DIYbanter - View Single Post - How much power does a 120v 15A lighted switch use anyway?

jeff_wisnia[_4_]

wrote:
On Tue, 18 May 2010 02:20:05 +0000 (UTC), (Don
Klipstein) wrote:

In , Glenda Copeland wrote:

Just bought a dozen Leviton decora single pole 15A 120VAC lighted rocker
switches (model 5611, aka model 105-05611-21S).

Nothing on the box says how much power each of the lighted bulb uses when
the switch is in the off position.

Do you know how much power a lighted switch uses?

I have had a lighted switch at my day job. It had a high intensity neon
lamp, apparently either C2A (NE-2H) or A1C ("mini NE-2H) (hard to tell
through the switch). Figure about 1/4 watt.

- Don Klipstein )

I got my number from the 1 meg ohm resistor your typical neon has in
series with the bulb. Consider an ionized neon as a dead short.

I don't think so. IIRC an ionized neon bulb requires about 60 volts
across it, close to half of a 120 volt line voltage.

And I don't think the "typical" series resistor is 1 meg. 50K to 100K is
more like it.

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10e12 furlongs per fortnight.