Dimmer switch hot and smells? Most likely caused by a failing dimmer. While dimmers tend to generate small amounts of heat, if the switch is hot and generates a bad smell then you should contact a registered electrician ASAP to prevent the risk of fire. A bad dimmer can also show evidence of burning, such as black soot around the rocker light switch or discolouration due to melting. This post covers basic fault finding for why your dimmer switch might be getting hot and what you should do about it.
Basic Information About Dimmers
Modern day dimmers work by altering the electrical waveform going to the lights.
The dimmer essentially chops the wavelength which then leads to a change in brightness.
While modern day dimmers don’t generate much heat, old school dimmers definitely do.
Old school dimmers use resistors to change the amount of electricity going to the lights.
These old school dimmers can generate a lot of heat compared to modern dimmers.
It is important to note that there are different types of dimmers for different types of lights. For example, a dimmer rated for halogen lights won’t work on an LED dimmer and vice versa
Over time dimmers can become less efficient at dimming lights, leading to more heat being generated.
This leads to the first reason why your dimmer switch might be getting hot.
Dimmer Switch Hot And Smells – Reason #1
Failing Dimmer
Through wear and tear, dimmers can eventually fail.
Sometimes they can fail and short circuit. This short circuit can generate enough heat to make the switch hot and smell. If you suspect a failed dimmer, you can simply replace the dimmer.
Remember to get a dimmer which is appropriate for the type of lights on the circuit. For example, get a LED rated dimmer if you have LED lights.
Take a picture of the lights when you visit the electrical retailer to ensure that you get the correct dimmer.
Dimmer Switch Hot And Smells – Reason #2
Dimmer Overloaded
If you have too many lights on the dimmer switch it can become overloaded. When a dimmer is installed it is important that the total wattage of the lights does not exceed what the dimmer is designed to handle. If you overload the dimmer with too many lights past its rated wattage, then you can cause the dimmer to overheat, which leads to the switch heating up and possibly burning. The solution to this is to install newer lights such as LED’s to reduce the amount of electricity that the circuit draws.
Dimmer Switch Hot And Smells – Reason #3
Loose Wiring At The Switch
Loose wiring at the switch can cause sparks which is enough to make the light switch hot and generate smells. Loose wires can happen overtime, mostly from poor initial installation. You might notice a small flash when you press the light switch. The light switch itself might be damaged. This is the result of loose or damaged wires. A registered electrician replacing the dimmer will be able to identify this right away and ensure that the wiring is correctly tightened.
Dimmer Switch Hot And Smells – Reason #4
Broken Wires At The Switch
Broken and damaged cables at the switch can spark causing heat and burning smells.
Damaged cables can happen for a range of reasons from burning caused from overloading the circuit, to rodents chewing cables. All of these reasons are reasons to talk to an electrician to avoid a fire hazard. Check if you have a warm wall above the light switch.
Conclusion
Dimmer switch hot and smells? This post was about four reasons why you might have a dimmer switch which feels hot and is generating smells. As the light switch is generating smells, it is important to deal with the problem as soon as possible to avoid a potential fire. Hopefully you can use this information to make an informed decision about what to do next.
An electrician will be able to replace the dimmer and identify any wiring issues at the light switch.
Next Steps
- If you know anyone with a faulty dimmer who could find this post useful please share it.
- Save time hiring an electrician by downloading our free guide