Is Your Dimmer Switch Hot to the Touch? This Could Be a Bigger Issue Than You Realize

It is typical for your dimmer switch to feel warm to the touch when it is in operation. But it should never be extremely warm. In that case, you should act straight away. Continue reading to find out why this is such a problem, and then contact Sonner Electric, your neighborhood household electric company, at 661-728-0126, for support.

When to consult an electrical professional regarding your dimmer switch

A dimmer switch can be used safely in temperatures as high as 195F, according to the safety group Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Dimmer switches typically work at a temperature of 140F. Contact an electrician to figure out what the problem is if you think your dimmer switch is hotter than the safe 195F limit.

There may be overload on the dimmer switch

The dimmer switch could get hot for a number of reasons, one of which being overload. They can manage approximately 1500 watts of power. It is equivalent to 15 100-watt bulbs. Your dimmer switch may be connected to more than it can handle if it has more than that.

This problem may increase the risk of a fire

Dimmer switches that are hot should not be disregarded. It might be a fire hazard and might degrade from the heat. The coating on the wires could possibly shatter as a result of the heat. As a result, they lose their ability to act as insulation, which can result in hazardous situations like arc faults and short circuits.

We can calculate your dimmer switch’s maximum load

The wattage rating for a light fixture will often be printed on a sticker that is attached to the light fixture. Dimmer switches typically have their wattage rating stamped on the mounting bracket. If your dimmer switch is using more watts than it is intended to, we will locate all the lighting fixtures that the dimmer switch is in charge of, add up the combined wattage of all of the light fixtures, and compare the sum to the dimmer switch’s maximum.

The dimmer switch is probably getting hot because the overall fixture wattage is higher than what the dimmer is designed for.

We can discover the ideal resolution

The ideal answer might be to relocate some lighting fixtures to another switch or to increase the wattage of your current switch, depending on the particulars of your scenario. We can give you choices after we’ve evaluated the scenario so you can make the best choice possible. To schedule an appointment, call Sonner Electric at 661-728-0126 right away.