Technical Resistor switch getting hot, wiring help needed

Throw that Rheostat away, and get a Pulse Width Modulator, I just went through this with A Pollen blower I built for the orchard. first off you CAN'T buy a good Rheostat that will work for more than a couple minutes !! A PWM doen't reduce voltage and turn it into heat, it pulses the current,or ground, use a ballast resistor then a PWM and you will be HAPPY !! PS they cost about the same as a Rheostat !! Chris

 

Sorry but this part is dead wrong. The load on the switch itself will is a result of the current passing thru the switch (which is the same in the entire circuit given that everything is in series) and the internal resistance of the switch itself. The placement of the dropping resistor does not matter.

 

If you look at the switch in post #2 less then half in being used.
It has some adjustment for motor speed high and low.
To cool this you need more restance, a resister that will take the current like a 1ohm 100 watt resister ebay 330929068936
This resister will handle up to 10 amps plus the switch will drop current even more.
For about $4.00 this is the fix.