It might be the type of switches that you are using.

We have the same issue with the solid state switches we use here. There is a
bit of voltage leakage across and causes the CFL to flicker, some brands of
bulbs seem to be better then others.

Funny thing about ours was that if you held the bulb in your hand (our
socket was a corded test socket) it's intensity was higher then if the bulb
was just on the table.

Scott-

"Roger" wrote in message
. ..
I have a 14w Nvision brand compact fluorescent bulb on a three-way switch
circuit in my stairway that pulses very weak light, from near the base of
the discharge tube, about every second, when the switch is in the "off"
position. Looks like a weak strobe light.
I checked the "off" voltage across the empty socket - it was about 5v.
One of the three way switches has a lighted toggle, for what it is worth.
The lamp fixture is a can light, new, and seemingly properly wired but
cannot tell if the body of the unit is grounded, as only the hot and
neutral feed wires are visible on my side of the metal fixture reflector.
All I can figure is the low voltage is charging a capacitor in the bulb
base, and the capacitor periodically discharges its stored energy into
the bulb.
How can I trouble shoot (if this is necessary for safety) the source of
the low voltage in the lamp socket?
And is this in any way a fire danger?
Thanks,
Roger