Voltage down switch wire, switch off. Help!

[robd]

Evening all hope your all avoiding the nasty bugs that are going round! I'll keep it brief, got called out to a bungalow that had a ceiling rose pendant that was flickering after being switched off. Testing it I found 10 volts at the switch live when switched in off position, 230 when on. Fiddled about for a while and had a look above (it is accessible being a bungalow) bit of a head scratcher really. All in all got a bit confused so put everything back together and said will go back in the morning, light wasn't flickering when I left!. Not major but just very annoying...any thoughts much appreciated. Was wondering about an induced voltage from something elst but all the cables in roof seem sufficiently far enough away from other things.

 

[Sintra]

Sounds very like induced voltage.

Was the lamp an energy saver fluorescent?

Was the light on a 2 way switching arrangement?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[robd]

Yes to energy saving flourescent however voltage there even without lamp inserted...yes to 2 way switching although abit old school (for me) in singles and T+E

 

[robd]

I should also say I replaced the T+E part of the 2 way switching to try and get rid of problem to no avail

 

[Sintra]

Ok 2 remedies that I know of.

Change the wiring of the 2 way switching to the conversion method if it is wired in the conventional way.

Or fit a snubbed between switched L & N at light fitting.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[robd]

Ok 2 remedies that I know of.

Change the wiring of the 2 way switching to the conversion method if it is wired in the conventional way.

Or fit a snubbed between switched L & N at light fitting.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sounds great Sintra, what's a snubbed? Some sort of spike protector? Apologies for my ignorance!

 

[Sintra]

Sorry mate meant to read "snubber" have a look here.

 

[robd]

ha ha cheers that looks good, just trying to find a bit more info on them, any idea on cost (roughly) and where I could pick one up...wholesalers or not?

 

[Sintra]

Maplins do them £2.79 here.

 

[robd]

Cheers mate, much appreciated, thanks for all your help. Might get a couple, look like a handy thing to have on the van

 

[Sintra]

Yes mate always handy to have a snubber or 2.

 

[Sav]

Hi Sintra,
Would you fit the snubber between the switch line and neutral at the ceiling rose??
Thanks and great reading as well !

Sav

 

[Sintra]

Yes fit between SW L & N

 

[peterni]

new guy here. query i have, can a snubber, fitted within a device, in our case electric blind motors, have any influence on rcd tripping, in particular if several motors all started (or stopped), at the same time

 

[cbw]

Hi Robd,

how did you get on?

Did you order some?

If not I will hapilly post you one of mine, as I have a few and rarely use them!

PM your address and next time you see an air ambulance collection pot drop a couple of quid in it as payment!!!

 

[robd]

As it happens you've just reminded me! Was going to pop into Maplins this morning and pick one up...I'll send you a pm over that would be much appreciated, air ambulance is a good shout I'll do it like this....
East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity | Helicopter medical team | Air medical transport | UK
Cheers pal

 

[Had8Lives]

Might be useful to check if a smoke alarm has been wired to the switch live. This makes an incandescent bulb glow when the switch is turned off and might be the source of your 10V.

 

[robd]

Yeah thanks, it's not that but interesting none the less