Re: Leviton "Air Gap Switch" on Dimmer Controls

["Robert Green" <robert_green1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"BruceR" <bruceNO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:VtednYr1rPNEXfbVnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Exactly, I usually just screw in a new bulb since I know better that to
> stick my finger in the socket

I would say there's probably more to the addition of the cutoff switch than
that.  If a bulb is going to fail dramatically, it's likely to do so the
first time it's turned on.  The normal expectation of someone changing a
bulb is that if it's off, it will stay off.

With X-10's current sensing feature, installing a new bulb without the
safety slide switch means that your hands and face are probably going to be
very close to the bulb when it lights up for the first time.  That increases
the chances that any serious failure (like a bad vacuum seal) will cause
personal injury.  It's probably always a good idea to fire a new light bulb
remotely.  I'd venture that even the startle reaction from a flare type
burnout could knock someone off a ladder.

Another reason for the slide cutoff is so that if you're going away for a
while and have torchiere lamps or other devices connected to the wall switch
that you don't want coming on for any reason you can manually prevent them
from activating via powerline commands, phantom or real, until you return.

IIRC, those slide switches appeared when X-10 changed from the flip paddle
to the push-button design and were necessary to retain all the functionality
of the previous paddle version.  Those older switches could be set in the
OFF position where they would not respond to X-10 commands.  The downside,
of course, was that if they were remotely turned off by X-10 powerline
commands when in the ON position, they had to be double flipped to get the
light to come on.

I also imagine, as was stated before, that positive manual shut-off was
probably a condition of UL approval.

--
Bobby G.

 Never caused a problem with the switch or
> the bulb. That's been my experience using X10/Leviton/Switchlinc
> switches since 1984.
>
>
> "Tom" <donot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:_SOak.8701$1I.3505@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > If I understand you correctly, you have Leviton dimmers and have
> > changed many bulbs without using the switch?
> >
> > I can understand the safety rational but it does seem a bit awkward
> > since that switch is anything but easy to operate. I would guess that
> > most would forget about it or simply ignore it altogether given its
> > PITA factor.
> >
> > "BruceR" <bruceNO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > news:1K6dnQU4T4FgKPbVnZ2dnUVZ_u6dnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> It's a safety feature so that when you change a bulb you don't
> >> inadvertently shock yourself. Some might say that the sudden load of
> >> the bulb could damage the bulb or the switch but I've never
> >> experienced that.
> >>
> >>
> >> "Tom" <donot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >> news:raOak.15577$LL4.10180@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> According to the installation instructions, it states to disconnect
> >>> the power or switch it off using the "Air Gap Switch" before
> >>> changing a light bulb. The air gap switch isn't the easiest switch
> >>> to get at nor is flipping switches in the breaker panel - both seem
> >>> troublesome just to change a light bulb. OK, why is this important?
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>