almost too hot to touch. Is it possible that the switch is installed incorrectly?

John,
Anything is possible! Did the installer follow the installation instructions to the letter? Is the switch overloaded with too many watts?

i need a 1000-1200 watt dimmer switch for a single softbox light it would not be installed in a wall but in a box with exstion cords on ether end as they are solid state they should be stable from mechanical shock is thare any reason that it would not work for 8 hours strait and would they need any spacial care in transport

are lights are max 1000 watts a peace just thought i would give some head room in case we shoot in sona or would that be a bad idea

Tom,
Go to an electrical supply house and buy what you need.

I have an exsisting dimmer switch that has a rotating round knob that I had hooked up to a set of track lights with 3 halogen bulbs and it makes a buzzing sound when they are on. Is there something wrong with the switch because it's old or are there halogen bulbs make specifically for dimming?

Lee,
I don't think anything is wrong. If you are worried, try a new electronic dimmer.

Hi Tim
I'm just in the process of purchasing some downlights and I was wondering what is more cost effective; either using energy saving downlights or using a dimmer to dim higher watt bulbs.
many thanks

Muneer,
I can't say...... There are too many variables.

how does a light dimmer circuit switches on and off

Tim, I'm not the Lee that posted earlier, but I have a similar question. I recently repaced a 3-way switch in my dining room with a 3-way toggle dimmer. Two questions--1. the dining room light has 4 40-watt bulbs, and I hear buzzing from the bulbs. It's not as loud at full strength, but is there anything I can do to stop it? 2. I connected the dimmer exactly as the original switch was installed. Now, the two switches in the dining room don't work together. When one is "on" the dimmer works fine. But if the switch is "off", the dimmer does nothing. What's my problem? Thanks.

Dear Tim, We are remodeling our bathroom and Have installed 5 ressed light fixtures on a dimmer switch. Is it Ok To use a combination of halogen and incandesent bulbs? Are halogen bulbs Ok to use with a dimmer as long as the dimmer is rated high enough for the # of whats it will carry?

Thanks so much Peter.

Lee,
I think you wired it wrong. I also think you failed to call the mfr 800# to see what they said about the humming noise. Let us know what you discover.

Peter,
It is all about watts. Add up the watts of the light bulbs and make sure you don't exceed the limit of the dimmer.

Tim, I've read all the postings on dimmer switches, but am yet to hear an answer to my problem. I have about 800 watts hooked up to a dimmer switch I recently installed. The metal plate (with the tabs that I've taken off to fit in the space I needed the dimmer to go) and screws get very hot to the touch when it's on for a short time. I've hooked it up correctly. Do I need a specific dimmer for more wattage? And, will the meta plate get so hot that it does damage to the two switches on either side of it? What would I look for when looking for a new dimmer switch?

Thanks for the help!

Tim,

I am looking for the solution to a problem.
I recently installed a dimmer switch and spotlight set in a bedroom (dimmer by me, spot by spark)
It has worked fine until now.
Dimmer is brushed aluminium with light in it (green when off/red when on)
Suddenly the dimmer has no light lit (as if the power has gone from it)

Is this possible?

The spotlight has a 3 bulb cluster, if one of these bulbs "blew" would this in effect cut power to the dimmer or make it in essence lose its power?

Appreciate if you can help :)
Ross

Good thread.
I have the Leviton IPI06-1l 600W dimmer, it is hooked up as single switch, load is 6 can lights with 65 watt bulb each, 390 watts total (6 *65).

I have NOT removed any of the aluminum side heat sink portions yet, so it is rated at full 600W.

Testing the circuit with 6 bulbs in, I measured the switch at 104-107deg f with my infrared device, felt quite warm to the touch. This was with lights on full brightness.
In my "common sense", I expected no temp rise when lights on full brightness, because I expected the electricity to be 100% or close to that flowing thru the circuit.

What am I missing?
Why should the sw get warm under the scenario I have?

I am nowhere near the 600W load limit.
Thanks,
Mike R, P.E.

Ray,
Did you read the instructions that came with that dimmer? Can you tell me what they said?

My house is 1 year old and have dimmer switches in every room that include middle light fixtures and can lights. These are set on dimmer switches. Can I use energy effiient bulbs on dimmers? And can I switch dimmers to regular switches to use florecent bulbs? Thank you for your answer.

Jessica

Ross,
Perhaps the power has been disconnected. Take it apart and troubleshoot.

Hi Tim,
Curious if there are any LED type light bulbs or other energy efficient light bulbs that would work in a dimmer switch situation? I've become very energy efficient minded in the last few years but really love the dimmer lighting I use in my home.
Thank You!!

Romie,
I can't see why an electronic dimmer would not work with LEDs. If you read the column above again, you will see how the pulsing of the electric current should not harm the LED.

I am trying to install a dimmer switch for my bedroom ceiling fan with a light. but the only wire that runs to the original switch is the utility wire. ( 1 pos 1 neg and the ground) how do I install a switch to that?

How do I determine if I need a one, two, or three pole dimmer switch on my lights?

Hi, Tim.

I was wondering if there are any types of light bulbs that are not compatible with the dimmer switches discussed in the article (quickly turning on and off to produce a dimming effect).

I am looking to replace lights on a dimmer switch with Compact Florescent bulbs.

Thank you,
Bill

Tim/Muneer,

I was in a similar dilemma RE: cost effectiveness of energy saving downlights or using a dimmer for higher watt bulbs. Particularly for those hard-to-reach areas, as was my situation, I found that it was worth using both energy saving lights as well as a dimmer. It actually pays off in the long-run (1-2 yrs) and well... you have more control of lighting... room ambiance...without the glare of the high beams. There are a few wholesalers out there. I bought through Prolighting.com, which seems to be pretty competitive.

Here's what they've got on Lutron Dimmers:
http://www.prolighting.com/lutrondimmers.html

They should also have the energy-saving bulbs that you'd want to.

Hi, I fitted a long life energy saving bulb into my socket which is operated with a dimmer switch. After a few days the switch/light has stopped working. Could you help with this problem.
Thanks PAUL

Hi Tim,

Following your column here, I see that the new single pole dimmer that I installed in between two other switches is now de-rated to 400 watts, but I have 6 x 75 watts recessed lighting attached. This puts me 50 watts over the rating. Is this ok, or what change do I need to make? Thank you!

Hi Tim,

I was changing my touch-pad dimmer, that was linked to 2 sets of lights, to a live dimmer in my bathroom . I tried to hook it up following the instructions, but only one of the sets actually dims. The other is always on. How can I fix this?
Thanks,
JF, Ottawa

just installed a dimmer swith controlling 3 x 100 watt bulbs and the lights go dark and light on their own , could this be a faulty dimmer switch or too much wattage in the circuit?

I had an old dimmer stitch with a round knob that turned. I am trying to install a new one with a slider for dimming. I took the old one out and install the new one exactly how the old one was and the new one will not work. Any thoughts?

I have a UNENCO switch with four wires coming out of its back:
Red, yellow, green, and black.
I suspect it's a dimmer switch, but am uncertain.
If you can tell me, I'd appreciate learning how to connect it.
Thank you.
Hank

Is it OK to wire a switch to short the live directly across to the load side of a dimmer switch to form an instant high power switch?

I just installed (I think correctly) a dimmer switch from a normal toggle style switch. I disconnected the red & black wires from the old and reattached them to the new dimmer switch. There was no ground on the old switch, so I did not ground the new switch--just left the wire there hanging (not sure if that's bad). Now, the switch is not doing anything. The outlet in the wall works, but the switch will not turn it on or off and will not dim either. Any ideas?

Lee, the buzzing sound you are hearing is just the halogen light being rapidly switched on and off. The way the dimmer works causes the filament in the halogen light to be quickly pulsed with power, creating a magnetic field that atracts the coiled filament to the little metal structures holding the filament in place.

Its nothing to worry about. The worst it can do it make annoying lines on your TV if the light is too close. If you really want to fix it, speak to an electrician about installing a capacitor to smoothen out the flow of electricity.

I would like to purchase a "lamp dimmer switch" with cord (the type where the lamp cord plugs into the lamp dimmer plug which, in turn, gets plugged into the wall). Unfortunately, because of where the lamp needs to be and where the outlet is, I would need to use an extension cord (lamp cord into lamp dimmer switch plug and plug into extension cord). Is it o.k. (i.e. safe)?

I want to use a dimmer on my kitchen chandelier but it can be operated by two different wall switches. Is it possible?
Thank you for your help...

Why does my dimmer switch get hot when I turn it on.

Thanks,

Danny

I replaced a dining room chandelier that had 10 small, decorative bulbs and was on a rotary dimmer that worked fine, with a new, more mmodern light fixture. The dimmer switch turns the new fixture on and off but does not vary the lighting. It also buzzes except for a spot right in the middle where it is silent. Suggestions?

im doing a project for school and need to know how a dimmer switch works can you help?

Hi, My name is Alison. I purchased a Dimmer switch for my kitchen, that has red, green and black wires. But, when I removed my old switch, my box has a black, white and red wire. The instructions do not include these wires. How will I put it together?

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Alison

Tim,

I have five 60watt bulbs on my deck I would like to control with one dimmer switch. The wall box for the switch is located inside my home. I have burned up three Lutron 1000watt dimmer switches in 5 months. The switchs work for several weeks then will sudenly fail when when I turn the lights. The lights are on their own circuit.

The switch is in a wall box with 2 other switches.

I think I may need a highr rated switch. Any suggestions?

Hi Tim, yes I was wondering how come with a low voltage thermostat you have to use a reley and also is it number 16 wire from the thermostart to the relay? thanks

I am enquiring about the use of a dimmer switch.
If I use a dimmer switch to control two 60 watt light bulbs, would I still use the same amount of electricity as I would use without a dimmer switch?

Dear Tim:

I am deffinately not electrically savvy, but I need some help.

I have a dimmer switch in my condo in the living room and I don't know what it goes to. We have a chandelier but that goes to another dimmer switch. And there's one in my bedroom too which I figured out by plugging in lights to different outlets. But this one is driving me crazy. It's on a panel with two other switches, both go to recessed lighting fixtures.

I've been here over a year and still don't know what it does!

I also have a lousy GFCI outlet in my kitchen that used to work. Now I can't get it to reset, and it won't work and another plug in the opposite room (shares the same wall) doesn't work either, which leads me to believe that these are linked. The outlet in the opposite room also happens to be in the same room (and on the same wall) as the dimmer switch. But that could be a coincidence.

You'll probably tell me to call an electrician, but I'm hoping for an easier way.

Thanks!

Does a dimmer switch actually reduce the amount of electricity that you use. Is it the same as installing lower wattage bulbs?

What can happen if you use a magnetic dimmer switch on a Electronc tranformer, or an elctronic dimmer on an magnetic transformer?

When does a dimmer switch stop acting like a dimmer switch and become a toggle switch? During a remodel I was moving receptacle boxes to different spots on the wall to make room for door trim and the like. In the process of reconnecting a dimmer I found that now all it does is turn power on and off; no dimming function. What happened?

I have installed 4 50W downlights to a dimmer switch with a max rating of 400W. It makes a buzzing sound when fully loaded ? Is there any way of getting rid of the buzzing sound ?

I AM CURRENTLY THINKING ABOUT PLACING A DIMMER SWITCH ON OUR LANDING AS WE USE THE LIGHT AT NIGHT FOR REASSURANCE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
IS IT SAFE TO HAVE THE LIGHT THAT HAS THE DIMMER SWITCH , ON ALL NIGHT?

OK, here's a question about attaching a dimmer to something that pulls a load: I have a wood burning stove with two small fans that pull 3 amps at 115 volts. It's a big, ugly potentiometer-type control. Could I replace it with a lamp dimmer that's rated between 600 and 1,000 watts? That's much more than 3 amps capability but I don't know if there's any issues with doing this...

Thanks!

I put in a dimmer switch but the light will not work it will come on bright but will not dimme I checked my other switichs and it looks the same please help

Recently, the light bulbs on my dimmer switch have been going bad faster than usual (they last about a week to 2 weeks). They don't pop, they just flash and go out when you turn on the switch. I have been using 60 and 100 watt regular light bulbs. What can I do to either stop this or figure out what is causing this?

I like lee have fitted a dimmer for my down lights 9 @ 50 watts -450 !
I purchased dimmer switch rated for 450 watt with on/off. am stiil getting buzzing sound when lights are switched on, is this normal