Angelo Brothers 70801 Halogen Dimmer for Torchiere Lamps

by Angelo Brothers

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Angelo Brothers Halogen Dimmer for Torchiere Lamps comes with a 500-watt maximum, 120 VAC.

Product Description

Halogen Dimmer, For Torchiere Lamps, 500W Maximum, 120VAC, Carded.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 7 x 4.8 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00002NAH8
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 70801-00
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,913 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #73 in Home Improvement > Electrical > Dimmer Switches
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars easy wiring but note one thing!, February 15, 2009

By 

B. Allmon (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angelo Brothers 70801 Halogen Dimmer for Torchiere Lamps (Tools & Home Improvement)

The switch comes ready to wire together with existing lamp wires. Very easy. ONE NOTE HOWEVER: I purchased two switches to repair both of my lamps. One was 500W and the other 300W. The new switch went inside the 500W lamp pole with plenty of room. It would not insert into the 300W. My 300W pole inside diameter was too small and the switch height from base to toggle(?) top was too tall.
I measured both outside diameters of each of the lamps. The 500W was 1.5 inch outer diameter whereas the 300W was 1.25 inch outside diameter. Approximating, you will need a outside pole diameter of 1.35 inch or larger for this replacment switch to install.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good product but some notes to remember, March 29, 2010

By 

The Rocketman (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Angelo Brothers 70801 Halogen Dimmer for Torchiere Lamps (Tools & Home Improvement)

This Westinghouse unit is a great in-line dimmer to keep your old Torchiere running (and they literally don't make them like they used to so this is an important fix!).

This product is superior to the Westek one (Westek 6079BC 500W Full Range Replacement Dimmer, Black) because it easily fits into the 1.5" post of a 500 W Torchiere (and this switch is designed up to 500 W, though you can use it easily with 300 W bulbs). The Westek one was more difficult to install into the 1.5" post because the tolerance of fit was about zero.

However: unlike the Westek unit, you will need electrical twisty connectors for this product, because it is literally just a switch, no connectors included. A #5 connector will do just fine.

Also, unlike the Westek, this doesn't come with good instructions for installation. Here's the important hint: the two wires inside your lamp aren't the same. One outside insulation is smooth, the other has a ridge to it. Make sure when you install the dimmer, you connect the smooth wire to the smooth wire and the ridge wire to the ridge wire.

Lastly: the press fit for the brass colored knob was too tight on this unit and it was impossible to slide off for installation without marring it. Good thing I kept the original knob from the original dimmer that was being replaced. Of course, the original knob fit perfectly on this Westinghouse dimmer.

Even with all these issues (1) no connectors (easily gotten at Home Depot) (2) no instructions and (3) brass knob fit, I would still recommend this unit over the Westek because it was far easier to slide into the lamp for installation.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars DYI Torchiere Lamp Repair, January 21, 2011

By 

addonii - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Angelo Brothers 70801 Halogen Dimmer for Torchiere Lamps (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have 2 Torchiere style lamps - they look the same but are slightly different/bought about a year apart. Coincidentally both of them developed the same problem with the dimmer about the same time. I was ready to throw them out till I found out the 300 watt units are hard to come by now at reasonable prices.

While searching Amazon for replacement units I came across the replacement dimmer units by Angelo Brothers/Westinghouse.

Ordered 2 - easy to install, I would have given this item 5 stars except for the problems described by others having done these reviews already:

1. Hard as hell to get the plastic replacement knob off the new switch without defacing it so the switch body can be installed inside the pole. (the knob should be in the package and not shipped on the switch)

2. Would have been nice for Angelo Brothers/ Westinghouse to have put 4 wire nuts in the package, this necessitated a trip to Home Depot.