V
Vitesse
I got a call today to go to a house where the owner had a problem with a light in the bedroom that would intermittently flicker on and off. Especially when first switched on, it would come on dimly when first switched on and then go out, then light up normally. It had one of these touch sensitive dimmer switches.
She she said that sometimes when her daughter and mates were in the room and jumping about it would sometimes flicker on and off. It was a single ceiling rose and bulb, so got up there and had a look for anything obvious, nothing standing out. Taking the bulb out would have the same effect as before.
So I checked the voltage and it was about 232v. Checked the voltage at the socket for a comparison and it was ok about 242v.
I had a look at the dimmer switch and the first thing I noticed was this green oily slime on the end of the wires when I unscrewed it. So I mentioned it to the owner and she said it was all over the sockets and switches. She showed me a socket at the top of the stairs and one in the kitchen and both had evidence of this green staining on the bottom of them where it had been seeping out. She said all the neighbours houses had it as well. Anyway I changed the switch for a one gang one way switch and it cured the problem, checked the voltage at the ceiling rose and it was back up to 240v.
The house was built sometime in the 70's, still has the original black and red t&e. Obviously the green is from the copper and I assuming it is some sort of reaction with the insulation when it heats up that is producing the oily substance?
Has anyone come across this before? I have to go back next week and do another little job so I intend to do an IR test just to see what condition the wiring is in.
She she said that sometimes when her daughter and mates were in the room and jumping about it would sometimes flicker on and off. It was a single ceiling rose and bulb, so got up there and had a look for anything obvious, nothing standing out. Taking the bulb out would have the same effect as before.
So I checked the voltage and it was about 232v. Checked the voltage at the socket for a comparison and it was ok about 242v.
I had a look at the dimmer switch and the first thing I noticed was this green oily slime on the end of the wires when I unscrewed it. So I mentioned it to the owner and she said it was all over the sockets and switches. She showed me a socket at the top of the stairs and one in the kitchen and both had evidence of this green staining on the bottom of them where it had been seeping out. She said all the neighbours houses had it as well. Anyway I changed the switch for a one gang one way switch and it cured the problem, checked the voltage at the ceiling rose and it was back up to 240v.
The house was built sometime in the 70's, still has the original black and red t&e. Obviously the green is from the copper and I assuming it is some sort of reaction with the insulation when it heats up that is producing the oily substance?
Has anyone come across this before? I have to go back next week and do another little job so I intend to do an IR test just to see what condition the wiring is in.
