Electrics - does this sound like a faulty pull cord switch?

southerngirl_2

Are there any electricians or people with electrical knowledge who can offer an opinion on the following -

When I turn the lights on in the bathroom - pull cord switch - the lights will flicker, dim and then go out. At the same time crackling can be heard which appears to come from the casing surrounding the top of the pull cord switch. I'll then pull the cord switch to 'turn the lights off' and then pull the cord switch to turn them on again and the lights work absolutely fine with no crackling heard. The bathroom has 3 ceiling spotlights and one spotlight located over the mirror. There is also an extraction fan which comes on when the lights are turned on. I removed and looked at the spotlights and inside the casing surrounding the top of the pull cord switch and there was no evidence of scorching and the wiring all appeared modern and relatively new. Does it sound like a faulty pull cord switch?

I know nothing about electrics and I'm arranging for an electrician to come and have a look but just wondered if this sounds like a straight forward problem that's easy to fix. What do electricians generally charge on average?

Thanks in advance.

paulsad

Try not to use; it could be wiring out of sight of the actual switch ie hidden above it - crackling is not a good sign - you're doing right by getting in a sparks. I've seen all sorts - even rodents gnawing at wiring cause a lot of house fires! Don't try to look yourself with anything live.

Myser

It could be loose wiring or possibly arcing across the switch contacts.

Does the switch look quite old? Does it stick when you pull it at all?

A replacement pull-cord switch should cost no more than £5.

Not sure how much the electrician will charge though?

ROY47

without seeing it but going from experience

It sounds first off like a loose wire in the switch or worst off a knackered pull switch

Now the $64,000 question is .........

how good or bad is the sparky you have contacted ? Is he a genuine guy who will charge £30- £40 CALL OUT AND £25 - £30 TO CHANGE THE SWITCH ?

or.... £400 TO CHANGE THE SWITCH WHICH IS A SPECIAL ONE :eek:

don't forget, you don't only pay for his time you pay for his expertise as they say .

personally , I would watch him all the time to see what he does

fluffpot

ooo, it really annoys me when customers what you the whole time... make me go even slower than if they just left me to get on with it!

Ben84

The pull switches I've taken apart so far have all had a feature in common, that I suspect could be relevant here, they have two on and two off positions. You pull them down and a spring lets the contacts rotate and clip in to the first on position, repeat and it's off, then on again with the second on position then off with the second off position. I'm guessing one of the contacts, but not both, is damaged and arcing.

As arcing means a lot of heat is being generated I would not use the switch any more and have it looked at soon as possible. Presuming the heat from arcing hasn't damaged your cables and the fault is the switch, it should be easy and relatively cheap to replace with a new one.

southerngirl_2

Thank you all for taking the time to reply!

Will definitely stop using the pull cord until I get someone out to look at it. I've emailed a couple of electricians and will see what their response is.

Myser - No, the pull cord doesn't stick and I don't think it's that old, I think the lights were installed in 2007.

A.Penny.Saved

southerngirl wrote: »

Thank you all for taking the time to reply!

Will definitely stop using the pull cord until I get someone out to look at it. I've emailed a couple of electricians and will see what their response is.

Myser - No, the pull cord doesn't stick and I don't think it's that old, I think the lights were installed in 2007.

I had the same problem with a new pull switch in my toilet over 18 months ago. It was installed by electricians about 6 years ago when they checked and updated parts of my wiring after I moved in.

I took a look at it and found the switch terminals were covered in carbon deposits from the arching which frequently occurs in those types of switches. After cleaning them and applying some silicon grease all over the contacts, there has not been any further problems so far. No need to replace it either.

All it took was some wet and dry sandpaper and some silicon grease which I already had available. It's not difficult to do but you might not be comfortable with such a job. It's important to make sure that the electric to the switch if off before touching it!!

southerngirl_2

Thanks A.Penny.Saved!

I don't really have any idea what I'm looking at, I've removed the plastic surround around the top of the pull cord and seen the wires - are the switch terminals or the contacts that Ben84 talked about behind these wires and plastic casing?

Definitely one I need to leave for someone who knows what they're doing!

southerngirl_2

The electrician came today - faulty pull cord switch, £45 for labour and replacement switch. Bathroom lights now working