[TR] Dim (or no) dash lights and hot rheostat

[Steve Smith]

Hi all,

I find I need once again to dip into to the collective fountain of knowledge of the TR list.  

I have an early 69 TR6 on which I replaced the wooden dash some months ago.  I probably haven't driven it at night since. Yesterday I was out longer than planned and came home in the dark.  The dask lights came on with the headlights but quickly faded (minutes). I tried to adjust the lights with the dimmer switch and nothing.  I tried again a bit later and the knob was warm, it came off in my hand with some fumbling.  The allen key shaped bit of the rheostat that the knob attaches to was hot enough to burn my fingers.  

Is it possible to wire the switch incorrectly (wrong post for wrong wires) or is this indicating that I wired something else incorrectly?  

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Steve
CC25805LO