[JohnC20]

Hey everyone. Hope all is well.. My question has to do with a draw string 24" T8 light I installed in the bedroom closet....
The other night laying in bed I noticed a quick flash of light coming from the closet. I saw it again and sure enough it was coming from the fluorescent light I installed a few weeks ago. This light is on a circuit which feeds the bedroom lights. It's a 20A feed. The house was built in 1936 and if anyone remembers my last post, I wrote about getting a little jolt on the common when the breaker was off while installing this same branch. A logical reply was the common was shared with another circuit and was typical of older homes. I just replaced the fixture and to my surprise the new one flickers as well... What could be causing this??? When the breaker was off I checked the common and it was dead this time.
I guess the big question is can this be hazardous? A fire risk?
Thanks!!

 

[AllanJ]

Is the wall switch for this light illuminated? The electricity used to light up a switch toggle goes through the load (light) controlled by the switch and can cause a fluorescent light to glow or flash.

 

[JohnC20]

Holy crap!!! On the same circuit there is the attic light on a illuminated switch...
Why would that cause it to flash??

 

[joed]

The wall switch for another light should not cause this. Is the attic light a lighted switch or a switch with a pilot light that comes on when the light is on? A lighted switch comes on when the switch is turned OFF.

 

[mbryan]

Did you make sure that your neutrals are tight?

 

[JohnC20]

The wall switch for another light should not cause this. Is the attic light a lighted switch or a switch with a pilot light that comes on when the light is on? A lighted switch comes on when the switch is turned OFF.

The attic switch is lighted when the switch is off. It doesn't control the fluorescent light I am talking about, but it's on the same circuit.

 

[JohnC20]

Did you make sure that your neutrals are tight?

I haven't gone back up in the attic to check the other neutrals but the one on the light are tight with elect tape around the wire nuts.

 

[JohnC20]

Please keep in mind, this is happening when the switch is off...

 

[mbryan]

The light flickers when it's off?

 

[JohnC20]

The light flickers when it's off?

Yes! That's what's odd. The switch is a draw string type on the light fixture and when it is off, there's a quick pulse or flash on the bulb every minute or two. The bulb doesn't go full illumination, just a quick flash that maybe half the bulb lights up. It happens now on the replacement fixture so it's gotta be the wiring IMHO...

 

[mbryan]

Then I have got nothing...

 

[JohnC20]

Then I have got nothing...

Yeah! Me neither.. Gonna check connections to see if any are loose.

 

[joed]

I suspect the wiring is fine. Problem is probably with the way the fixture is designed.

 

[JohnC20]

I suspect the wiring is fine. Problem is probably with the way the fixture is designed.

But it is happening on the replacement as well!! The first one was flashing, replaced that with a new one and now that one flashes!!!!

 

[joed]

Without seeing how it is wired internally I can't say anything more that would be useful. I don't know how it could be mis wired that would make it flash when it has its own internal switch.

 

[JohnC20]

Without seeing how it is wired internally I can't say anything more that would be useful. I don't know how it could be mis wired that would make it flash when it has its own internal switch.

Well, what could cause this to happen, wiring related?
If the black is wired to the internal switch in the fixture, and the common to the ballast, what could it be?
Here's a visual: I have the feeder for the fluor. light coming off a junction box in the attic. This box has a source that comes from a ceiling light fixture in another bedroom. Also coming out of this junction box are two more feeders; one going to a simple drawstring switched bulb fixture in a closet. The other feeder goes to an illuminated switch which controls the attic light. That's it.. Daisy chained...

Thanks!!!

 

[joed]

If you were switching the neutral possibly this would happen. You need to have power going to the ballast somehow for this to be happening.

 

[JohnC20]

If you were switching the neutral possibly this would happen. You need to have power going to the ballast somehow for this to be happening.

The only way I can think power is leaking through on the common is when installing this circuit I got a jolt when I touched the white wire and the breaker was off. I posted this in this thread, as well as a previous one.. I was told it isn't uncommon to see this with older homes sharing a common between circuits

 

[dmxtothemax]

Stick a volt meter on the line and see what happens
when the light is off ?

 

[chitownken]

Could it be possible that the fixture is wired with the switch on the neutral side if the supply and fluctuations in voltage are inducing current in the ballast?