[aeproberts]

Hi,

I recently changed my two outside lights by replacing the bulbs with compact florescents to save money. The weird thing is that they kind of flicker a little bit even when the switch to them is turned off. I figured it might be the wiring but it never did it with the previous lightbulbs. Both the lights are hooked up to an electronic timer.

When I say flickering, they are not turning all the way on or anything but are slightly illuminated (which is only really noticeable when it is dark) and it kind of dims on and off. I really have 3 questions.

1) Is this dangerous? (fire-wise)
2) Will this damage the $6 lightbulb I just put in?
3) Is this normal or is there a way to fix it?

I appreciate it in advance.

[hvac1000]

If there is no electric going to the fixture than the bulbs will not lite. I would check the wiring and make sure the neutral is the line the timmer is opening.

[labman]

Are these bulbs anything special special? The regular 60 watt replacements I buy at Home Depot 6/$10 never flicker or glow. I think the regular practice and perhaps code is to switch the hot. I would try disconnecting the timer and see if that stops it.

[tkrussell]

Fluorescent lamps can glow without power.

Sometimes they will continue to glow for a short period after being turned off. The phosphor coating inside is still charged and glowing very dimly and only is noticeable in the pitch dark. The glow will diminish.

Sometimes they will glow long after being turned off due to RF signals. Is there a large radio or TV transmitter nearby? Or a Ham radio tower?

This is a phenomenon of flourscent lamps that occurs due to strong radio waves.This is also used by lamp testing equipment which works by aiming the antenna of a unit similar to a RC model car or airplane controller. The RF signal will excite the gases inside the tube enough to determine if the lamp is working.

[ceilingfanrepair]

It sounds like the timer lets a small amount of current through the same way that happens with the lights on remote-control ceiling fans. I would try a different timer switch.

[andrewcocke]

Flourescent lamps can glow without power.

Sometimes they will continue to glow for a short period after being turned off. The phosphor coating inside is still charged and glowing very dimly and only is noticeable in the pitch dark. The glow will diminish.

Sometimes they will glow long after being turned off due to RF signals. Is there a large radio or TV transmitter nearby? Or a Ham radio tower?

This is a phenomenon of flourscent lamps that occurs due to strong radio waves.This is also used by lamp testing equipment which works by aiming the antenna of a unit similar to a RC model car or airplane controller. The RF signal will excite the gases inside the tube enough to determine if the lamp is working.

This is true, recently, a write up the paper of Floyd County, in protest of a new high voltage transmission line running through their county demonstrated the effects of high tension lines by holding a flourencent light bulb straight up from the ground aiming towards the power line, lo and behold, the light began to glow and flicker.

One of these days, Im going to have to put a bulb on my van and try this one night, well... maybe not. HT lines make me nervous. I try not to spend too much time under them.