Strange behavior of Lutron dimmer switch
 

I have installed two Lutron Aridani dimmer switches. These are the ones
that look
like ordinary switches but have a tiny lever beside the switch that does the
dimming.
One is controlling an existing ceiling fixture, and it works as expected.
The ceiling light
goes on and off with the toggle and dims with the lever.

Now, here is the strange part. The other dimmer switch is for control of
a new wall mounted light fixture which is not yet installed. Just to check
that I had my wiring right I turned the
second dimmer switch on and applied a test light between the black and white
wires in
the wall light J-box. As expected, the test light came on. However, when I
turn the
dimmer switch off I STILL get a positive test with my test light at the
J-box!
If I disconnect the black wires from the dimmer switch I don't get a
positive test, confirming that
my wiring is correct.

So, my question is, why does this switch "conduct" when it's off?

By the way, the test light is one of the old-fashioned, cheap neon devices.
However, I
also used a DVM to confirm the same behavior. I get between 56 and 120 volts
AC
as the dimmer lever is moved over its range, REGARDLESS OF THE SWITCH
POSITION!

Do I have a bad switch here, or what?

Ed

Strange behavior of Lutron dimmer switch
 

Gary,

I was wondering if it was something like that. However, my DVM also shows
120 VAC when the switch is off. I was aware that the dimming function
only worked with resistive loads, but I thought the switch itself would
interrupt the circuit. That is, OFF should be OFF.

So, you are saying that this thing turns off a resistive load, but will
still pass current
if it's something else?


Ed


" What is your test light? Triac dimmers mean nothing to neon bulbs. Try
an incandescent lamp instead.

Strange behavior of Lutron dimmer switch
 

Use a real light, not a test light. It should work fine. Using a low
resistance load will give all kinds of odd readings, including all those you
noted.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math


"jagerEd" wrote in message
t...
I have installed two Lutron Aridani dimmer switches. These are the ones
that look
like ordinary switches but have a tiny lever beside the switch that does
the
dimming.
One is controlling an existing ceiling fixture, and it works as expected.
The ceiling light
goes on and off with the toggle and dims with the lever.

Now, here is the strange part. The other dimmer switch is for control of
a new wall mounted light fixture which is not yet installed. Just to check
that I had my wiring right I turned the
second dimmer switch on and applied a test light between the black and
white
wires in
the wall light J-box. As expected, the test light came on. However, when I
turn the
dimmer switch off I STILL get a positive test with my test light at the
J-box!
If I disconnect the black wires from the dimmer switch I don't get a
positive test, confirming that
my wiring is correct.

So, my question is, why does this switch "conduct" when it's off?

By the way, the test light is one of the old-fashioned, cheap neon
devices.
However, I
also used a DVM to confirm the same behavior. I get between 56 and 120
volts
AC
as the dimmer lever is moved over its range, REGARDLESS OF THE SWITCH
POSITION!

Do I have a bad switch here, or what?

Ed

Strange behavior of Lutron dimmer switch
 

Sorry That should be "_high_ resistance load"

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math


"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Use a real light, not a test light. It should work fine. Using a low
resistance load will give all kinds of odd readings, including all those
you
noted.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math


"jagerEd" wrote in message
t...
I have installed two Lutron Aridani dimmer switches. These are the ones
that look
like ordinary switches but have a tiny lever beside the switch that does
the
dimming.
One is controlling an existing ceiling fixture, and it works as
expected.
The ceiling light
goes on and off with the toggle and dims with the lever.

Now, here is the strange part. The other dimmer switch is for control of
a new wall mounted light fixture which is not yet installed. Just to
check
that I had my wiring right I turned the
second dimmer switch on and applied a test light between the black and
white
wires in
the wall light J-box. As expected, the test light came on. However, when
I
turn the
dimmer switch off I STILL get a positive test with my test light at the
J-box!
If I disconnect the black wires from the dimmer switch I don't get a
positive test, confirming that
my wiring is correct.

So, my question is, why does this switch "conduct" when it's off?

By the way, the test light is one of the old-fashioned, cheap neon
devices.
However, I
also used a DVM to confirm the same behavior. I get between 56 and 120
volts
AC
as the dimmer lever is moved over its range, REGARDLESS OF THE SWITCH
POSITION!

Do I have a bad switch here, or what?

Ed

Strange behavior of Lutron dimmer switch
 

As indeed it does! Thanks.

Ed

"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Use a real light, not a test light. It should work fine. Using a low
resistance load will give all kinds of odd readings, including all those
you
noted.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

Strange behavior of Lutron dimmer switch
 

jagerEd wrote:

As indeed it does! Thanks.

Ed

"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Use a real light, not a test light. It should work fine. Using a low
resistance load will give all kinds of odd readings, including all those
you
noted.

--
Joseph E. Meehan



Use a 100/60 watt bulb, say, as a test light. Probably work fine?
Anything with electronics in it may give a reading on a meter or
neon cos a small amount of electricity 'sort of' leaks through
the circuitry.
An old fashioned on/off switch will work fine becaus it is just
that. On OR off!
BTW check to see if the dimmers (which usually contain electronic
components) can cause radio/TV/audio system interference or
noise. Some can do so. Especially if entertainment equipment is
on the same or nearby circuits to those equpped with certain
types of dimmers!
Just an idea.

Strange behavior of Lutron dimmer switch
 

jagerEd wrote:

As indeed it does! Thanks.

Ed

"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Use a real light, not a test light. It should work fine. Using a low
resistance load will give all kinds of odd readings, including all those
you
noted.

--
Joseph E. Meehan



Use a 100/60 watt bulb, say, as a test light. Probably work fine?
Anything with electronics in it may give a reading on a meter or
neon cos a small amount of electricity 'sort of' leaks through
the circuitry.
An old fashioned on/off switch will work fine becaus it is just
that. On OR off!
BTW check to see if the dimmers (which usually contain electronic
components) can cause radio/TV/audio system interference or
noise. Some can do so. Especially if entertainment equipment is
on the same or nearby circuits to those equpped with certain
types of dimmers!
Just an idea.

Strange behavior of Lutron dimmer switch
 

As indeed it does! Thanks.

Ed

"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Use a real light, not a test light. It should work fine. Using a low
resistance load will give all kinds of odd readings, including all those
you
noted.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

Strange behavior of Lutron dimmer switch
 

As indeed it does! Thanks.

Ed

"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Use a real light, not a test light. It should work fine. Using a low
resistance load will give all kinds of odd readings, including all those
you
noted.

--
Joseph E. Meehan