Flashing Light When the Switch is Off

anotheruser

Last night I was woken by our landing light flashing.
The switch was off, but the light flashed on and off again every 7 or so seconds. Never really come across anything like it before.
Turned the switch on and it was fine. Turned it off again and it flashed again.

Have taken the bulb out so I could sleep but does anyone know where to start with solving it?

Ant555

My initial thoughts would be either a problem with the wires in the ceiling rose or the light switch itself is faulty - neither of which would be easy to troubleshoot by anyone not comfortable with electrics.

Ebe_Scrooge

I'm afraid I can't think of anything definite that would cause this. But if it were me, the first thing I'd do would be to remove the switch ( having killed the power at the CU first, of course ! ) and have a look to see if there are any obvious loose connections or anything. If there's nothing obvious amiss, it may be worth replacing the switch with a new one - a bog-standard switch is cheap enough from any DIY shed. I guess it's possible the switch itself is faulty.


One thing to bear in mind - is there only the one switch that controls the light ? It's common for landing lights to have 2 ( or even more ) switches. If that's the case, check them all.

TonyMMM

What type of bulb ?

Steve_xx

LED bulbs can do this after they've been switched off. This article explains the reasons why it may be happening.

https://www.lampshoponline.com/advice/how-to-stop-your-leds-from-flickering-buzzing-glowing-and-burning-out/

indesisiv

I shall keep an eye on this thread as my light in the hallway does this too.
There are 2 switches on it, and it is not an LED bulb but a standard energy saving bulb. I have the same bulbs elsewhere so it isn't that.

baldelectrician

I have had this before

CFL lamps have electronics and this can be a problem due to induced voltages (from cables running adjacent to the lighting ones)


Try a standard non-energy saving lamp and see if this works

Risteard

As above, induced voltage due to two-way switching wiring.

anotheruser

Well, it just started doing it last night, nothing happened to the switch or rose that I can think of but I haven't taken either off yet. Need to also look in the loft and see if that's all in order.

It's an LED bulb but only one switch as its further down the landing than the one with two switches.

Will make sure I report back though.

anotheruser

Just to bring this to a conclusion.
Turns out there was a leak that was in the loft. Not huge, but it had dribbled down into the switch and was shorting it.

A few things ruined but at least the house didn't blow up.