Green sticky goo in light switches

The Stanton Man · 26 Jun 2003

There is a green sticky goo inside all my light switches. it looks like it is being created in the earth wire . What is it and what can i do about it?

breezer · 26 Jun 2003

i could be wrong, but it sounds like your earth wire is corroding, is there any damp?

cobweb · 26 Jun 2003

breezer is right. You have copper oxide residue. There must be damp in the wall somewhere close to the box.

It's not a great problem in its self but could lead to the earth wire breaking and then you'd have no earth!

If there is enough "slack" cable you could disconnect the mains fuse and then strip back the earth to unoxidated wire and reattach.

You might also consider finding and curing the damp as this will affect the walls too.

The Stanton Man · 26 Jun 2003

thanks for the advice, however,the green stuff is in all the light switches not only ones on outside walls. To add a twist to the problem, the earth wires on the 30 amp ring main, cooker or shower circuits are not effected

cobweb · 27 Jun 2003

The 30amp ring is most likely newer than than the lights and socket rings so has not had the time to oxidise yet.

Especially if the house is an older build.

Andy Velcro · 27 Jun 2003

Do you remember Ghost Busters

!! Just a thought.

The Stanton Man · 27 Jun 2003

So Andy, you suggest i get a white boilersuit and strap an old vacuume cleaner to my back, rather than calling in an electrician

The Stanton Man · 27 Jun 2003

So Andy, you suggest i get a white boilersuit and strap an old vacuume cleaner to my back, rather than calling in an electrician

breezer · 27 Jun 2003

just a thought, it may also be a low voltage on the earth cable (there shouldn't be but for a cable to turn green so quick)

The Stanton Man · 27 Jun 2003

how do i check if there is low voltage on the earth cable

breezer · 27 Jun 2003

i am not sayingthere is, it just a thought, but unfortunately since you asked, you had better get an electrcian in.

The Stanton Man · 28 Jun 2003

well people thanks for your help i think its time to call in an electrictian

loftus75 · 28 Jun 2003

It's likely the green sticky substance is nothing more than washing up liquid or some other solution used to ease the cables during wiring. Many electricians used to use this to ease the wires through the conduit, whether it's a good idea or not is debatable. While it's messy so far as I am aware no one has had a fault as a result of this. The only thing is, over time it may turn black, but it's harmless. The give away on this is, it's on every light switch.

Scoby_Beasley · 28 Jun 2003

I agree loftus, ring main 2" up from skirting no prob. Light switches 3' from ceiling, hard work.
I was told to use fairy, you can do soooooo many more wires with one bottle !!!!

(Or was it pigs, am I on the right web site ????!!!!)

breezer · 29 Jun 2003

my question to thatis why only the earth wires, and there is no conduit mentioned (which is why you may use washing up liquid.

are the cables to your sockets in conduit?

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Green sticky goo in light switches

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