Did a service call Owner said switch was warm. took out 60-70's erea swithch, found travler a little burnt screw a little loose, replaced switch checked out at both ends no problems worked fine. looked at something in basment and started home half way there got a call sparks from switch, went back I moved the swithc and pop!! took out switch could not get it to doit again cycled evey swithc in the room many times and nothing put swithc back in and cycled many times and nothing. any thoughts would be helpful. don't want to leve it somethings not right but I can't see it right now
3 ways that go pop in the night
- Thread starter wyatt
- Start date
- Status
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: 3 ways that go pop in the night
I would suspect bad switch and just change it to stop another trip.
I would suspect bad switch and just change it to stop another trip.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: 3 ways that go pop in the night
Both if it saves a call back.10 minutes or 1 hour ,your choice
Both if it saves a call back.10 minutes or 1 hour ,your choice
john m. caloggero
Senior Member
Re: 3 ways that go pop in the night
Replace both 3-ways and check the load on the load side of the switches to make sure that switch rating is not overloaded.
Replace both 3-ways and check the load on the load side of the switches to make sure that switch rating is not overloaded.
busman
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern Virginia
- Occupation
- Master Electrician / Electrical Engineer
Re: 3 ways that go pop in the night
If this is a metal box, it might be a nicked conductor or an overtighted connector. If the insulation is marginal, moving the switch just a little could cause an arc. Just a thought. Changing the switch would not fix this.
Mark
If this is a metal box, it might be a nicked conductor or an overtighted connector. If the insulation is marginal, moving the switch just a little could cause an arc. Just a thought. Changing the switch would not fix this.
Mark
davedottcom
Senior Member
Re: 3 ways that go pop in the night
If it was a Leviton Sw.(Residential series) that was made in the last year or so, try a Pass & Seymor or commercial grade Sw.
Leviton's latest yoke design is extremely poor. The contacts inside the sw. can become inoperable if the sw. is not installed very carefully. (The Terminal screws will cause the contacts to "open" when the screws are tightened)
Yours might be arcing?
I have recently been in touch with a Leviton Rep. and have explained the problem to him. He was very interested & said he had never heard of the problem until now. I have no idea if the problem has been resolved yet or not but I stopped using them because of the amount of defective ones I was finding.
Dave
If it was a Leviton Sw.(Residential series) that was made in the last year or so, try a Pass & Seymor or commercial grade Sw.
Leviton's latest yoke design is extremely poor. The contacts inside the sw. can become inoperable if the sw. is not installed very carefully. (The Terminal screws will cause the contacts to "open" when the screws are tightened)
Yours might be arcing?
I have recently been in touch with a Leviton Rep. and have explained the problem to him. He was very interested & said he had never heard of the problem until now. I have no idea if the problem has been resolved yet or not but I stopped using them because of the amount of defective ones I was finding.
Dave
davedottcom
Senior Member
Re: 3 ways that go pop in the night
Accidently posted that twice! :roll:
[ November 11, 2005, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: davedottcom ]
Accidently posted that twice! :roll:
[ November 11, 2005, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: davedottcom ]
jeff43222
Senior Member
- Location
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: 3 ways that go pop in the night
Dave's right. Go with Pass & Seymour. Far better design and quality.
Dave's right. Go with Pass & Seymour. Far better design and quality.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: 3 ways that go pop in the night
PS is good but even they have failures.Had 1 a couple weeks ago that was bad.Of all places was the one for the pig.They seem to find the hardest places to go bad at and know when your running out of time to finish.
PS is good but even they have failures.Had 1 a couple weeks ago that was bad.Of all places was the one for the pig.They seem to find the hardest places to go bad at and know when your running out of time to finish.
Re: 3 ways that go pop in the night
as for the load it was 1.2A and yes it was a meatl box but I did not se any thing touching. it poped like a short but did not trip the breaker. took out swithc and could not get it to repeat with every switch combantion in the room I could think of. put the switch back and still no repeat.
as for the load it was 1.2A and yes it was a meatl box but I did not se any thing touching. it poped like a short but did not trip the breaker. took out swithc and could not get it to repeat with every switch combantion in the room I could think of. put the switch back and still no repeat.
- Status