LIght switches getting hot

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beachbumjeremy

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Is it common for a lighting box stuffed with too many wires to heat up a dimmer switch enough that over a period of time it craps out? Or rather, 2 at the same time? They control track lights, but the lights are only drawing 96v and supposed to get 120, could his have an affect? I think there's a problem in the track wiring, but have yet had a chance to take them down, I'll do that tomorrow.

Also....is their closet is romex ran along the ceiling to a light where the box is set in the cealing and the romex is between the light and the box, not through one of the openings in the box......this would be legal if only they went though one of the correct openings right? I can't find anyhing in the code about it being ran surface to a recessed junction box.
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

BBJ 1st96 V at the the track lights sounds like a bad connection be it the feed or on the neutral.Now rule out the neutral check hot to ground.Somewhere there is somethitng loose amd yes that will kill a dimmer crammend in a box.
Now if read right the 2nd part said there is a piece of nm between the box edge and the fixture mounting bar :confused:
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

Yes, the romex is ran betweet the box and the fixture, just one of those typical circle ceramic light fixtures. the fixture is attached to the box with the romex going in under it---pretty damn tacky.
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

So what you have is a ceramic open bulbed fixture that has NM ran ran to a box and not in a connector but slid between the dry wall and the box and all you can ask is it tacky :eek: :eek: :confused:
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

as for the 96v. remove the dimmer connect the hot and switch leg together. bet you get 120v. then add up your total load in the dimmer. most dimmer the people can get is ratted < 600w. high loads result in heat. especially in a crowded box with no air circulation.

[ December 10, 2005, 07:41 AM: Message edited by: wyatt ]
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

Originally posted by wyatt:
as for the 96v. remove the dimmer connect the hot and switch leg together. bet you get 120v.
Click to expand...
I agree, or use a true RMS voltmeter.

A electronic dimmer can produce strange readings on an averaging meter.
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

I did test the voltage and switch leg together while I was there, my reading was still 96v, that's why I'm sure the problem is somewhere int he lights. The awner said he pulled them down at one point himself and put them back up, which furthermore makes me think it's the problem.

I knew the light fixture was a problem, but I was trying to find in the code where it says with nmc I had to go through a knockout.
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

Dimmer switches will heat up regardless of how many wires are stuffed into the box.

More "side work eh" :roll:
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

:cool: side work beachbum did you check voltage at switch or the at the start of the switch circuit and the light? as for the code on the nm when in doubt 110.12

[ December 10, 2005, 12:37 PM: Message edited by: wyatt ]
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

Jeremy,

It sounds like you don't have a clue as to what you are doing and shouldn't be doing this work.

As far as the 96 volts goes, throw that digital meter back in the tool box and use a solenoidal (Wiggy, VolCon) tester for basic voltage measurements.

As Bob said earlier, due to the electronics inside the dimmer, they will not give accurate readings with a DMM.
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

BBJ,

Two dimmers, beside each other in a two gang box, will heat each other. Usually, the dimmer manufacturer will include a "derating table" in the instructions.

If you don't have the instructions, try looking up the dimmer at Electric Find.com, or some other place.

As a ballpark, a standard dimmer gets knocked down to about 75% of its rating, just for being beside another dimmer.
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

Originally posted by peter d:
Jeremy,

It sounds like you don't have a clue as to what you are doing and shouldn't be doing this work.

As far as the 96 volts goes, throw that digital meter back in the tool box and use a solenoidal (Wiggy, VolCon) tester for basic voltage measurements.

As Bob said earlier, due to the electronics inside the dimmer, they will not give accurate readings with a DMM.
Click to expand...
Had you read my last post, you would had read that I tested voltage without the dimmer and was reading 96 volts. Both my wiigy and my dmm read 96 volts.
I may had seemed ignorant when takling about the incandescent fixture in the closet, but my question was never about the fixture, I knew that was no good, nor the nm being surfaced mounted. My question was then, and still is about proper installation from the nm into the box. I can't find in the code that nm must land inthe box through a proper kncokout/tab before terminating to the fixture.
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

Originally posted by beachbumjeremy:
Both my wiigy and my dmm read 96 volts.
Click to expand...
How do you read 96 volts on a Wiggy? That's completely impossible. :confused: More than likely you were reading 120 volts.
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

Where does the 96v problem begin, at the switch, at the outlet box, at the connection to the track, or at the bulb socket?

In all cases without the dimmer.
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

Originally posted by peter d:
Originally posted by beachbumjeremy:
Both my wiigy and my dmm read 96 volts.
Click to expand...
How do you read 96 volts on a Wiggy? That's completely impossible. :confused: More than likely you were reading 120 volts.
Click to expand...
I wrote it wrong, I ment both my wiggy and dmm read 120 on the circuit. That was without the light or the switch, just hot and neutral.
I didn't use my wiggy when testing from hot to switch legs without the dimmer, just my dmm, and that's when I read 96
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

Originally posted by jbwhite:
Where does the 96v problem begin, at the switch, at the outlet box, at the connection to the track, or at the bulb socket?

In all cases without the dimmer.
Click to expand...
I am not sure yet, I know it's either in the fixture or the track, but won't check the wiring on that till today when I go back.
 
Re: LIght switches getting hot

Originally posted by al hildenbrand:
BBJ,

Take a look at 2005 NEC 314.17.
Click to expand...
And I add, this is about connecting the NM to the box.
 
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