Cause of Pulsating lights throughout property?

[WigWam]

Hi,
got a problem here with pulsating lights throughout a property in west London,
we recently re-wired a two bedroom property in west London,
and after leaving a very satisfied customer, she noticed some lights throughout the property where pulsating (dimming and regaining full brightness again) in rather quick bursts, then again to normal function after about 30 seconds,

the strange thing was that it was happening over many circuits across the property,
one suggestion was that the main incoming tails and/connections where not tight enough, but using our torque screwdriver would suggest otherwise, another suggestion was that a large load on any number of the houses down the same street could have caused this, ( unsure on this one)

the lights in question are recessed aroura halogen gu10 and on dimmers across the property, (they're not overloaded)
never had this problem with dimmers before.

This is the first case we have come across in many years of rewire and lighting circuits!

just wondering what the community thinks this could be down to.

This property is your bog standard 230-240 50Hz supply fully rewired to BS7671 17th edition

 

[Andystraughan]

Are the dimmers in the correct wattage range? Ie not dimming 2 spots with a 250w-400w dimmer?

 

[wozz]

Id be looking for common connections in switchgear, even if terminal is tight something may have come adrift, i usually find giving something a whack and seeing if the problem shows its self to be handy.

was there a problem before you rewired it?

 

[Pete999]

Pulsating lights oewer

 

[varilite]

Take dimmers off put normal switches on then see if it does it

 

[Sparky Pat]

Have you tried plugging a light into a socket to see if the socket circuits are affected. Had a case recently where customer complained oh lights flickering when I was there standard lamp was also doing it. Notified WPD and it would seem the problem was on their network

 

[Gavin A]

Have you tried plugging a light into a socket to see if the socket circuits are affected. Had a case recently where customer complained oh lights flickering when I was there standard lamp was also doing it. Notified WPD and it would seem the problem was on their network

in high grid impedence areas that can be caused by some of the non flicker regs compliant solar immersion diversion devices that have been getting installed over the last couple of years, such as the Mark 1 immersun.

if the neighbours have one installed and have energy saving lights they might not even know it's doing it as it only shows up with incandescent / halogen lights.

Mostly it's not such an issue if the grid impedence is relatively low as the voltage fluctuation is relatively low, but I suspect there are probably a fair few hidden issues with neighbours who're just not sure what the problem is. Unfortunately solar PV itself will end up being blamed, but it's not that, it's these devices using a technology that's only really suitable up to about 1kW load for 3kW immersions.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Convert the property into a Disco, employ a monkey with a couple of turntables and speakers to provide the entertainment, sell cheap lager at an extortionate price and make a fortune!

 

[SibertSolar]

@GavinA - just what I was thinking...then I saw your post! Would be interesting to know if any of the neighbours have Solar panels/immersion controller fitted

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Hi,
got a problem here with pulsating lights throughout a property in west London,
we recently re-wired a two bedroom property in west London,
and after leaving a very satisfied customer, she noticed some lights throughout the property where pulsating (dimming and regaining full brightness again) in rather quick bursts, then again to normal function after about 30 seconds,

the strange thing was that it was happening over many circuits across the property,
one suggestion was that the main incoming tails and/connections where not tight enough, but using our torque screwdriver would suggest otherwise, another suggestion was that a large load on any number of the houses down the same street could have caused this, ( unsure on this one)

the lights in question are recessed aroura halogen gu10 and on dimmers across the property, (they're not overloaded)
never had this problem with dimmers before.

This is the first case we have come across in many years of rewire and lighting circuits!

just wondering what the community thinks this could be down to.

This property is your bog standard 230-240 50Hz supply fully rewired to BS7671 17th edition

and a rite old waste of money they are n all...

i must have said this in here..oh a hundred times:

you `rattle` stranded conductors in terminations after initial tightening...then check again...they will invariably want to tighten up more...as the strands bed down....you will be able to feel when its there

no need for bloody `torque drivers`...or nonsense like that...

 

[JD6400]

Apart from what Gavin has said ( Thanks for that , very interesting ! ) , it sounds like you may have a problem with your incoming supply ? I have seen a high resistance joint on the incomers exhibit exactly the same symptoms , all be on a much larger scale in a new build hotel once .
It may be worth while taking a few voltage readings and such like whilst it is happening just to confirm your supply parameters !?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Apart from what Gavin has said ( Thanks for that , very interesting ! ) , it sounds like you may have a problem with your incoming supply ? I have seen high resistance joint on the incomers exhibit exactly the same symptoms all be on a much larger scale in a new build hotel once .
It may be worth while taking a few voltage readings and such like whilst it is happening just to confirm your supply parameters !?

yep...load it up...watch it sag...

 

[tazz]

Would think if there were loose connections, you would be seeing the fault throughout the installation sockets and all...........time to get to basics, as posted earlier, take out dimmers and go from there....eliminate the obvious, and work down

 

[JD6400]

Fair point , but you will notice the lights the most .
Swapping out the dimmers is a good call , but if it were me I would at least get the meter out and see what you have to start with .

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Would think if there were loose connections, you would be seeing the fault throughout the installation sockets and all...........time to get to basics, as posted earlier, take out dimmers and go from there....eliminate the obvious, and work down

no.

start at the metering position....as its a single point...

eliminate that first...then move on...

find it top end...saves dropping fittings etc....