Electrical question....house related

[General Lee]

While turning on the porch light this evening, when I hit the switch I heard a slight sizzle/crackling sound in the wall switch. I hit the switch several more times to listen and it did it pretty much every time. I removed the wall plate and inspected it. I saw no burn marks or smelled anything. I also hit the switch in the dark with the wall plate off to see if I saw any sparks and such and didn't see any.
Is the crackling sound for a second normal sometimes. I remember hearing sounds like this from time to time in various switches over the years in this house and my past house and always wondered if this is a possible hazard? Mostly the switches have just made a slight popping sound very quickly, but this switch sizzled and popped slightly longer than what I have heard in the past.

Any input on this?

 

[k0ua]

I would replace the switch. it is arcing inside of the switch. unless the load (the lights) has greatly increased, causing excess current to flow in the switch. But I doubt this, mostly likely carbon buildup on the switch contacts and arcing inside from the high resistance connection. Just replace the switch and go on. they are cheap.
James K0UA

 

[irvingj]

Ditto! Get rid of that switch before it starts a fire!

 

[jinman]

I just replaced a bad Arc Fault Sensing breaker in my house. All our bedrooms and bathroom lights are AF protected. If the switch arcs, the breaker pops. In my case, the breaker itself went bad and would not stay reset with no load whatsoever. When I was at Lowes, I noticed that there were breakers with both arc fault and ground fault sensing in the same breaker. My guess is that your problem is condensation inside your switch and replacing it will solve your problem.

 

[flyingcow]

Replace it, and chances are, any others that are the same vintage might need to be also. Just getting hard to find good solid switches anymore, don't seem to last more than 5 or 6 yrs of use.

 

[RadarTech]

yeah-- replace that puppy..
Just go ahead and get a 10 pak...
let's hope it is not a 3 way or 4 way as those bubba's are rather pricey when you compare them to a single throw switch..

J

 

[Willl]

Replace it like the others said.

Couple months back, the wife called me into her shop and told me to listen to the wall switch for the ceiling lights.
It was buzzing very, very lightly. Popped the cover off and saw a tiny little arc show going on just under one of the wire screws.

Could of been nasty.

 

[Transit]

Things over time wear out, it is normal for receptacle and switch screws to loosen, switch contacts to arc and burn.
If the switch in question is outdoors, I would replace it with a mercury switch, the bulb is sealed and not subject to condensation.:thumbsup:

 

[RadarTech]

Things over time wear out, it is normal for receptacle and switch screws to loosen, switch contacts to arc and burn.
If the switch in question is outdoors, I would replace it with a mercury switch, the bulb is sealed and not subject to condensation.:thumbsup:

That mercury switch is a good idea for ANY hi-humidity area...But aren't they a little pricey?

J

 

[General Lee]

Update.......

The night I posted this, I pulled the switch and made sure all connections were tight. The ground wire connection seemed a little loose. The few times I tested the switch afterwards it seemed fine. I went ahead and replaced it today. Tried it a couple times and all was good. Well, I just turned it on for the evening and it popped liked crazy. WTH? Maybe I got a bad switch?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If you turn a switch on slowly, it will pop.

 

[General Lee]

If you turn a switch on slowly, it will pop.

I didn't turn it on slowly. Just flicked it on like any other switch.

 

[bky]

I would check all the connections in the switch box. I doubt that the new switch is defective.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Update.......

The night I posted this, I pulled the switch and made sure all connections were tight. The ground wire connection seemed a little loose. The few times I tested the switch afterwards it seemed fine. I went ahead and replaced it today. Tried it a couple times and all was good. Well, I just turned it on for the evening and it popped liked crazy. WTH? Maybe I got a bad switch?

Are you controlling fluorescent lights with this switch? Altho they are efficient when burning, they have a high inrush current when coming on. I get a pop from mine occasionally -- no sizzle. :confused2:
larry

 

[General Lee]

Are you controlling fluorescent lights with this switch? Altho they are efficient when burning, they have a high inrush current when coming on. I get a pop from mine occasionally -- no sizzle. :confused2:
larry

The only thing operated by this switch is a single porch light. Its one of those energy efficient bulbs, Spiral type.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I've had the same thing happen with switches in a bran spanking new home so age isn't the only factor with the switch. It may be a factor but you can't blame age solely.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Electrical-Wiring-Home-1734/bathroom-light-switch.htm

Based on your description...it certainly sounds as if you are describing an "arcing" situation with this switch...but whether it's an internal arcing inside the mechanical section of the switch (caused by overload or wiring problems) ...or actually arcing at a connection (from a loose or back-wried connection)...is unknown.

All modern switches require an assured ground (as do most - if not all) light fixtures and fans. This means that a ground has to run solidly to the green grounding screw on the switches...and to the box - IF metal. And this has to be a complete ground with a solid return path back to the panel. As long as you have all the above...then a grounding problem can be ruled out.

The next thing that would need to be checked is the connection integrity at the switch contacts (do not use "back-wiring" slots on the switches..these are notorious for this type of problem...always wrap your wires around the side screws for the best connection). If the wires are wrapped around the screw in the direction the screw turns to tighten...and the screws are indeed tight....you can rule out a loose connection.

If all the connections and grounds are tight and solid...but you still hear the arcing (hum or buzz)...then either the switch is bad internally...or it has too low of a amperage rating for the load and is overloaded. Are these 15 amp rated single pole switches..?

If the connections and ground are assured as above...then it may be a load or faulty switch problem. I also note that you state this same event happened to an earlier set of switches...which may indicate a wiring or load problem.

If the problem continues - Please follow up with the switch type and rating...and I'll try to help you determine what is causing the arcing.

 

[General Lee]

Cat- I checked all the connections again on the NEW switch, all appear good. There is a bare ground wire attached to the green screw. This arcing appears to be intermittent. Since the new switch has been installed it only arched once and the arcing appeared to be within the switch. The wall plate was off and the room was dark. I didn't see arcing come from any of the actual connections. I pulled the switch the evening and checked all connections and tried the switch a couple of times, got no sizzle or pops but like I said its intermittent.
Also when I said It happened to an earlier set of switches, I meant that I have heard random switches slightly pop or sizzle in this house and my previous one. I have not had an issue with this particular porch light switch until now

 

[jinman]

Well, I would now go to the other end of the issue and change the type of light inside the porch light to see if that had any effect. I'd try a couple of different wattage rated incandescents and the spiral fluorescents. I just think many light switch contacts are not really high quality and you may have to pay big bucks for a switch that won't arc slightly internally. I hear a very faint "spit" from some of the switches in my house from time to time, but not every time.

 

[Dadsgreenpsd]

I have found that anytime you have a switch controlling the newer CFL lighting, you will have arcing/buzzing sounds from the switch from time to time. While conventional lighting starts at low amperage, and goes up, where CFL starts at high amperage, and goes down. Swap out the light bulb, and try again, I bet it doesn't make any noise.

 

[RadarTech]

I have found that anytime you have a switch controlling the newer CFL lighting, you will have arcing/buzzing sounds from the switch from time to time. While conventional lighting starts at low amperage, and goes up, where CFL starts at high amperage, and goes down. Swap out the light bulb, and try again, I bet it doesn't make any noise.

good to know!

thanks for the news..
I had to install 4 of those CFL fixtures in my new home to silence the inspector...
man they were $$$$

one of which I almost just put a face plate over and said nope.. but even got grief when I mentioned that!


J