"Jennifer Murphy" wrote in message The minimum it
said it needed was actually 40W.

Does the switch really draw 40W for its own use? That seems like a lot
for a small electronic circuit. It does have an LED screen that could be
on Hi all the time depending on user settings. I have mine set to dim
after 8 seconds.

With a regular toggle switch, off is an open circuit (no current
flowing), right?

With a regular on/off switch, no current will flow when off if it is
operating properly.

The programmable switch has to have a connection through the load back to
the neutral of the AC power. It will take a certain ammount of a load to
provide that. Some loads like the new CFL or LED bulbs may not work as
loades either.

The programmable switch doen not draw 40 watts , but much less maybe a watt
or two or even less.
If it drew much power at all and you put an old filiment light bulb as the
load, it would glow maybe a dull red. I doubt you would see anykind of glow
at all with the switch in the off position even though a small ammount of
current will be flowing.

A 60 watt bulbs takes about 1/2 of an amp or 500 ma. On dry skin you can
feel about 1 or 2 ma. Get up to around 50 ma and it can be painful. Much
more and maybe death.