Bathroom Bulb Flickering

[psd99]

Hi all, I have a pull down cord switch in my bathroom. A few days ago the bulb was flickering so I went and got a new bulb.

I noticed that the bulb still flickers so I would assume there is another problem with the wiring - I'm fairly competant with electrics etc so where would the first place to start? I might have a look at it on next weekend when I have more time and I can safely isolate the power on the ceiling rose. Be good to know what you all think could be causing the issue.

 

[psd99]

it is intermittent sometimes it is okay other times not

 

[montymint]

Funnily enough I've just developed the same problem at mine over the weekend. When I'm WFH tomorrow I'm going to take a look where the cord meets the ceiling, as I think the switch there may have dirty contacts (probably caused by steam over the years) and not making a clean connection. Then pulling the cord on / off a couple of times is sorting it out.

Will update after I take a look.

 

[psd99]

Funnily enough I've just developed the same problem at mine over the weekend. When I'm WFH tomorrow I'm going to take a look where the cord meets the ceiling, as I think the switch there may have dirty contacts (probably caused by steam over the years) and not making a clean connection. Then pulling the cord on / off a couple of times is sorting it out.

Will update after I take a look.

lol

what are the chances - ok sounds good

electricity is not tripping yet but until this is fixed there is a chance it will be

 

[Building Candy]

It was the pull switch for me, the contacts corode a lot quicker than any other room due to the moisture. I cleaned the contacts and it started doing it again after a month, so just bought a new switch.

 

[psd99]

It was the pull switch for me, the contacts corode a lot quicker than any other room due to the moisture. I cleaned the contacts and it started doing it again after a month, so just bought a new switch.

Ok i will also check the pull down switch as well

 

[Building Candy]

Ok i will also check the pull down switch as well

Well if its not the bulb it has to be the switch

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Well if its not the bulb it has to be the switch

Not necessarily

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[Participant]

Almost certainly the switch. They're almost as cheap to replace as a light bulb these days.

 

[psd99]

But how can the pull down switch be the problem? It seems to be functioning ok

 

[psd99]

How many amps does the replacement pull down need to be then?

 

[Building Candy]

But how can the pull down switch be the problem? It seems to be functioning ok

already explained that, and no its not, the contacts are probably coroded causing the bulb to flicker. Just buy another bathroom pull type light switch, they are all more or less the same, you just need a new one.

 

[darael]

But how can the pull down switch be the problem? It seems to be functioning ok

Moisture has probably caused the internal contacts to corrode, so they make a bad connection when the switch is turned on, hence your flickering bulb.

 

[psd99]

Well well well
Ended up being a loose black wire

But to remove doubt I spent £7 on a new pull down cord and changed it over

 

[psd99]

Job done my bathroom is no longer a rave scene. But i did question why the rcd did not trip at all.

 

[Hedge]

Wtf. We have exactly the same issue with our pull switch this week. How strange there's a bunch of us lol.

 

[LuckyBenski]

Job done my bathroom is no longer a rave scene. But i did question why the rcd did not trip at all.

RCD will trip when there's a different amount of current going "up" the live wire vs "down" the neutral. As it indicates some is being sent to earth.

I think in your case the current was equal, it was just jumping around in quantity.