[DeTomaso] Hot Dimmer Switch

[rgranchelli at esedona.net]

Yes,

A rheostat/ pot with a higher rating may feel cooler. It will dissipate
the same amount of power & therefore heat as the voltage and resistance
are the same.

As it has been stated if the surface area is larger due to larger heat
sinking area it will have a lower operating temperature as it's ability to
dump heat into the air is improved.The difference will not be significant.
If they only change the gauge of the wire in the winding and not the
physical size of the pot the difference will not be significant.

You can change to a different resistance range pot but then you give up
the range of illumination.

P=EXI,P=IsquaredXR

RG
AZ


> I have a very limited knowledge of the characteristics of electricity
> but wouldn't a rheostat of a higher wattage rating heat up less? Just a
> thought.
>
> Fred T.
>
> Tomas Gunnarsson wrote:
>
>>Art,
>>
>>There is no efficiency gain to be had by switching from one rheostat ot
>> another. They all have the same power loss at a given output voltage.
>>
>>Tomas
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Art Stephens" <artstephens at charter.net>
>>To: <detomaso at realbig.com>
>>Sent: den 19 mars 2007 07:45
>>Subject: [DeTomaso] Hot Dimmer Switch
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>     I ran for years with no dimmer switch for the gauges.  After
>>> installing the new AutoMeter speedo and tach,  I hooked up the
>>> dimmer switch again because the new units were so bright.  Now that
>>> dimmer runs hot.  It gets so hot that I'm pretty sure if given
>>> enough time,  the bezel will be too hot to touch.  My main concern
>>> here is fire.  Has anyone out there replaced their rheostat with
>>> something a little more efficient?
>>>
>>>Art
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