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slight current when circuit is "off" (Read 3212 times)
Bernard Elsmere
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slight current when circuit is "off"
Mar 3rd, 2009, 9:00am
 
I want to reinstall a light fixture in a bathroom and am seeing a slight current in the live wire, even when the switch is off. I've checked the switch, and everything seems fine there - when it's "off" there is no current on the fixture side. What could cause that? Is there a short?

thanks in advance..
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Zambezi
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Re: slight current when circuit is "off"
Reply #1 - Mar 3rd, 2009, 9:21am
 
Hi there,
When you say you see a slight current, do you mean voltage and what are you using to measure this? Some testers are very sensitive and will pick up the slightest voltage, like some neon screwdrivers and volt sticks. Cables can appear to be live when they are in fact not, it could be that the cables are running alongside other cables which are inducing a small amount of voltage onto the cable in question. The other thing to consider is extract fans, mirror heater pads etc that may be on the same circuit. It could also be that you have a permanent live at the fitting, which then goes to the light switch and then back to the fitting. Could you tell me how many cables/terminals you have at the light fitting?
Basically it is difficult to know exactly what is going on with your system without seeing it. If you have access to a proper voltmeter then I would suggest you test between L-N, L-E, N-E. Ideally you should get 0V between any of them but you may get 2-3V if it is induced by surrounding cables.
Hope that helps...
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« Last Edit: Mar 3rd, 2009, 9:24am by zambezi »  
 
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CWatters
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Re: slight current when circuit is "off"
Reply #2 - Mar 3rd, 2009, 4:11pm
 
The pickup between adjacent wires can be quite large. More than 30 years ago when on "work experience" I went to a school with an electrician. The teachers were complaining of getting electric shocks from metal switch plates and the like. Meter showed the face plates had about 50V on them. Turned out to be a bad earth connection. The unconnected earth wire was acting like an aerial, picking up from the adjacent live and delivering it to the faceplates.

Typically in a lighting circuit you have permanant live running from the light down to the switch and back up again. The pick up between the two can sometimes be enough to cause a low energy bulb to flicker after being switched off.

Allways best to switch off the whole circuit at the CU when working on it.

 
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Bernard Elsmere
Re: slight current when circuit is "off"
Reply #3 - Mar 5th, 2009, 5:35pm
 
Thanks CWatters and Zambezi
I was using a neon screwdriver and a little 2 prong affair of a similar nature - both showed distinct glows when "off", maybe a little less than a quarter of the brightness of when "on". I'll get a proper voltmeter on it and see what that says.
There doesn't appear to be a fan wired on the same circuit, but there IS a permanently on live feed at the fixture, which goes down to the switch and back, so it seems likely that the phantom current is being induced (if induced is the word I want) along the way.
Thanks for your help. I feel less clueless now.
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CWatters
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Re: slight current when circuit is "off"
Reply #4 - Mar 6th, 2009, 8:26am
 
If you temporarily put an incandescent bulb in the fitting you should find this connects the floating switched live to Neutral through the fillament. This should "pull" the floating live down and stop the neon lighting up - or at least dimm it further.  


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« Last Edit: Mar 6th, 2009, 8:28am by CWatters »  
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