Is our dimmer switch on our chandelier supposed to be hot?

Question

Are dimmer switches supposed to heat up when they are on? The old one got really hot and so we got a new one, but it is doing the same thing. The switch is for a chandelier, it is a 15 amp switch and there are about 24 bulbs. We have not been up to check the watts of the bulbs but we are thinking about 25 watts each.
Would the problem be in the wiring from the light to the wall switch, the watts of the bulbs or the amps of the switch?

Answer 1

Sounds like tis getting overloaded. 24 bulbs x 25 watts = 600 watts or 5 amps. If this is really the value of those bulbs, it sure should be fine. The bulbs either have to be a higher wattage, or there's a partial short somewhere or maybe some other thing is wired into that switch - something you don't know about? (Where I'm going with this: Maybe at one time that was a regular switch and fed an outlet or half an outlet. Of course you'd think this would get noticed. But I thought I should mention it.)

Is your house real old? Could it still have some old Knob & Tube wiring? If so, maybe there is an improper tap say through the neutral? That would prevent your 15 amp breaker from tripping, and yet might heat up the dimmer due to neutral overload. (Had this happen in an old house. They made a junction in the wall!)

Answer 2

OK, lets figure worst case - say the bulbs are 60 watts each and 24 of those will make 1440 watts total. That would make 12 amps.
1- That would make the switch rather warm.
2- These dimmer switches have a thick aluminum plate with grooved top and bottom and both sides. These are made so that they call be broken off so that 2 switches can be mounted in a 2-gang box side by side. Breaking one or more of these off will "de-rate" the power rating of the switch.
The regular dimmer (15 Amp) should handle 600 watts max.
3- You should get a dimmer rated for 1500 watts and don't break off any of those "heat sink" ears.
4- There are 1000 watt dimmers out there (you don't need one of those).
5- The 1500 watt dimmer will still get warm, but it is your best bet and with all of those bulbs I would be sure not to use any larger than 40 watts each to be sure.
Good Luck ! ! (and be safe)

Answer 3

It is NOT supposed to do that. Most likely you have one of two things happening.

1. The dimmer switch does not have a high enough rating for the chandelier. It should say on the side of the switch container how much wattage it can handle. There are different grades of dimmer switches based on wattage. Calculate how much wattage you are using for the chandelier and make sure the switch isn't running anything else besides the chandelier.

2. You could possibly have something short circuited somewhere. Normally only the positive wires should go to your switches.

Answer 4

the switch should not be hot. the problem sounds like its in the wiring. the amp rating on the switch has nothing to do with the circuit, only how high the amps can go before the switch burns out. the wattage of the bulbs shouldnt have an effect either. you could put a 100w bulb in place of a 65w bulb in say a desklamp and that switch doesnt get hot just uses more power. the wires sounds like the problem here. resistance is being added to the system somewhere. i agree with the person above. call an electrician.

Answer 5

It is not un-normal for a dimmer to get a little warm. Getting hot is not good. You have way to many bulbs for a 15 amp switch. Check with your local supply house to see if they have a higher rated dimmer.

Answer 6

I would say whom ever the installer was they did not calculate the power draw. You should total the watt/ amp draw and install the proper switch. I know you have a hell of a lot more than 15 amps...FIRE HAZARD...................

Answer 7

no it should not be, u should call ur electricity guy