The ones installed in a standard workbox are not purely a rheostat/resistor/autotransformer. Older dimmers that don't involve a chopper circuit are much bigger, but certainly do exist. It's possible that a 100-150W unit could be fit into 2 gang box, but I've never personally seen one.

Variable autotransformers do not need such close load matching and definitely have been used in residential applications. Bigger than your standard wall switch, but sold in a form factor to be installed in a standard 2x4 studwall

Cast aluminum boxes actually. Luxtrol WBD series.

That is a dimmer. It says right on the cover dimmer. It's a variable autotransformer in a box,.which will dim incandescent bulbs just fine. But maybe only a hundred or so watts looking at it's size.

I have in my possession several Luxtrol WBD series lighting dimmers with a similar electrical configuration that were removed during a dining room remodel.

I have some Luxtrol WBD series variable autotransformers that were removed from residential dining room applications. They are much bigger than your standard wall switch, but designed to fit into a wall cavity.

Nope. Definitely a thing. Also I'm corroborating your claims that they are too big to fit in a standard electrical box.

I just pulled mine out of basement storage and took a look. Inside is a variable auto transformer. Lookup "Luxtrol WBD" on eBay to get an idea.

Those are not rheostat (resistor) based though. They use thyristors to chop the electrical current (you can hear them humming if you listen closely).

Basically they are switches that turn on and off very quickly.

This really has nothing to do with the question since the question is about the dimmer load, not the circuit load. You can only load the breaker to 80% as you said which is 12amps but the question is about a dimmer switch which can only be loaded to 150w or 1.25A at 120v. OP cannot put 182 LED lights on his dimmer switch.

I've seen them in homes, typically dining room chandeliers. They are big and got hot, just like you state.

Thank you. /u/velifer is simply wrong about this. Your memory of wire wound rheostats matches what I know - they are huge, used for theater lighting, and need cooling.

They were never installed in general purpose home lighting.

I have some actual rheostat dimmers I removed from an old dining room. They weigh about 10lbs each and are in cast iron boxes that are about 5x4x3 inches in size.

That is not a rheostat for lighting, it's most likely removed from the speed control of a motor.

No they were not. Sorry, but rheostat dimmers simply get too hot to be placed inside electrical boxes on the wall.

You are just mistaken about this. They can only be used in specialized applications with the load exactly matched to the rheostat.

They were never used for general purpose lighting in homes.

I don't even get how you think they were supposed to work - the rheostat has to match the load exactly, how exactly would you even install them in a home where the homeowner can change the light bulb?

(Fans are a different story.)

But did you actually take one apart and confirm that there is not an SCR inside?

Correct, the old resistors based ones were not used in homes, only in commercial applications (theaters).

They were too large and got too hot to be useful in homes.

Yeah, no shit. 5000K in a living space... Makes me want to leave immediately. It's fine in a garage, utility room, or workspace. I keep all of my living space lights between 3000-3200k.

My friend just put in a bunch of 5000k leds, and then took them out the next day because they made him feel sick.

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https://www.ebay.ca/itm/124628390499

Interesting. There's an old one for sale.

One of those things you say doesn't exist.

Wow.

Here's the thing: your tone policing doesn't make you correct.

Lolol. (Unless you meant kg)... You could mount it directly to stepper shaft. But technically risk eventually wearing out motor.

Maybe a small right angle gear box. https://www.ondrivesus.com/miniature-gearboxes

You certainly don't need any significant bearings.

I would personally hose clamp tubing between the two shafts as a coupler and put little wheels/dollies/ upside down ball bearing wheels for antenna assembly.

Nah, people say that, but my neighbor woke up dead from carbon monoxide poisoning years ago and she wasn’t pissed off at all.

Wow wtf, now it really seems like CO poisoning...

Might mean CO2. I have one of those. It is an indicator or air quality (not as deadly at the same ratios as CO). I also have may CO alarms/detectors.

If you don't think the multi-wound rheostat dimmer for home lighting and fans was ever a thing, then I'm sorry that facts are hard for you. Yes they sucked. Yes, they could get hot. Yes, they absolutely were used in houses and in a form factor that fit into standard work boxes.

Lol I'm glad this is the rabbit hole I went down tonight. The true electrical nerds know whatsup while the hive-mind goes towards what seems like an obvious answer. I feel like this dimmer switch thing is a metaphor for so many other things. Voltage phase control is most definitely NOT a new technology. Those light switches would put out a tremendous amount of heat with even a couple amps, and incandescents are Amp suckers.

A dimmer looks like a pot, but it's not!!!

Only thing that comes to mind is a suspended bed.