|
Q. Why do
my light bulbs burn out so fast?
A.
You may be
exceeding the maximum lamp wattage of the fixture. (There
should be a label inside the fixture). Do not exceed 60
watts for most ceiling fixtures. Another reason may be
vibration. Vibration is the culprit in short bulb life.
There are vibration resistant bulbs for ceiling fans and
garage door opener and there are rough service bulbs for
portable lights. For lights such as recessed lights,
consider replacing the bulbs to bulbs that are rated 130VAC,
instead of the standard 120VAC bulbs you currently have.
Q.
Can I
replace a standard wall switch with a dimmer?
A.
A dimmer
easily replaces a standard wall switch and uses the exact
same wiring. Some light bulbs may not be suitable for
dimming.
Q.
Can a
dimmer control a ceiling fan?
A.
A dimmer
cannot control a ceiling fan, it will damage the fan’s
motor. Only use a fan speed control to control a ceiling
fan. Fan speed controls have special circuitry that will
not damage the motor. For ceiling fans with a build in
light fixture, combination dimmer/fan speed control is
available.
Q.
When I go to turn my dimmer off, it is very hot. Is this a
fire hazard?
A.
Dimmers are rated for how many watts they are designed to
handle. If a dimmer has to operate at or close to its full
capacity, it will heat up. Some dimmers have metal fins on
the front of them to enable proper heat dissipation. You can
either reduce the wattage connected to the dimmer to
alleviate the problem, or put in a larger-rated dimmer.
Q. My
lights dim or flicker when the microwave or other appliance
is used?
A.
This
normally only happens in older homes. The reason is
basically two fold. Older homes were not wired for the
electrical usage of today’s homes and with all the modern
day appliances most branch circuits in older homes are just
overwhelmed, creating a draw that in turn momentarily dims
the lights. Today’s homes have several more branch circuits
to spread out the load on any given circuit and the main
panels handle double the amperage. The other reason is
generally associated with the neutral. A possible solution
would be to upgrade your panel but is the cost worth the
occasional dimming of your lights? Probably not. |
