Dodgy Light Switch - Lights Flickering in Other Rooms.

debtslave2024

Hi

I have a light switch for the bathroom that needs replaced. It controls the extractor fan, and the halogen lighting.

I pressed on it today, to turn the extractor on, and lights in other rooms flickered. I do not know if this is an over reaction on my part, but I then turned the electricity for the house off at the mains, as I was concerned about something going badly wrong. 

If anyone on this forum has electrical knowledge, I would like to ask the following:

a) What is the potential cause for lights flickering in other rooms as I press on the bathroom light switch?

b) Did I over-react by turning power off at mains?

c) If anyone on here has electrical knowledge. How much approximately would it cost to replace a double wall switch that controls the bathroom extractor fan, and 3 halogen spot lights, whilst also checking the transformers for the halogens, and general wiring safety?

Thanks

Albermarle

You probably do not need to turn the whole house electricity off. There should be a specific switch saying something like 'upstairs lighting' which you can turn off and isolate that circuit.

RAS

Is this switch in the bathroom or outside? 

Sounds like a loose connection. May only need the cover taking off, a screw tightening and cover replacing.

I'd suggest you

a) identify the (first) floor lighting circuit amongst those on the mains board. If you are not sure, the lower AMP ones are lighting, and if it just says Lighting 1 or 2, turn the mains on and switch on downstairs lights to identify that. The other will be upstairs.

b) learn how to turn off that circuit. Turn the upstairs lighting circuit off for now. 

c) turn the mains on.

d) when it gets dark, you can turn the upstairs lighting circuit on but avoid using the problem switch. Plug in lamps upstairs (other than in the bathroom) 

e) before you go to bed turn the lighting circuit off again and use the lamps. 

debtslave2024

Thanks RAS. I was outside for a bit, and came up with an alternative solution, that is similar to yours.

1) I identified the circuit controlling the lights and extractor in bathroom, and turned it off at the fuse box.
2) I turned on the mains whilst ensuring that everything in the bathroom was will “de-activated,” so at least I can still plug things into the wall, plus have the added bonus of turning lights on in living room and an internet connection. (separate circuit.)
3) Bought 3 battery operated camping lights for the rooms affected, and hung them from ceiling until problem gets fixed!

Thanks again. Now looking into electrician cost. After a quick check looks like replacing a light switch that is past it, will be in region of £80. Though I also want the bathroom halogen lights, and transformers/wiring looked at, so I am guessing £150 to £200 in total.

FreeBear

RAS said: Sounds like a loose connection. May only need the cover taking off, a screw tightening and cover replacing.

With other lights flickering, the loose connection might be in the consumer unit, or one of a multitude of light fittings. It might be a quick fix, or it could take several hours to locate the culprit.

debtslave2024

FreeBear said:

RAS said: Sounds like a loose connection. May only need the cover taking off, a screw tightening and cover replacing.

With other lights flickering, the loose connection might be in the consumer unit, or one of a multitude of light fittings. It might be a quick fix, or it could take several hours to locate the culprit.

I am pretty confident that it is being caused by the light switch that is well past its expiry date, and needs replaced. As soon as I press it, lights in other rooms on the same circuit flicker. Anyway, electricity off for the circuit that controls the lighting in that part of house. Will eventually get round to fixing it (one thing after another.)

Belenus

RAS said:

a) identify the (first) floor lighting circuit amongst those on the mains board. If you are not sure, the lower AMP ones are lighting, and if it just says Lighting 1 or 2, turn the mains on and switch on downstairs lights to identify that. The other will be upstairs.

In our two floor 2004/5 built house, the lighting circuits are front and rear not downstairs and upstairs.

That confused me a little the first time I needed to know. There was no indication on the consumer unit.




I have no idea whether front and rear is a common arrangement or not.