Energy saving bulbs question flicker when off?

Question

On one of my lamps in the living room I have a envision swirly energy saving 60w (daylight) bulb but when the light is off (by lightswtich) the light flickers very very lightly every 5 seconds is

my outlet bad or do all of this kind of light do this? I just noticed it today.

http://www.residential-landscape-lighting-design.com/store/images/MINI.jpg

The switch for this light is on a wall..... and the switch has a light when the light is off so I can see the switch when it is dark. if that makes any sense pic below

http://cache.smarthome.com/images/4246i.jpg

Answer 1

The switch allows a little leakage current to go to the bulb.  That current is enough to charge the filter capacitors in the electronics and let it attempt to start every few seconds.

If you want to stop the bulb from doing this, put a very small incandescent bulb (even 1 watt should do) on the same outlet as the lamp.  That will create a lower resistance path for the switch's leakage current and not allow enough voltage to build up to trigger the CF bulb.

No, it's not a fire hazard.  Not enough energy passes the switch to heat anything appreciably.  However, if you have a Lights of America 3-way circle-tube lamp, it may explode all by itself (I have one which self-destructed with a bang AFTER it was turned off - the ballast, not the lamp tube).

Answer 2

just trouble shoot to see what is wrong. maybe it is the bulb. could be the socket too.

Answer 3

the buldb is probally going dead it might be a warning

you could also try pluging it in another outlet

i have the same bulbs but that has never happened to me

good luck

Answer 4

try a different outlet first, sounds like  you got a back fed outlet almost. (using the neutral wire to actually power the light) If it still does it, what type of light? might be the bellist *yeah i kno spelling* or just a cold room, if it stops flickering after the lights been on in a while, its just the bulb warming up.

Answer 5

The lighted switch used the bulb to produce the current to light the switch. If you take the bulb out of the light the switch won't light.

The current passes through the bulb at a low rate which would not light a standard incandescent, but the ballast of the fluorescent builds up the charge and causes the bulb to glow faintly. Static electricity from a nearby television can also cause a fluorescent bulb to glow.