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Flickering Lights in fixtures

Posted on 7/14/19 at 10:12 pm
Posted by TigerGrad2011
Member since Aug 2016
1588 posts
Posted on 7/14/19 at 10:12 pm
I figured this was probably a better shot at getting a real answer versus the OT.

We live in a house as the first owners that was built in 2012. We switched light bulbs in the fixtures to LED lights about two years ago. One of the fixtures in a bedroom and two of the fixtures in the connected bathroom flicker.

I’ve been trying to figure out if we have a serious problem and how I should diagnose this, or if I should just call an electrician and get it looked at. I’ve changed the bulbs out multiple times to rule out faulty bulbs and they all randomly flicker in those receptacles.

Any thoughts on what to do?
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17451 posts
Posted on 7/14/19 at 10:15 pm to
I am thinking a loose wire at the switch, breaker or the first fixture on the circuit

I feel comfortable checking all of the above save the breaker
Posted by TigerGrad2011
Member since Aug 2016
1588 posts
Posted on 7/14/19 at 10:18 pm to
I’m scared shitless of anything electric. Should I just go ahead and call the electrician?
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17451 posts
Posted on 7/14/19 at 10:19 pm to
I guess so
Posted by trident
Member since Jul 2007
4788 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 6:20 am to
Have you put back the non-LED bulbs? Is it a dimmer type switch?
Posted by Ron Cheramie
The Cajun Hedgehog
Member since Aug 2016
5259 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 6:27 am to
Did anyone die in the house?
Posted by 10MTNTiger
Banks of the Guadalupe
Member since Sep 2012
4139 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 6:40 am to
That's how you know the demigorgan is coming.
Posted by Canvasback
Member since Jan 2016
203 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 6:53 am to
Had the same problem with some light fixtures after switching to LED. Turn off the breaker to the fixtures,take the bulb out, get a small flathead screwdriver, stick it between the ceramic and metal of the light socket, then slightly bend the metal in around the socket. Do Not Bend It Much. The goal is to just snug the socket up against the the bulb some.

An electrician told me to do this when I had the issue and it fixed the problem. Worth a try before calling someone.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
21474 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 7:20 am to
Yeah do above to adjust the socket.

Also, many LED’s don’t do well with dimmers and flicker at certain voltages. Like they may do well at half and full voltage but not at anything in between.
Posted by bapple
Capital City
Member since Oct 2010
12042 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 7:31 am to
+1 on checking for a dimmer switch. The internal resistance on an LED-dimmer is different than a standard one. If you have a standard one it could be causing it to strobe.
Posted by kengel2
Team Gun
Member since Mar 2004
31837 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:42 am to
Some people have already mentioned it, but if its on a dimmer than that is more than likely your problem.

LED lights dont provide enough resistance for normal or older dimmers to work. Thats why they started coming out with electronic dimmers.

However, if you take the plate off the dimmer you should see and adjustment screw. You should be able to adjust the dimmer to where the lights dont flicker. They may not dim as much as you would like, but this would be the cheapest option. Then you could replace the dimmer with an electronic dimmer if you want.
Posted by TigerGrad2011
Member since Aug 2016
1588 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 12:07 pm to
It is not a dimmer switch and I have not tried old lightbulbs.
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30152 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 1:06 pm to
LED bulbs can do that, its a sign they are bad and you just replace the bulb

most dont realize they have power converters inside them to reduce voltage for the LEDs and that circuitry can and sometimes does malfunction

that said, i have seen older houses with attic wiring just twisted together with tape and not using wire nuts. often closing a door can cause lights to flicker in a house like that
Posted by NOLAGT
Over there
Member since Dec 2012
13644 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 4:45 pm to
Did you swap the bulbs to other sockets and see if they flicker there too. Put a non flicker bulb in the flicker socket? If it follows the bulb around it’s the bulb. If it makes non flicker bulbs flicker then it’s the socket or a non led friendly switch.
Posted by Geauxtiga
No man's land
Member since Jan 2008
34377 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 5:48 pm to
Had that happening recently and it was a bad connection on one phase at transformer- I think how the Cleco guy explained it.

keakar can probably help me out here.
This post was edited on 7/15/19 at 5:50 pm
Posted by QuietTiger
New Orleans
Member since Dec 2003
26256 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 6:02 pm to
quote:

bad connection on one phase at transformer-

That would give the whole house issues. Maybe a dimmer, did he ever say if the lights were on one? Older dimmers aren't always compatible with LED's.
Good luck.
Posted by TigerGrad2011
Member since Aug 2016
1588 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:21 pm to
I did that and it still flickered.
Posted by Geauxtiga
No man's land
Member since Jan 2008
34377 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:48 pm to
quote:

That would give the whole house issues
It actually only gave the back half of my house issues .
Posted by PillageUrVillage
Mordor
Member since Mar 2011
15064 posts
Posted on 7/15/19 at 9:35 pm to
quote:

That's how you know the demigorgan is coming.


I chuckled
Posted by kengel2
Team Gun
Member since Mar 2004
31837 posts
Posted on 7/16/19 at 10:18 am to
quote:

It is not a dimmer switch and I have not tried old lightbulbs.


Then replace the led bulbs with new ones. It happens led bulbs still go out. They flicker or will kind of ghost at the end of their life and then they'll just quit.
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