New light fixture intermittent flickering/diming


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Old 02-15-19, 09:26 PM
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New light fixture intermittent flickering/diming

Ok, I installed two new light fixtures in my bedroom a couple months ago. One of the fixtures tends to randomly dim and flicker. This isn't a constant issue, but it happens at least once a week. It happened today as I was vacuuming the floor I did NOT have this problem with my old fixture.

The first time this happened, I tightened the socket and it seemed to fix the problem, but it started flickering again a few days later. I also noticed that it tends to happen every time I start my vacuum cleaner, but only for a brief second. Again this only happens with one fixture and it didn't happen with my old fixture.

I checked the wires with a voltage meter and got a reading of 123v. Since this is only 3 volts above optimal, I assume it's within an acceptable range?


Since I'm only having issues with one fixture on this circuit and since it didn't start until after i replaced the light fixture, I don't think it's the wiring. Could it be a bad fixture? Would a licensed electrician be able to tell?
 
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Old 02-15-19, 10:50 PM
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Re do the wire nuts at the light. If they are the "fake" type wire nuts with no spring inside often included with new fixtures replace with wire nuts that have springs inside. Open the switch. Redo the wire nut and if the wires in the switch are back stabbed move to the screws.
 
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Old 02-16-19, 11:00 AM
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What kind of lamps are you using? Incandescent, CFL, LED? I'd try changing the lamps and see if that doesn't fix the problem.
 
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Old 02-16-19, 05:40 PM
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My old fixtures used CFL lamps. These new ones use LED. I thought about changing the blub, but since I'm only having issues with one fixture, I doubt that will solve the problem.
 
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Old 02-17-19, 08:18 AM
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It's rare, but I have seen bad LED lamps that would occasionally flicker and dim intermittently.
 
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Old 02-17-19, 08:28 AM
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Are the two fixtures the same? If so try exchanging the lamps (bulbs).

At least this will better suggest if one of the bulbs is bad.
 
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Old 02-17-19, 08:32 AM
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Is there an electronic dimmer in the circuit? They can sometimes cause intermittent fluctuations in an LED bulb especially if they do not have a neutral connection.

Momentary dimming when starting the vacuum is caused by starting voltage drop and is not serious.
 
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Old 02-18-19, 02:18 PM
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I tried multiple LED blubs. Not the blub. Should I try a CFL blub, or replace the fixture? Somebody said it could be a loose neutral wire, but wouldn't that cause all of the fixtures to flicker? I do not have dimers
 
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Old 02-18-19, 02:51 PM
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Probably not the bulb. Loose neutral at that fixture would not affect the other one.
 
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Old 02-19-19, 03:36 PM
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The guy said I might have a loose neutral some where in the circuit or a short. But if that's the case, wouldn't all the other fixtures flicker/dim? This is *knock on wood* the only fixture I'm having issues with. The only one on the entire circuit.
 
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Old 02-20-19, 06:59 AM
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Do y'all think it's the fixture, or something somewhere else on the circuit?
 
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Old 02-20-19, 07:47 AM
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Check the connection at the one fixture affected.
 
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Old 02-20-19, 06:02 PM
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I spoke too soon. Another fixture is diming as well. However, the diming/flickering now only occurs when I fire up my vacuum. It dims for a brief second and then returns to normal. It does not continue while I vacuum - only when I fire it up.
 
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Old 02-20-19, 06:06 PM
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But again, I don't remember this happening with my old fixture.
 
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Old 02-21-19, 09:15 AM
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As I said in Post #7:

Momentary dimming when starting the vacuum is caused by starting voltage drop and is not serious.
.......
 
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Old 02-21-19, 12:47 PM
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Swap the problem fixture with an okay fixture. If the problem fixture continues to be a problem in the new location and the okay fixture has no problem in the previous location of the bad fixture it is a bad fixture.
 
 

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