How do you determine what kind of light dimmer switch should you use?

Question

do you add all the wattage of your light bulbs then from there you could determine what dimmer is appropriate for the room?say i have 18 bulbs of 20 W each, that would be 360 W, i would use up to 600 W dimmer...is my computation right?please help

Answer 1

Your math and assumptions are correct. The 600 watt dimmer will be fine.

Answer 2

That sounds reasonable. Always err on the side of safety, which is a larger switch.

Also keep in mind that when using a dimmer switch, you are always going to be paying for the 360 watts, because when you dim the 18 bulbs, the dimmer switch is converting the electricity that should be going to the bulbs, into heat. Not a good thing, either for cost or for the safety factor.

Instead, you should be wiring the lights in banks of lights with a switch for each bank. That way you are only using the electricity that you need, and are not generating heat at the switch.

18 bulbs on one dimmer switch sounds a bit dangerous.

Answer 3

Dimmer Switch Wattage

Answer 4

Your math is correct, BUT - instead of adding the wattage of the lamps (bulbs) installed in the fixtures, you need to size the dimmer for the maximum wattage that will go through it. You need to know the mazimum wattage for each fixture, then multiply that by the number of fixtures. Most fixtures have a sticker inside, or the interior is stamped indicating the maximum wattage to be used.

Let's say you have ten fixtures, maximum rating 100 watts per fixture. That totals 1000 watts. You need to install a dimmer capable of handling 1000 watts. If you have a 40 watt lamp in each fixture, that totals 400 watts. If you install a 600 watt dimmer, it will work as long as you have only 400 watts and do not overload it. But, in the future, if 100 watt lamps are installed in the fixtures, the dimmer will be overloaded and burn out. In your question, the 600 watt dimmer will handle the 360 watts, but if 40 watt lamps are installed later in place of the 20 watt lamps, the total is 720 watts and the dimmer will burn out. SIze the dimmer in accordance with the maximum wattage that can be installed in the fixtures.

Answer 5

a 600w dimmer is a average size dimmer and will work fine
if the dimmer is to low of a wattage all of the lights will not reach potential brightness and all will seem a bit dimmer than usual when turned up all the way
if you still have concerns go to home depot or Lowe's and purchase a higher wattage dimmer
keep in mind dimmers do not work on compact fluorescent lights

Answer 6

Its a simple proedure and the directions are on the box. also if it is just the knob that broke and not the stem on the switch maybe you can just use the knob off a new switch. Make sure you turn power off to the switch first. also use wire nuts which should be included with your dimmer switch do not just tape it. and ground the switch to the bare copper wire. read the instructions take your time and you will be fine.