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BennyLee

DIY
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House is under two years old. Builder grade fixture would strobe faintly and intermittently. I replaced it with a ceiling fan with a light kit. Fan and light are on different switches. Light still has a faint strobe that lasts for 2-3 seconds about every 20-30 minutes. The same as the builder grade fixture. I replaced the switch and still have the strobe effect. I replaced the bulbs and still have the strobe. Strobe occurs regardless of the fan on or off, a/c on or off, middle of the night, middle of the day. It happens in winter, summer, fall, and spring. I've attached a video. It is very faint and barely visible on my phone. I'm not sure what type of quality will be seen after the upload. Can recommend my next troubleshooting step? Should I remove the panel cover and try tightening the breaker screw? Any help would be appreciated.
 

Attachments

  • VID_20210421_124943655~2.mp4
    30 MB
The strobing is not really translating in the video too well, also it can be difficult to record such effect unless they are very pronounced, there could be a multitude of reasons for this from network transients ( voltage ripple etc) to something within the property like a loose connection within the lighting circuit or a device that is creating the power ripples.
You can narrow thing down by selectively turning circuits off, you can contact neighbours and seeing if they a similar issue, note here that you close neighbours may be fine but a few doors up has the same issue, this is down to how they distribute the 3 phase equally across the houses.

I would try to do some investigation first, plug a standing or table lamp in ideally with a filament lamp in and see it it also does it, this would suggest it effects multiple/all circuits, LED lamps or other more modern lighting often have inbuilt electronics that can eliminate these voltage ripples so don't rely on them for investigation.

Have you experienced any other issues, are you located close to industrial or heavy commercial? Do you have overhead supply or underground incoming.... just a few questions to get the ball rolling.
 
The strobing is not really translating in the video too well, also it can be difficult to record such effect unless they are very pronounced, there could be a multitude of reasons for this from network transients ( voltage ripple etc) to something within the property like a loose connection within the lighting circuit or a device that is creating the power ripples.
You can narrow thing down by selectively turning circuits off, you can contact neighbours and seeing if they a similar issue, note here that you close neighbours may be fine but a few doors up has the same issue, this is down to how they distribute the 3 phase equally across the houses.

I would try to do some investigation first, plug a standing or table lamp in ideally with a filament lamp in and see it it also does it, this would suggest it effects multiple/all circuits, LED lamps or other more modern lighting often have inbuilt electronics that can eliminate these voltage ripples so don't rely on them for investigation.

Have you experienced any other issues, are you located close to industrial or heavy commercial? Do you have overhead supply or underground incoming.... just a few questions to get the ball rolling.
This problem only occurs at this ceiling fan. Currently bulbs are LED. There are 3 other rooms on the second floor. All of which have the same builder grade fixture that was replaced with this ceiling fan. The problem does not occur on the first floor or anywhere else in the house. I am in a master planned community with underground service. There are no industrial or even commercial buildings near me. I've spoke with a few neighbors and no others have noticed any flickering. I had thought that it was due to the original fixture and that it would be eliminated by replacing the fixture with a ceiling. I was surprised when it continued.
 
Sounds very localised to the fitting then, what kind of lamps does it use if you know, could be cheap electronics in control gear or lamp or a loose connection, the nature of the lamp may mean it is more noticeable at this one fitting and not others too so don't dispel a broader issue.
 
Sounds very localised to the fitting then, what kind of lamps does it use if you know, could be cheap electronics in control gear or lamp or a loose connection.
It's $110 hampton bay fan from the big box store. It came with the bulbs. Maybe I should invest in new or you gave me an idea. If it's loose somewhere in the circuit I should go through and test and tighten all the outlets within the circuit. I changed the light switch but it didn't help. Maybe one of the outlets are loose.
 
This problem only occurs at this ceiling fan. Currently bulbs are LED. There are 3 other rooms on the second floor. All of which have the same builder grade fixture that was replaced with this ceiling fan. The problem does not occur on the first floor or anywhere else in the house. I am in a master planned community with underground service. There are no industrial or even commercial buildings near me. I've spoke with a few neighbors and no others have noticed any flickering. I had thought that it was due to the original fixture and that it would be eliminated by replacing the fixture with a ceiling. I was surprised when it continued.
Benny since it only happens in the box with your wires it sounds like you have a loose connection on your neutral. Could be in that box or if possibly the last device on that circuit be down stream from you box
 
Heads up...some fittings are sensitive to electronic equipment like DAB radio etc, I met someone today where the REP told the customer that the fittings can flicker when your using other electronic goods...imho those fittings are not worth $^%#$^^##
 
Benny since it only happens in the box with your wires it sounds like you have a loose connection on your neutral. Could be in that box or if possibly the last device on that circuit be down stream from you box
I agree. I thought possibly it was the connection at the box but when I changed the fixture everything seemed in tact but the new fixture flickers, too. I will have to try and run down the circuit and see if I can determine where the loose connection is. If I remember correctly there's no other connection running out of the fan box so I believe it's the end of the line.
 

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