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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
I have recently fitted a few compact fluorescent lamps (Phillips
Ecotone) in my house. When they are switched off, they occasionally flicker briefly. (First noticed a few days ago when I came home very late and crept upstairs in traditional husband manner without switching the light on).Is this normal - or a symptom of a horrendously expensive electrical fault? Charles |
#2
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
Subject: Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
From: (charles adams) I have recently fitted a few compact fluorescent lamps (Phillips Ecotone) in my house. When they are switched off, they occasionally flicker briefly. (First noticed a few days ago when I came home very late and crept upstairs in traditional husband manner without switching the light on).Is this normal - or a symptom of a horrendously expensive electrical fault? Charles Sounds like some sort of fault, not necessarily electrical, could be RF in your wiring that causes it. I am sure that others will expand on what I have wrote. John. |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
"charles adams" wrote in message om... I have recently fitted a few compact fluorescent lamps (Phillips Ecotone) in my house. When they are switched off, they occasionally flicker briefly. (First noticed a few days ago when I came home very late and crept upstairs in traditional husband manner without switching the light on).Is this normal - or a symptom of a horrendously expensive electrical fault? Charles Yep, creeping up the stairs late at night without switching on the lights is perfectly normal husband behaviour (welcome to the club). |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
"NumptyDumpty" wrote in message ...
"charles adams" wrote in message om... I have recently fitted a few compact fluorescent lamps (Phillips Ecotone) in my house. When they are switched off, they occasionally flicker briefly. (First noticed a few days ago when I came home very late and crept upstairs in traditional husband manner without switching the light on).Is this normal - or a symptom of a horrendously expensive electrical fault? Charles Yep, creeping up the stairs late at night without switching on the lights is perfectly normal husband behaviour (welcome to the club). Yes, many thanks for the tutorial in club behaviour! However, does anyone have an on-thread opinion about the fluorescent flicker? Thanks, Charles |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
In message on Wed, 3
Mar 2004, charles adams wrote "NumptyDumpty" wrote in message ... "charles adams" wrote in message om... I have recently fitted a few compact fluorescent lamps (Phillips Ecotone) in my house. When they are switched off, they occasionally flicker briefly. (First noticed a few days ago when I came home very late and crept upstairs in traditional husband manner without switching the light on).Is this normal - or a symptom of a horrendously expensive electrical fault? Charles Yep, creeping up the stairs late at night without switching on the lights is perfectly normal husband behaviour (welcome to the club). Yes, many thanks for the tutorial in club behaviour! However, does anyone have an on-thread opinion about the fluorescent flicker? Thanks, Charles Hello, I've had this problem for a while with one bulb; I spoke to Philips technical help line who said that this happens from time to time with particular specimens of the bulb - change the bulb to a different one and it goes away. It occurs when the bulb is used in a two or multi-way switched environment and the rest of the explanation about voltage build up leading to the bulb thinking it was going to strike but then not was not, for me, very complete or convincing. Regards, Colin -- Colin Brook - Winchester (UK) Fax:+44(0)8701641293 Mobile:07976258703 |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
Colin Brook wrote:
Hello, I've had this problem for a while with one bulb; I spoke to Philips technical help line who said that this happens from time to time with particular specimens of the bulb - change the bulb to a different one and it goes away. It occurs when the bulb is used in a two or multi-way switched environment and the rest of the explanation about voltage build up leading to the bulb thinking it was going to strike but then not was not, for me, very complete or convincing. Possible- I guess the bulbs are very high resistance when off, so induced voltages won't dissipate. The unit then gets to the point where it sees 240V on the input and tries to switch on, but as soon as it draws current it loses the voltage. If so, shoving a resistor in excess of say half a megohm across the screw terminals in the light fitting would stop the flicker. With a light that shows repeatable flicker you could then increase the resistance to get the highest possible value (hence smallest waste current when on) that solves the problem. -- Dr. Craig Graham, Software Engineer Advanced Analysis and Integration Limited, UK. http://www.aail.co.uk/ |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 13:21:44 UTC, Colin Brook
wrote: It occurs when the bulb is used in a two or multi-way switched environment Can anyone explain why, though? -- Bob Eager begin by not using Outlook Express... |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
Craig Graham wrote in message ... .. If so, shoving a resistor in excess of say half a megohm across the screw terminals in the light fitting would stop the flicker. With a light that shows repeatable flicker you could then increase the resistance to get the highest possible value (hence smallest waste current when on) that solves the problem. If you're going to do this use a VR37 type resistor. These are the only products likely to survive being used in this application. Regards Capitol |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
Craig Graham wrote:
Colin Brook wrote: Hello, I've had this problem for a while with one bulb; I spoke to Philips technical help line who said that this happens from time to time with particular specimens of the bulb - change the bulb to a different one and it goes away. It occurs when the bulb is used in a two or multi-way switched environment and the rest of the explanation about voltage build up leading to the bulb thinking it was going to strike but then not was not, for me, very complete or convincing. Possible- I guess the bulbs are very high resistance when off, so induced voltages won't dissipate. The unit then gets to the point where it sees 240V on the input and tries to switch on, but as soon as it draws current it loses the voltage. If so, shoving a resistor in excess of say half a megohm I'd guess this is voltage fed into the bulb, and rectified into DC to feed the storage capacitor (this is used to eliminate flicker). The leakage on this is probably well under a microamp. Any current over this will cause the capacitor to gradually be charged. Once it gets up to somewhere over a hundred volts or so, it'll try to start, but as it's only got the energy in the capacitor, and none more coming in, just flicker. |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
"Bob Eager" wrote in message ...
On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 13:21:44 UTC, Colin Brook wrote: It occurs when the bulb is used in a two or multi-way switched environment Can anyone explain why, though? capacitive coupling. It happens more when the neutral is swithed instead of the live. Regards, NT |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
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#12
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
"charles adams" wrote in message Thanks, but what the 'ng 'll is capacatitive coupling?!. Please answer as if to a flatliner! An electrical charge induced in one wire in close proximity to another wire with a voltage on it. Or even simpler if the switch is off, there is still a small amount of electricity on the off side of the switch, Not enough to bite (usually :-) but enough to light a bulb now and then. |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
On Sun, 14 Mar 2004 00:48:13 -0000, "G&M" wrote:
An electrical charge induced in one wire in close proximity to another wire with a voltage on it. A slightly modified description - "...with a CHANGING voltage on it". Capacitors don't pass DC but do pass AC. By comparison an inductor does pass DC but won't pass AC. Theoretically anyway - there are always leakages PoP --- If you need to contact me please submit your comments via the web form at http://www.anyoldtripe.co.uk. I'll probably still ignore you but at least I'll get the message..... |
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Flicker of compact fluorescent lamps
PoP wrote:
On Sun, 14 Mar 2004 00:48:13 -0000, "G&M" wrote: An electrical charge induced in one wire in close proximity to another wire with a voltage on it. A slightly modified description - "...with a CHANGING voltage on it". Capacitors don't pass DC but do pass AC. By comparison an inductor does pass DC but won't pass AC. An inductor certainly *does* pass AC, it's just that its impedance increases with frequency whereas a capacitor's impedance decreases with frequency. A capacitor is the inverse of an inductor, a perfect capacitor has infinite resistance to DC, a perfect inductor has zero resistance to DC. -- Chris Green |
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