Voltage on led lighting circuit

[John165]

We just finished a job, large metal garage, & were checking voltage, when something interesting happened. With the lights on the voltage was 124.6v, with the lights off it was 120.8v. The only thing I can think of is the drivers back feeding or something like it. Is this a common or is there something wrong? We have about 1600 watts on the circuit, the other leg is unaffected. Thanks, John

 

[LarryFine]

My first guess would be a neutral issue, which you basically addressed.

Does switching the unaffected line's load affect this line's voltage?

 

[retirede]

Try a different meter. Maybe the LED circuitry is putting out some higher frequency noise that is affecting your meter.

 

[herding_cats]

LEDs offer TONS of noise, reactive power, weird harmonics from rectified drivers that do weird things to voltage. Who knows?

I would be really interested to see this with a line reactor installed and see what the readings are. Something really common right now is ECM blower fans in homes causes some flickering. We are recommending line reactors on the indoor HVAC unit. It has already worked in one instance. In the other it did nothing. ???

 

[ptonsparky]

LEDs offer TONS of noise, reactive power, weird harmonics from rectified drivers that do weird things to voltage. Who knows?

I would be really interested to see this with a line reactor installed and see what the readings are. Something really common right now is ECM blower fans in homes causes some flickering. We are recommending line reactors on the indoor HVAC unit. It has already worked in one instance. In the other it did nothing. ???

Different mfgs?

 

[herding_cats]

Different mfgs?

Probably. Reddit r/askelectricians has a lot of these posts on flickering LED, and the "ghost power" issues where the light switch is off, and the LED still glows just slightly.

 

[ptonsparky]

Probably. Reddit r/askelectricians has a lot of these posts on flickering LED, and the "ghost power" issues where the light switch is off, and the LED still glows just slightly.

I meant with the HVAC units and line reactors.

 

[herding_cats]

I meant with the HVAC units and line reactors.

?? What about them? I don't know exactly the issue. Throwing darts to fix issues. It worked in one instance.

 

[John165]

Tried switching circuits same thing. Found a burnt battery charger for the drills, so I'm going with Larry neutral issue. will go through it probably mon.

 

[fastline]

Tried switching circuits same thing. Found a burnt battery charger for the drills, so I'm going with Larry neutral issue. will go through it probably mon.

That took a minute to even understand what you typed. Obviously a neutral issue will be obvious between legs and neutral.

 

[James L]

Probably. Reddit r/askelectricians has a lot of these posts on flickering LED, and the "ghost power" issues where the light switch is off, and the LED still glows just slightly.

I had this happen on the house I lived in. All the neutrals were switched instead of the hots

 

[herding_cats]

I had this happen on the house I lived in. All the neutrals were switched instead of the hots

That’s how homes in Europe are wired. Lots of appliances too.