Bumbledor wrote:

Thanks for looking.

While I can do basic electrical work, Its not my profession, so I thought I
would seek some information from you professionals out there.

Mom and Dad (retired) have a kitchen light that keeps dimming for no
reason - even with new bulbs, a standard 60 watt non-floresecent. Its hooked
up to a 3 way circut, with 2 switches, one is a "mercury" switch, the other
is a regular single throw contact switch.

I have checked the wiring for possible shorts. And save for yanking it out
of the walls compleatly, I can't see any other reason for the light diming..
I remember a friend telling me about those mercury switches getting old.

Nothing else on that electrical circut is effected. I E. The other light
does not flicker/dim.

Any help/suggestions appreacated.



I'm not an electrician.

There is a loose connection somewhere -- it can be on either the hot or
the neutral wire, and it may be on the previous device on the circuit
that feeds the light or the switch.

Mercury switches don't ever wear out (that's part of their charm), but
there may be a bad connection where the wires connect to it.

I'd vote for a back-wired switch or outlet somewhere that has the
spring-loaded terminals that you just poke a wire in. Replace with a
screw-terminal device, or (if the wires are cut too short) a heavy-duty
backwired device that clamps the wires in the back when you tighten the
side screws. Also check the wirenuts or whatever where the light
fixture wires are tied to the house wiring.

Bob