can a power surge flip a light switch?

bluebee1314 · 03-23-2008, 07:37 PM

Could a power surge actually flip off a light swtich? My parents were in the dining room last night when the overhead light went off. They heard a click simultaneously and discovered that the switch itself was now in the off position. There were no other flickers, and nothing else on that circuit was on. It's not a three-way switch. This is new-ish construction (about five years old), and according to my dad, the switch is tight. It can be balanced halfway between the on and off position, but the light is off when it's in the "halfway" position. So it appears the switch just flipped off.

I want to make sure this isn't a symptom of an electrical problem. If it's symptomatic of a poltergeist... I'll try another forum. :-)

Thanks!

Speedy Petey · 03-23-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluebee1314

If it's symptomatic of a poltergeist... I'll try another forum. :-)

Yup. You nailed it.

I'll see you over there.

Pudge565 · 03-23-2008, 10:58 PM

where could i find these forums on poltergiest i like ghost stories.

WillP · 02-19-2009, 04:08 PM

I've just had the exact same thing happen here... No other lights went off in the house. I found my sister in another room, who said she was about to tell me the house was feeling strange! I can't find any way of positioning the switch where it could flip towards 'off' position as it is biased towards being in the 'on' position and off if balanced half way. I don’t feel like turning the power off to dismantle the switch at the moment (it's very dark). Have you had any luck finding an explanation?

rgsgww · 02-19-2009, 05:08 PM

Kind of a big bump if you ask me.

AllanJ · 02-19-2009, 05:23 PM

If I had to choose exactly one, electrical problem or poltergeist, I will choose power surge/electrical problem 0% and poltergeist 100%..

Yoyizit · 02-19-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluebee1314

My parents were in the dining room last night when the overhead light went off. They heard a click simultaneously and discovered that the switch itself was now in the off position.
The switch guts are spring loaded; so far, so good.
It can be balanced halfway between the on and off position,

The guts heated up and flipped the handle; bad switch, or the handle wasn't fully on or it can't be put fully on (bad switch).

Troyster · 07-12-2009, 08:42 AM

I experienced the same exact thing with a light switch. Like you I also checked to see if the switch could rest ON in the halfway state and determined that it wasn't reasonable to think so. I tell my story in great detail here http://www.ghostgossip.com/2009/06/t...st-gossip.html which is my own personal website. If anyone has any questions feel free to email me. I have my email address at the bottom of the main page to my site.

300zx · 07-12-2009, 01:19 PM

I had the same problem on a service call,tun light on and wait a few min.and the light would turn off on switch would be in the off position to.Put a new switch in and they have never had the prob agian.

Troyster · 07-13-2009, 03:33 AM

Yes, a worn out switch will fall down to the off position by itself. I've seen that myself. You can usually tell when a switch is like that because they tend to be really spongy. The switch I had was very absolute. You had to literally flip it in the up or down position. There was no play and it took some effort.

03-23-2008, 07:37 PM	#1
bluebee1314 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 14	can a power surge flip a light switch? Could a power surge actually flip off a light swtich? My parents were in the dining room last night when the overhead light went off. They heard a click simultaneously and discovered that the switch itself was now in the off position. There were no other flickers, and nothing else on that circuit was on. It's not a three-way switch. This is new-ish construction (about five years old), and according to my dad, the switch is tight. It can be balanced halfway between the on and off position, but the light is off when it's in the "halfway" position. So it appears the switch just flipped off. I want to make sure this isn't a symptom of an electrical problem. If it's symptomatic of a poltergeist... I'll try another forum. :-) Thanks!

03-23-2008, 10:58 PM	#3
Pudge565 Electrician's Helper Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 202	can a power surge flip a light switch? where could i find these forums on poltergiest i like ghost stories.

02-19-2009, 04:08 PM	#4
WillP Newbie Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1	can a power surge flip a light switch? I've just had the exact same thing happen here... No other lights went off in the house. I found my sister in another room, who said she was about to tell me the house was feeling strange! I can't find any way of positioning the switch where it could flip towards 'off' position as it is biased towards being in the 'on' position and off if balanced half way. I don’t feel like turning the power off to dismantle the switch at the moment (it's very dark). Have you had any luck finding an explanation? Last edited by WillP; 02-19-2009 at 04:15 PM.

02-19-2009, 05:08 PM	#5
rgsgww Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,543	can a power surge flip a light switch? Kind of a big bump if you ask me.

02-19-2009, 05:23 PM	#6
AllanJ Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nashua, NH, USA Posts: 6,775	can a power surge flip a light switch? If I had to choose exactly one, electrical problem or poltergeist, I will choose power surge/electrical problem 0% and poltergeist 100%.. __________________ The average homeowner who lost his house in the Oklahoma tornadoes should move for good and not rebuild. Too much complexity watchdogging the contractor. Too much a chance to be defrauded.

can a power surge flip a light switch?