A few weeks ago I got a problem where one of the circuits in my house had all the lights on it stop working, but I did notice one bulb had a very tiny amount light shining, barely perceptible even when the switch was off, but that made me think there was some how some currentnothing was replaced in the last 6 monthsI had a feeling it was a bigger issue so we called the home warranty company and they got an electricianThe electrician was dumbfounded saying that something shouldn't be possible, but a part of me thinks he might have just been dumbAnyways because of what they reported the home warranty company is denying covering a follow up saying that they only cover simple issuesAnyone have any ideas for what might be going on so I can try to diagnose it?There's only lights and ceiling fans on that circuit, and it's a house where the switches are "no neutral"I don't know too much about electrical stuff, just the basics from a college course I took 5 years ago
could be a capacitor from the ceiling fan. did the electrician measure anything?
>>2883724Other than checking for current I don't think soI can measure it but I'll need a multimeter which I'll get on my way home from workAlso really dumb question but what should I be looking for?Also to be clear it's not a single fan and light, it's effecting several rooms
>>2883729are they all energy saving lights? the capacitors in them could still fuel them.turn off all breakers and see if it still continues.you could measure if there's still (AC) current and voltage when lights are turned off.
>>2883731I believe so actuallyI don't think the electrician tried this but I'll methodically go through and remove each switch to separate the lights from the overall circuitThat should at least tell me if it's a problem with one of the lights/switches or if it's something behind the wallsThanks for the ideas
easy way to test-turn off lights-find ones that still glow-take them out/unscrew them-if they still glow while not being connected to anything then it's not an issue
>>2883721Could be anythingAn led lamp can scavenge power from inductive coupling via cables run next to a different circuit it needs so little powerIs it mixed sockets and lights on one breaker? American? Could be a rat chewed wiring or could be lights been moved to run via gfci socket.Could be anything. Light being half on might be related clue, might not.
>>2883721>>2883745> An led lamp can scavenge power from inductive coupling via cables run next to a different circuit it needs so little powerIt’s probably this, but every electrician should know that this happens. It happens when LEDs are combined with cheap dimmers or switches that have an indicator led. Most quality LED bulbs don’t suffer from it anymore but Chinese made integrated led ceiling lights often do
>>2883721OP here, I've got some results from testingSo for the circuit I'm having issues with, when the breaker is switched on the continuity tester is beeping when I make a connection between the live/hot wire and ground, but it's not tripping the breaker or any GFCI thingsBut if I test the live and load wires nothing happensWhen the breaker is off nothing happensAs a control, when testing a working circuit connecting the live and load results in continuity but when I connect the live and ground the GFI trips
>>2884025OP againDo you think that replacing the breaker might somehow fix it?It's on a weird breaker thing but the one flipped is the one one having issues
>>2884030Sorry I meant replace the fuse
>>2884025>when the breaker is switched on the continuity tester is beeping when I make a connection between the live/hot wire and ground,>But if I test the live and load wireswhat's fucking wrong with you?>>2884030it's not the fucking breaker, just stop touching anything.do this first >>2883738
just turn off breaker and measure the voltage on hot-ground, hot-neutral
>>2884034>what's fucking wrong with you?Sorry, I've got no clue what I'm doing I'm just trying to figure this out because I don't have a clue as to what else it could even be>do this first Did that already, issue is still occuringI unscrewed all bulbs except one, and removed all the switches except oneSorry that I'm a dumb ass, I'm just trying to fix something my home warranty refuses to help>>2884036out right now, will check it when I get home in a few minutesbut also the switches in my house are "no neutral" so I can really only check hot-ground
>>2884036>>2884044Hot-ground is 0v with breaker offWhat next?
>>2884055hot-neutral is the most important one
>>2884044>but also the switches in my house are "no neutral" so I can really only check hot-groundyou obviously have a fucking neutral else you wouldn't have electricity>Did that already, issue is still occuringdid you unscrew a bulb and it still glows in your hand or not?
>>2884044>but also the switches in my house are "no neutral" so I can really only check hot-groundThe switch only cuts off the live wire. It connects it when you turn the switch on. You can bring the neutral directly to the light, the live is brought from the switchWhen you measure, you measure at the bulb, where there might not be a ground wire
>>2883721>home warranty companyyou, sir, are a rube>electrician yeah that wasn't an electrician
>>2883721sounds like it’s just got some voltage induced from somewhere. LED bulbs can be quite sensitive. Shouldn’t really be an issue, don’t know why you want a follow up. Try swapping out the bulb if it’s bothering you.t. electrician Also>it’s a house where the switches are “no neutral”Kek
>>2884044There's a voltage differential, somewhere in the house. You see the rod/driven into the ground outside, with a thick ground cable near it? That's your earth-ground. At some point, the house might've been added on to. Either there is another ground rod, or the addition wasn't properly tied to ground. There's actually a potential difference (voltage) between the two grounds - enough to drive that light. I've seen it much worse, in old industrial buildings, where it's hit 50+ volts, with just enough current to buzz your fingers.
>>2883721The live and neutral might have been shaped if they changed out the electricity meter.Be careful as earthed enclosures could give you 230V into your body.Don't touch metal enclosure and get and electrician over.
