incandescent or Resistive load - switch capacity

[Sierrasparky]

I was looking at some new wiring devices, Why do you think that max resistive load be 1800w and only 600w for incandescent.

Also why is it even lower with LED?

Thanks for any information

 

[gar]

171009-0431 EDT

Inrush current.

A room temperature incandescent has a resistance of about 1/14 its full brightness resistance. The higher the individual bulb wattage the longer it takes to warm up, but still in the 1 cycle range. See photo P1 at http://www.beta-a2.com/EE-photos.html

An LED has a capacitor input filter. Before turn on the capacitor is near zero voltage. After turn on the capacitor has a fairly high voltage each half cycle when charging current starts again. Thus, for turn on at a voltage peak the current can be high.

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[Sierrasparky]

Thanks,
I thought inrush for incandescent but I could not understand the LED, now I know it is the Capacitor.
Not afraid to learn something new !

Thanks for the information.

 

[Sierrasparky]

So I can assume this inrush is why those dimmers in the old 300 and 500 watt tourchier lamps always blew.