Topic 'Light switch needs to be wiggled but...' in forum 'Home Improvement' - dslreports.com

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:30:37 EDT

garys_2k posted : Yeah, the connection gets loose and can fall out or arc, possibly scorching the wire or switch body. MUCH better to use the screws.

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:38:23 EDT

shdesigns posted :

said by bbear2:

Opps no. Since it was plugged in with the quick connect I kept it that way. Are those things really that bad? If so, why do they even make them?

They are bad on the real cheap ones.

The old (mid '70s) $3.50 switches i have, you can't get the wires back out. Only way is to cut them off.

New ones, they come out easily without even pressing the release tab. The originals were fine, the Chinese copies don't have proper design to be reliable.
--
Scott Henion

Embedded Systems Consultant,
SHDesigns home - DIY Welder

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:28:39 EDT

bbear2 posted : Opps no. Since it was plugged in with the quick connect I kept it that way. Are those things really that bad? If so, why do they even make them?

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:04:59 EDT

garys_2k posted : I hope you used the screw terminals to wire it in.

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:42:59 EDT

bbear2 posted : Thanks for all the replies. Replaced it with a $.59 switch for now and all is well.

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 22:54:29 EDT

tp0d posted : here ya go..

cheap

»www.lowes.com/pd_246990-1571-660···_price|0

relatively cheap, and quality...

»www.lowes.com/pd_207301-1571-CS1···_price|0

look at specs, and overall size.

whats 1.30 extra for something you use everyday?

hell, mebe i`m off on this, dunno if the 'house electrician' can weigh in.. i`m just a plumber.

-j
--
if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!)

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:58:52 EDT

garys_2k posted :

said by cybersaga:

I like the backstab ones that are held in place by the screw rather than a spring. It's the best of both worlds. I've only seen them on GFCI outlets, but apparently they're on "industrial grade" outlets too: »www.handymanhowto.com/2011/01/17···ck-wire/

Technically called backwire, totally good. Backstab, where spring pressure hold the wire, is not reliable long term.

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:09:23 EDT

cybersaga posted : I like the backstab ones that are held in place by the screw rather than a spring. It's the best of both worlds. I've only seen them on GFCI outlets, but apparently they're on "industrial grade" outlets too: »www.handymanhowto.com/2011/01/17···ck-wire/

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 05:01:49 EDT

rfhar posted : If you had to tighten a screw to hold the wire it is a good one.

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:21:38 EDT

bbear2 posted : ok, so what is the difference between the two and how do I know which I'm buying? Is it purely on price? I saw one on Amazon for $1.10 and don't have a clue as to which that is.

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:17:37 EDT

tp0d posted : If its a switch thats used often, pony up and put in the 2$ switch instead of the .59c one.. there -is- a difference.

-j
--
if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!)

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:55:21 EDT

garys_2k posted : It would be better to not use ANY of the backstab holes and use the screws on the sides of the switch, instead. Backstabs don't hold up well over time.

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:59:48 EDT

Bamafan2277 posted : I prefer the newer rocker switches compaired to the old style. The house I am having built will use nothing but the new rocker switches.

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:20:48 EDT

cybersaga posted : It's not just you; it's reality :)

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:17:32 EDT

bbear2 posted : Thanks for all the replies. The switch was wired correctly with the proper holes used. Due to the comments about cracking and fire I've gone and replaced the switch. FYI, it also seem to be getting worse now, happening more than only first time in the morning, which is another reason I was motivated to change it sooner than later.

Is it just me or do new switches always feel so much nicer?

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:36:54 EDT

Mr Matt posted : Turn off power to circuit feeding switch. Pull the switch out of the handybox and check to see if the wires are inserted in the back stab holes. If they are check to see if the electrician put the wires in the wrong holes. I had one switch that behaved like your switch does and it turned out that the electrician inserted the wires in the holes that are used to release the back stabbed connections and there were no wires in the correct holes. Fortunately the switch controlled a 60 Watt ceiling light, if it was a high current device I could have had an electrical fire in the outlet box.

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:47:15 EDT

Bamafan2277 posted : new switch for sure. if you are hearing crackling that is potential sparks that could spark a fire in your wall.

Re: Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:09:34 EDT

Raphion posted : Probably thermal effects, it could be colder inside the wall in the morning than anytime during the day or evening.

The solution is a new switch, of course.

Light switch needs to be wiggled but...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 01:58:35 EDT

bbear2 posted : I have a ceiling fan with a light fixture that has 3 screw-in type CFLs. The fan and the light have separate pull switches but those are seldom used (fan is normally off, and light fixture is normally on). The light is controlled by a fairly new single pole wall switch.

The situation is such that in the morning, when I turn on the switch nothing happens until i wiggle it slightly from side to side (and I can hear a very tiny amount of crackling when I do). Then the light comes on normally and all is well throughout the day until the next morning. And this happens only for the first time in the morning, regardless of how long the light has been off - in that it never happens in the evening, etc.

Other than the first time in the morning the swtich seems to be fine and works as expected and without crackling or wiggling. Any ideas as to what is going on?