Electrical Pop noise


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Old 06-18-14, 12:12 PM
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Electrical Pop noise

I had a switch that made a pop noise every so often. I switched it out this morning and it appears to be ok now. I was wondering, besides a faulty switch or a loose connection at the switch itself... could this be caused by something else elsewhere in the system? Like a loose connection in another junction box?

The only reason I second guess the situation is because the noisy switch was only a year old and was a spec grade switch with tight connections.
 
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Old 06-18-14, 12:30 PM
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If connections were made on the screws and not in the push backs, it probably was a faulty switch with an arc gap when it was switched on or off. I've got one in my bathroom that does it once a month or so. Scares the crap out of my wife. I'll get around to changing it. Yeah.
 
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Old 06-18-14, 12:49 PM
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Some times the newer switches are worse than the older ones.
 
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Old 06-18-14, 07:07 PM
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Is there a heavy load on the switch? That will make a pretty big arc.
 
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Old 06-19-14, 03:39 AM
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Is there a heavy load on the switch? That will make a pretty big arc.
Would you consider 4X13W CF's a heavy load? Of course not.... but maybe the ballast take more on startup? Or perhaps failing or cheap bulbs?

How about a loose connection at the fixture itself?

I ask these things because once I had a very old fluorescent fixture that was causing a similar issue with another switch. When I swapped out the fixture, the problem appeared to go away.
 
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Old 06-19-14, 06:05 AM
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I would not. I doubt it is anything to worry about though.
 
 

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