Question for electricians 11

[Carry Pine]

Hope you can help with this:

Down in the garage, the only overhead light is one of those curly new ones. Since it's been installed I have noticed it flickers every now and then- when it's off.
Is this a worry? Are there ghosts? What?

Graham

[Sebastiaan56]

Dont worry Graham, its alien electricity eaters, we've called for Doctor Who.....

[issatree]

Hi Carry Pine,
Yes, they are a real pain. Ours are just about to leave this Planet, as they are in our Lounge Room, & it's not good when you are trying to read.
I have been lucky to purchase some Bayonet Type Globes at the Local Sunday Market.
Fluorescent Yes, these dash things No Way.
I've even seen some people trying to turn with them. I hope they have good Health Ancillaries.
They Strobe your Work.
Enough said.
Regards,
issatree.

[Cliff Rogers]

Hope you can help with this:

Down in the garage, the only overhead light is one of those curly new ones. Since it's been installed I have noticed it flickers every now and then- when it's off.
Is this a worry? Are there ghosts? What?

Graham

How old is the wiring in the house?

For it to flicker while it is off, it has to be getting power from somewhere.
It could be a dicky switch, ants/dirt/moisture.
It could be just pick up from a live wire that runs beside the switch wire for enough distance for a bit of induction.

[dj_pnevans]

Some of the new type globs can hold a small charge in them for up to 30min. I would replace them if it still happens get some one to look at it.
David

[Carry Pine]

Thank you to respondants nos 3 and 4. 1 and 2 need not apply for a greenie despite my addiction to Dr Who.

Electrician coming to fit the chandeleir in the next month- he can have a look at it.

PS No comments about the chandeleir please- check age of Forum member.

Graham

[Tankstand]

You don't live under some huge transmission power lines do you?

[cultana]

Graham seriously chuck the little curly thing.
I found it a lot simpler to go for the outside flood light units on a stand. Ok somewhat bright but they are not fluros.
The other option is a halogen 120W or 500W flood light. Just watch out for the heat generated.

[Carry Pine]

You don't live under some huge transmission power lines do you?

There is a 'transformer' (called transducer by greater minds than mine) up a pole out the front of our place. I guess it does wonders for the Fung Shui in the place but could that be it?

Graham

[cultana]

There is a 'transformer' (called transducer by greater minds than mine) up a pole out the front of our place. I guess it does wonders for the Fung Shui in the place but could that be it?

Graham

If it is then you have bigger problems than you could hope for.

Ok now for the real simple options:
1. Depending on the age of the light switch, which I presume is on the wall, simplest option would be change it for a brand new one. If it has been around a bit it may just have that occasional leakage and make the circuit live , hence the light flicker.
2. Check the ceiling rose to make sure that all wires are properly covered, ie insulated. The active wire loop and return switch wire may have sufficient proximity to occasionally cause a spark jump and this will also give you your light flicker.

[hughie]

reminds of any event some what similar, that happened to me several years ago.

The kids were just out of nappies and the wife had gone out with a few girl friends for the evening and I was the baby sitter. All was well, kids asleep. But it was a lousy night wind and rain etc. and I was just settling down to watch my favourite TV program. When I caught out of the corner of my eye the porch light slowly coming on and going off. . So jumped up and flicked the switch a couple of times, still the light came on and off, it seemed to have mind of it own.
The light had me transfixed, what the .....! was going on. Slowly I opened the door [ with great bravado ] nothing, absolutely nothing,no loopy mate trying to scare the blue blazes out of me, just the light slowly doing its thing.

By this time I was getting curious and my composure was returning. So closing the door,I got a screw driver and removed the switch to find a dead small frog had got his head across the wires and was slowly shorting out the light, phew!

[Carry Pine]

reminds of any event some what similar, that happened to me several years ago.

....to find a dead small frog had got his head across the wires and was slowly shorting out the light, phew!

Hughie,

You are not suggesting the cane toads are this far south?

Graham

[hughie]

You are not suggesting the cane toads are this far south?

Might be a bit chilly where you are for them me thinks.

[nihilism]

I have heard about this problem before, the cause was votage being induced into the cable that feeds the light after the switch causing the electronic circiut in the light bulb to charge up. When the charge voltage gets to a certain level it's enougth to momentarally turn the light on. Possible soulutions are, use a different brand or type of light globe, have the light socket re-wired.

[NCArcher]

I did post a wordy reply to this some time ago but i got booted off the net before i hit the submit button
In a nutshell...Cliff and Nihilism are correct. Most likely cause is induction. Small amounts that slowly charge the electronics inside the globe or fitting. At a certain level they discharge and the lamp flickers. Solution ... do nothing. It won't hurt anything. If it is really annoying (in which case, why are you sitting in the garage in the dark? on second thoughts, i don't want to know) have your electricain re-route the cable to the fitting away from other cables.