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Recently, I had a rotary dimmer light switch, which controls thirty two 25w regular light bulbs for over head lighting in my living room, it started to arc, melted a little and stoped working(lights went out). It was a 600w switch, mostly used for just on and off, not dimming. It was at least ten years old. I replaced it with a new 600w rated switch , with dimmer, but a different type. I noticed that the face plate gets warm and got to thinking. 32X25w=800w. Maybe 800w is too much for the 600w switch. I then bought 32 energy saving bulbs that are 40w equivalent, but only use 9w of energy. 32X9w=288w. Is the switch safely operating less than 600w now? Also, after I had a few new bulbs in I tried the dimmer lever, and killed a new bulb. Then I read on the package that they are not to be used with a dimmer, so I broke off the dimming lever to prevent it being used as a dimmer. I is an electrical repair guy now. Oh, lots more light in the living room now, which is good.

Don't burn your house down!!!!!

Seriously, I have almost had two fires due to effed up wiring. Go to a REAL elecrical store and ask questions.

Well, you were correct that the new energy efficient lights reduce your max load below the safety threshold of the dimmer.

However, as you found out, those bulbs aren't meant to be used in dimmer functions.

Chances are, the old switch you had kept working for as long as it did because it just did. Highly scientific answer huh .

But seriously, if you want to dim 800W of energy, get a dimmer rated for it. You're asking for trouble otherwise, 800W is a lot of juice.

Crap you must have a huge house. 32 bulbs? Probably would have been smarter if the lights were not all on just one switch. Maybe like 3 rows or something. Just so you know you can get dimming power saving light bulbs, and it is normal for a dimmer to get warm, I have a total of 8 pot lights in one room and have 3 different switches. If I turn one on for a few minutes it does get warm, but not noticeable. Either way follow the ratings, and dividing circuits is good.

Thanks for the responses. Will keep the 9w=40w bulbs I have, don't need dimmer function anyway. Don't have a big house though. These are used for indirect lighting on the perimeter of the living/family room. They are in a wood frame case, frosted plexiglass on the bottom, open on the top. Doug, when I feel I can't do it myself, I do hire somebody! You know, like for my teeth I'll use a dentist, brain repair, a brain surgeon, colonoscopy, well you get the idea.

So technically you could have just got a normal switch which would have been cheaper and looked better to some degree?

The switch actually looks fine. Its one of those wider paddle types, and you can't tell the little dimmer lever next to it was chiseled off. To have done it right the first time would have required planning and foresight. Not like working on my LSS.

I would have to agree that having that many lights on one circuit is a bit much.

But since ripping up the sheetrock and re-wiring is probably not in the budget, I would get a switch rated for higher than the total max bulb wattage ( of the original bulbs.)

while using the lower wattage bulbs will help, it is still a better idea to upgrade the switch. ( and that way you could go back top using the dimmer functions.

Yeah, I made the mistake once of putting CFLs on a dimmer switch. The buzz is pretty loud. Thank God I didn't cause any damage before I realized my mistake.

However, Wal-Mart sells CFL bulbs that can be used in dimmers.

Just do what I do, remove half the bulbs part way so all the holes are full, but it looks like they're on a different switch. Then when the first half of the bulbe burn out, twist in the other half and you're right back where you started.

So far I have replaced sixteen bulbs of the 32. Really a lot of light in the room. If I did all 32, it would be too bright. Should have used less watt rated bulbs. But, oh well. I'm going to do what you suggest. Replace all of them, but unscrew every other one. Should give good light and keep the sockets filled to keep dust out. My electrician skills continue to expand!