Leviton "Air Gap Switch" on Dimmer Controls

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?

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@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
news:raOak.15577$LL4.10180@bignews7.bellsouth.net. ..
> 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?
>

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@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
news:1K6dnQU4T4FgKPbVnZ2dnUVZ_u6dnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> 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@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
> news:raOak.15577$LL4.10180@bignews7.bellsouth.net. ..
>> 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?
>>
>
>

Exactly, I usually just screw in a new bulb since I know better that to
stick my finger in the socket. Never caused a problem with the switch or
the bulb. That's been my experience using X10/Leviton/Switchlinc
switches since 1984.


"Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
news:_SOak.8701$1I.3505@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
> If I understand you correctly, you have Leviton dimmers and have
> changed many bulbs without using the switch?
>
> I can understand the safety rational but it does seem a bit awkward
> since that switch is anything but easy to operate. I would guess that
> most would forget about it or simply ignore it altogether given its
> PITA factor.
>
> "BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
> news:1K6dnQU4T4FgKPbVnZ2dnUVZ_u6dnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> It's a safety feature so that when you change a bulb you don't
>> inadvertently shock yourself. Some might say that the sudden load of
>> the bulb could damage the bulb or the switch but I've never
>> experienced that.
>>
>>
>> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
>> news:raOak.15577$LL4.10180@bignews7.bellsouth.net. ..
>>> 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?
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Thanks, Bruce. Thanks for your help on the other thread too.

While I was waiting, I called Leviton and asked the same thing. It was your
answers that helped me understand theirs. The rep vacillated on the point
about protecting the switch while emphasising the "safety" aspect. It didn't
take a rocket scientist to realize that he"had" to state the party line
about protecting the switch. It just irks me that features like this are
added because of our litigative society that believes that caution and
common sense are someone elses responsibility.

"BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
news:VtednYr1rPNEXfbVnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Exactly, I usually just screw in a new bulb since I know better that to
> stick my finger in the socket. Never caused a problem with the switch or
> the bulb. That's been my experience using X10/Leviton/Switchlinc switches
> since 1984.
>
>
> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
> news:_SOak.8701$1I.3505@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
>> If I understand you correctly, you have Leviton dimmers and have changed
>> many bulbs without using the switch?
>>
>> I can understand the safety rational but it does seem a bit awkward since
>> that switch is anything but easy to operate. I would guess that most
>> would forget about it or simply ignore it altogether given its PITA
>> factor.
>>
>> "BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
>> news:1K6dnQU4T4FgKPbVnZ2dnUVZ_u6dnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>> It's a safety feature so that when you change a bulb you don't
>>> inadvertently shock yourself. Some might say that the sudden load of the
>>> bulb could damage the bulb or the switch but I've never experienced
>>> that.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
>>> news:raOak.15577$LL4.10180@bignews7.bellsouth.net. ..
>>>> 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?
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

It's the world we live in.

"Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
news:OHPak.8725$1I.4412@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
> Thanks, Bruce. Thanks for your help on the other thread too.
>
> While I was waiting, I called Leviton and asked the same thing. It was
> your answers that helped me understand theirs. The rep vacillated on
> the point about protecting the switch while emphasising the "safety"
> aspect. It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize that he"had" to
> state the party line about protecting the switch. It just irks me
> that features like this are added because of our litigative society
> that believes that caution and common sense are someone elses
> responsibility.
>
> "BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
> news:VtednYr1rPNEXfbVnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> Exactly, I usually just screw in a new bulb since I know better that
>> to stick my finger in the socket. Never caused a problem with the
>> switch or the bulb. That's been my experience using
>> X10/Leviton/Switchlinc switches since 1984.
>>
>>
>> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
>> news:_SOak.8701$1I.3505@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
>>> If I understand you correctly, you have Leviton dimmers and have
>>> changed many bulbs without using the switch?
>>>
>>> I can understand the safety rational but it does seem a bit awkward
>>> since that switch is anything but easy to operate. I would guess
>>> that most would forget about it or simply ignore it altogether given
>>> its PITA factor.
>>>
>>> "BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
>>> news:1K6dnQU4T4FgKPbVnZ2dnUVZ_u6dnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>>> It's a safety feature so that when you change a bulb you don't
>>>> inadvertently shock yourself. Some might say that the sudden load
>>>> of the bulb could damage the bulb or the switch but I've never
>>>> experienced that.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:raOak.15577$LL4.10180@bignews7.bellsouth.net. ..
>>>>> 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?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

While it seem to some that such stuff is totally not useful, we have to keep
in mind that some user of such device could in fact have difficulty
understanding the risk they take while changing a light bulb...

Just think that a driver of a Winnebago did hurt himself and won in court
after placing his RV in autopilot (cruise control) and started making his
next meal in the back of the RV...

Like someone here like to say, it's not rocket science, but it's still more
then crushing a skull with a club...


"BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> a écrit dans le message de groupe de
discussion : CI-dnddvrLtcf_bVnZ2dnUVZ_jidnZ2d@comcast.com...
> It's the world we live in.
>
> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
> news:OHPak.8725$1I.4412@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
>> Thanks, Bruce. Thanks for your help on the other thread too.
>>
>> While I was waiting, I called Leviton and asked the same thing. It was
>> your answers that helped me understand theirs. The rep vacillated on the
>> point about protecting the switch while emphasising the "safety" aspect.
>> It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize that he"had" to state the
>> party line about protecting the switch. It just irks me that features
>> like this are added because of our litigative society that believes that
>> caution and common sense are someone elses responsibility.
>>
>> "BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
>> news:VtednYr1rPNEXfbVnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>> Exactly, I usually just screw in a new bulb since I know better that to
>>> stick my finger in the socket. Never caused a problem with the switch or
>>> the bulb. That's been my experience using X10/Leviton/Switchlinc
>>> switches since 1984.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
>>> news:_SOak.8701$1I.3505@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
>>>> If I understand you correctly, you have Leviton dimmers and have
>>>> changed many bulbs without using the switch?
>>>>
>>>> I can understand the safety rational but it does seem a bit awkward
>>>> since that switch is anything but easy to operate. I would guess that
>>>> most would forget about it or simply ignore it altogether given its
>>>> PITA factor.
>>>>
>>>> "BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:1K6dnQU4T4FgKPbVnZ2dnUVZ_u6dnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>>>> It's a safety feature so that when you change a bulb you don't
>>>>> inadvertently shock yourself. Some might say that the sudden load of
>>>>> the bulb could damage the bulb or the switch but I've never
>>>>> experienced that.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:raOak.15577$LL4.10180@bignews7.bellsouth.net. ..
>>>>>> 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?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Well, the Winnebago story is nothing more than a false urban legend
(http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/cruise.asp) but there are plenty of
real examples that demonstrate the need for tort reform. The REAL reason
for the airgap switch is to obtain a UL listing.


"Petem" <petem001@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:MkXak.6619$fk2.12857@weber.videotron.net...
> While it seem to some that such stuff is totally not useful, we have
> to keep in mind that some user of such device could in fact have
> difficulty understanding the risk they take while changing a light
> bulb...
>
> Just think that a driver of a Winnebago did hurt himself and won in
> court after placing his RV in autopilot (cruise control) and started
> making his next meal in the back of the RV...
>
> Like someone here like to say, it's not rocket science, but it's still
> more then crushing a skull with a club...
>
>
> "BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> a écrit dans le message de groupe
> de discussion : CI-dnddvrLtcf_bVnZ2dnUVZ_jidnZ2d@comcast.com...
>> It's the world we live in.
>>
>> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
>> news:OHPak.8725$1I.4412@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
>>> Thanks, Bruce. Thanks for your help on the other thread too.
>>>
>>> While I was waiting, I called Leviton and asked the same thing. It
>>> was your answers that helped me understand theirs. The rep
>>> vacillated on the point about protecting the switch while
>>> emphasising the "safety" aspect. It didn't take a rocket scientist
>>> to realize that he"had" to state the party line about protecting the
>>> switch. It just irks me that features like this are added because
>>> of our litigative society that believes that caution and common
>>> sense are someone elses responsibility.
>>>
>>> "BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
>>> news:VtednYr1rPNEXfbVnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>>> Exactly, I usually just screw in a new bulb since I know better
>>>> that to stick my finger in the socket. Never caused a problem with
>>>> the switch or the bulb. That's been my experience using
>>>> X10/Leviton/Switchlinc switches since 1984.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:_SOak.8701$1I.3505@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
>>>>> If I understand you correctly, you have Leviton dimmers and have
>>>>> changed many bulbs without using the switch?
>>>>>
>>>>> I can understand the safety rational but it does seem a bit
>>>>> awkward since that switch is anything but easy to operate. I would
>>>>> guess that most would forget about it or simply ignore it
>>>>> altogether given its PITA factor.
>>>>>
>>>>> "BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:1K6dnQU4T4FgKPbVnZ2dnUVZ_u6dnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>>>>> It's a safety feature so that when you change a bulb you don't
>>>>>> inadvertently shock yourself. Some might say that the sudden load
>>>>>> of the bulb could damage the bulb or the switch but I've never
>>>>>> experienced that.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:raOak.15577$LL4.10180@bignews7.bellsouth.net. ..
>>>>>>> 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?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>

"Petem" <petem001@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:MkXak.6619$fk2.12857@weber.videotron.net...
> While it seem to some that such stuff is totally not useful, we have to
> keep in mind that some user of such device could in fact have difficulty
> understanding the risk they take while changing a light bulb...
>
> Just think that a driver of a Winnebago did hurt himself and won in court
> after placing his RV in autopilot (cruise control) and started making his
> next meal in the back of the RV...
>
> Like someone here like to say, it's not rocket science, but it's still
> more then crushing a skull with a club...
>
>

I think that the Winnebago/cruise control incident is an urban legend that
has been around in various forms for decades.

http://articles.latimes.com/2005/aug...fi-tortmyths14

http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/cruise.asp

Doug

"BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
news:VtednYr1rPNEXfbVnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> 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@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
> news:_SOak.8701$1I.3505@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
> > If I understand you correctly, you have Leviton dimmers and have
> > changed many bulbs without using the switch?
> >
> > I can understand the safety rational but it does seem a bit awkward
> > since that switch is anything but easy to operate. I would guess that
> > most would forget about it or simply ignore it altogether given its
> > PITA factor.
> >
> > "BruceR" <bruceNO@SPAMwhoever.com> wrote in message
> > news:1K6dnQU4T4FgKPbVnZ2dnUVZ_u6dnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> >> It's a safety feature so that when you change a bulb you don't
> >> inadvertently shock yourself. Some might say that the sudden load of
> >> the bulb could damage the bulb or the switch but I've never
> >> experienced that.
> >>
> >>
> >> "Tom" <donot@sendmeanything.com> wrote in message
> >> news:raOak.15577$LL4.10180@bignews7.bellsouth.net. ..
> >>> 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?
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>