I've already changed it... In fact the one I took out thinking that was the problem is the one I used in my test rig in the garage.change the switch as it's easy ?
why the lights don't flicker in sync though
Each lamps has an LED driver, these are switch mode.
Some switch mode drivers take a constant trickle of power from the mains. Others take the same power but in short bursts of power that is put into a store ( capacitor ), When the store in almost empty they take another burst of power. Taking these bursts of energy can cause a transient dip in the mains voltage on the circuit and this dip affects the operation of other switch mode drivers fed from the same source.
Could the flickering be something along the lines of two lights trying to take a short burst at the same time, and one doesn't get any?
So now what? Only differences seem to be:
- In the garage it wasn't hanging just lying on the bench
- The garage is a different circuit... But nothing else on the house lighting circuit has any problems
I've already replaced all 5 bulbs once with a different brand, and had 3 of the new ones replaced like-for-like. There might be thermal issues as well, but considering they start flickering immediately when turned on I don't think that can be the predominant cause. I have left the shades off when re-fitting it in the house too.It sounds electrical, but it could be a thermal issue in that light fitting. There will be no convection cooling as there is no air path for the cool air to get in so those lamps probably won't last long anyway.
Can you purchase another lamp from a known good brand and see if that behaves the same?
Finding exactly where the wires come and go is likely to be tricky as it is old wiring - the switch has red/black/green wires, the rose has blue/brown/green. An electrician fit a new light in another room and spent a while trying to find where the live was!Misterboy
My reading is that you have
and so
- tested the chandelier
- tested the bulbs
- tested the dimmer
So as you say, an untested area is the circuit.
At the chandelier, in the ceiling rose, do you have Neutral, Live and the Switched Live (ie one cable providing the power and one cable going to the switch)?.
I ask, as I would next try connecting the chandelier to the cable providing the power and ignore the cable going to the switch.
The chandelier will of course then be permanently on, but if it works flawlessly then this will suggest that there is an issue in the cable going to the switch.
SFK
Out of interest what could be wrong in the cables
Good question, but no.Is there another light operated by the same switch?
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