gerry
Member
- Location
- New Jersey
Any ideas of what would cause 65 volts to be present at a light fixture connected to three ways , when the three ways are off. Is it normal to have leakage,if so what is allowed.Thanks for any infor.
3 way switches
- Thread starter gerry
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
Re: 3 way switches
Its on or off. Try disconnecting the lamp then measuring. What type of fixture is it?
Its on or off. Try disconnecting the lamp then measuring. What type of fixture is it?
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: 3 way switches
You say 65 volts with the 3 ways off, if so the lamp should be still glowing some, or are you mesuring the 65 volts with a digital meter with out the lamp conected.
You say 65 volts with the 3 ways off, if so the lamp should be still glowing some, or are you mesuring the 65 volts with a digital meter with out the lamp conected.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: 3 way switches
If you are using a digital voltmeter, are you certain that the reading is not 65 millivolts (mv)? It would not be strange to see a stray voltage of 65mv, nor would it be a problem.
If it really is 65 V, then (1) Where are you taking your measurements (between what and what), and (2) How do you know that the 3-ways are "off"?
If you are using a digital voltmeter, are you certain that the reading is not 65 millivolts (mv)? It would not be strange to see a stray voltage of 65mv, nor would it be a problem.
If it really is 65 V, then (1) Where are you taking your measurements (between what and what), and (2) How do you know that the 3-ways are "off"?
dellphinus
Member
- Location
- Southern Illinois, USA
Re: 3 way switches
A digital meter is sensitive enough that capacitive coupling between the one "hot" wire and a traveller can make it read that high. If the run is long enough (30 feet or so), you can get enough coupling to fire a neon test lamp. Place a small load across your meter leads and it should go away.
jeff clarke
New member
Re: 3 way switches
Similar to sparkyoh, I had an open neutral that produced 94 volts. Not enough to light a bulb(designed to produce energy at 120 volts) but enough to show up on an inductive voltage tester. With weird/low voltage problems it always pays to check for open neutrals.
Similar to sparkyoh, I had an open neutral that produced 94 volts. Not enough to light a bulb(designed to produce energy at 120 volts) but enough to show up on an inductive voltage tester. With weird/low voltage problems it always pays to check for open neutrals.
big john
Senior Member
- Location
- Portland, ME
Re: 3 way switches
Disconnect the hot conductor to the fixture, open up the last switch before the fixture and test for voltage to ground on the switched common. If you have 65 volts to ground when the light should be off, you'll know your problem is somewhere before the fixture.
However, if everything checks out beautifully before the fixture, then start looking for neutral conductor troubles.
-John
[ November 17, 2003, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: big john ]
Disconnect the hot conductor to the fixture, open up the last switch before the fixture and test for voltage to ground on the switched common. If you have 65 volts to ground when the light should be off, you'll know your problem is somewhere before the fixture.
However, if everything checks out beautifully before the fixture, then start looking for neutral conductor troubles.
-John
[ November 17, 2003, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: big john ]
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