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#193443 04/02/10 01:07 AM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 356
Niko Offline OP
Member
client has 6 recessed cans with two three ways controlling them. He has the BR30 type fluorescent bulbs in each of the cans. The problem is when the switch is OFF the bulbs flicker.

Here is the items that i have checked in the device box. (No neutral available in the device box)
>Voltage to grounding with the lights ON 119V
>voltage to grounding with the lights OFF 23V
>The 23V disappears as soon as i connect a resistive load (obvious Phantom voltage)
>NO dimmer connected
> client has already replaced the switches with new ones.

The existing CFLs are about 1 year old so I asked the customer to change the bulbs with new CFLs and see if the flickering goes away.

What could be causing the flickering on the CFLs


Be kind to your neighbor, he knows where you live

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 947
T
twh Offline
Member
I had that problem with a motion switch and a CFL.

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,803
Member
Programmable switches or dimmers can cause this, due to a very small leakage voltage triggering a capacitor somewhere in the bulb. Any 'leakage', [say a track on switch insulation] can cause this too- it can be so small as to be unnoticed when using filament bulbs. Since it is a 'load' it will not trigger an RCD or GFCI. Some CFLs also glow dimly for a short while when turned off. IMHO, not worth worrying about.

Last edited by Alan Belson; 04/02/10 07:54 AM. Reason: syntax

Wood work but can't!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,273
T
Member
Consider running a snubbing resistor in the circuit. Select a resistance high enough to do the job without drawing significant power... say 10kOhms.

If you really HAVE to.


Tesla
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
Replace one of the bulbs with an incandescent.


Greg Fretwell
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 174
B
Member
Switches with the lighted handles can cause this as well.

Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,233
H
Member
Just a shot in the dark, but is this an old house where the hot and neutral wires might be reversed?

Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 356
Niko Offline OP
Member
Thank you for your replies.

The switches are not lighted and the wiring to that part of the house is new.
one of my colleagues suggested a shared neutral with another circuit or a minor short between the ungrounded conductors with another circuit.

I will go back out on Thursday to troubleshoot.


Be kind to your neighbor, he knows where you live

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 251
T
Member
I see this regularly on my ghetto houses. Usually I find voltage from neutral to ground. Other devices on that circuit might have the same problem. The pain in the butt ones get run a new neutral.


Shake n Bake
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 206
G
Member
I've seen this problem with LED (GU10) lamps, but perhaps it could happen with CFLs too.
Found that capacitive coupling between the cores of (fairly long) switch runs, used for multi position switching, was the cause.
The fix was a small capacitor accross the first lamp in the chain. If I remember correctly a 0.1 microfarad, as used for interference suppression, did the trick. Obviously needs to be rated to be accross supply voltage.

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