I installing a new light switch and it sparks every time I turn it off?
I installed a new 15 amp light switch in my garage. Its just hooked to a 150watt outdoor flood. Every time I turn the switch off there is a bright blue spark. What could I have done wrong? Should I upgrade to 20amp. By the way this house has really old wiring and there is no ground in the electrical box. Could that be my problem? Please help.
9 Responses
hghjsln
15 Mar 2010
fordman
15 Mar 2010
You may want to try another light switch. 15 amps should be ok since you’ll only be pulling a little over 1 amp with the light bulb.
daffyduct2006
15 Mar 2010
You’re fine with 15 amps.Double check your connections for tightness. Also if you have a metal box with metal conduit, ground the switch to the box. Or you may simply have a defective switch, try a new one. If it gives you peace of mind and you do decide to get another, it won’t hurt to use a 20 amp.
D M
15 Mar 2010
make sure the wires are tight on the switch.and add a ground wire this is done easy enough just pound an iron rod about 18" into the ground and hook your ground wire to it. you switch is big enough
lawjaq
15 Mar 2010
It sounds like you may have a defective light switch. I would install a rocker switch, it is less likely to cause a spark. You have to be wary of sparks in an area where you park vehicles or other equipment that could cause gas fumes .
extremsprots?
15 Mar 2010
seems you answered your querstion install two good grounds also im pretty sure all the gruonds in your box need to be tighned fix it now beror u burn it down or kill someone with un grounded juice , do not go up in breaker size your not understanding how the breaker works the breaker trips do to over load check to see exactly wr the spark is at u might have somthing loose it a wire might be tiouching slightly behind wr u instaled the new switch
tom c
15 Mar 2010
call an electrician before you burn the house down
Dav
15 Mar 2010
The ground is what the white wires are attached to. Your circuit-breaker box needs to have a ground bar in the box and a grounding rod going into the ground outside of your house. If you don’t have a ground rod, it is time to install one. If your box does not have a ground bar to attach the wire from the ground rod to, it is time to replace your electrical box.
If your light switch box does not have a ground wire, then it is time to run a new wire, make sure everything is connected properly, and is properly grounded. White wire goes to the silver colored screw on the switch, back wire goes to the copper colored screw, and ground wire goes to the green screw. Make sure that you don’t have your wires reversed.
Dave
15 Mar 2010
Make sure the wires are installed fully under the screws on the switch, and the screws are tight. Make sure you did not strip too much insulation off of the conductors at the switch – do not have any bare copper showing (the only bare copper should be under the screw head). If the spark still happens after that, replace the switch. You do not need a 20 amp switch for a 150 watt lamp.
Do not start playing with grounds; call a licensed electrician for that. If a ground rod is recommended, it is to be minimum 5/8" diameter, and minimum 8 feet long. The service entrance equipment is to be grounded to the ground rod – not the individual switches and other devices.
HAVING NO GROUND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SYMPTOMS YOU HAVE. YOU MAY WANT TO TRY A DIFFERENT BRAND SWITCH SO THAT THE SPARK IS NOT SO VISIBLE THROUGH THE PLASTIC.