"jmagerl" wrote in message
...
full power dissipation occurs when the triac is full on (full brightness).

Go back and read the OP. Only one of three dimmers is running hot.

The OP says that the SCREWS are too hot to touch. What do you suppose the
temperature of the plate that the device is using as a heat sink would be in
that case? The maximum dissipation of triac should never get that high. The
current flow may be at a maximum, but the "on" voltage drop should never get
very high. Typically it should only be around 2 volts.

If the dimmer has a switch position at the end of its range that bypasses
the triac it should not get hot at all.

At an rate, I would replace that dimmer as it is certainly not acting
normal.

Also see http://www.americanmicrosemi.com/tutorials/triac.htm

Charlie