Understanding a Flickering Light
When we think about some common problems around the house, we don't often think about the small stuff: leaky faucets, long-term wood damage, or burnt-out light bulbs. But this "small stuff" is actually the exact kind of home repair that will consume most of your time unless you understand what they're caused by and how to fix it. At the head of this list of the "small stuff" around your house? The flickering light.
A flickering light seems like a simple problem, but it can come from a variety of causes. If you're going to understand your home electricity systems, you'll need to know just how and why these different causes effect the light, and what you can do to ensure a safe and proper repair. Let's take a look at some of these causes.
First, it's helpful to understand that it's relatively normal for a light to flicker, usually due to the nature of voltage traveling through wires - the flow won't always be stable, especially if there are other factors that are taking away "juice" from the circuit. This is why many homes are designed with two different types of circuits: larger main circuits for the appliances that will use up larger amounts of electricity, and secondary circuits for simpler devices like light bulbs. Today's modern homes have largely solved the problem of noticeable flickering due to inconsistent voltage flow.
It's important to remember that a flickering light isn't necessarily a harmless problem. Circuit connections that are broken can lead to heating at certain points in the circuit, which obviously can lead to injury or even fires. That's why you won't want to let your light flicker endlessly - at the very least, inspect the situation. A switch that is failing can also have the same problem - if you are unable to find the problem there is a possibility you have not inspected the light switch.
Some problems leading to flickering lights are less sinister. There might be electrical effects from outside electrical loads which can even come from neighboring houses.
Because a light is not simply a bulb, but the result of electrical wiring and circuitry that go into your home, understanding a flickering light is about more than understanding the bulb. You have to know the potential dangers of electrical wiring behind the scenes and what a flickering light might indicate. If you have any doubts, call in an electrician to fix the problem and answer your questions. You can at least learn some things about lights that you'll be able to use in the future.
Photo Credits: PetroleumJelliffe
Originally posted 2009-07-24 08:00:07.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 29, 2010 in
Electrician, How to Fix
Three Tips for Fixing a Lamp
When it comes to the type of lighting a lamp offers, we know that the mechanics working behind the scenes aren't exactly worthy of rocket science. But that doesn't mean someone who's inexperienced with electrical wiring and light fixtures will know what's happening inside a lamp, either. If you feel that it's time for you to take it into your own hands and fix a lamp, these three tips will help you safely and securely accomplish just that.
- Tip #1: Make sure the lamp is unplugged.
Sounds like common sense, right? Some people don't necessarily follow this tip. The lamp should be unplugged at all times when you're trying to repair it. This doesn't simply mean that it should be set to "off." It doesn't mean that the power going into the outlet powering the lamp is off, either. The plug should be out so that there is zero possibility of electricity going into the lamp before you work with it. This is the kind of silly lesson you don't want to learn the hard way, so do yourself a favor and make sure that you start at Tip #1 and unplug the lamp.
- Tip #2: Make sure you have the proper equipment.
There's only a limited variety of tools that you'll ever be using to repair a lamp, so making sure that you have them ready to go isn't a big challenge. With that said, however, you'll still want to know which tools to use should the need ever arise. Tools like screwdrivers and wire strippers, and materials like electrical tape often come in handy when you're fixing a lamp.
What will you use these tools for? Your screwdriver will be needed to loosen screws throughout the lamp, including the socket attachment. The socket can often be the source of problems with a lamp so this is a tool you'll want to make sure you have handy.
- Tip #3: Know your lamp.
The best thing you can do in order to repair a lamp is to know more about it. This isn't the type of situation where you necessarily want to go in poking around before you learn about how to fix the lamp. Instead, you'll want to make sure you know the relationship between the socket, wires, and bulb. Knowing how your lamp works will help you not only diagnose the problem with a broken lamp, but help you fix it when you decide to go in.
Fixing lamps doesn't have to be difficult - if you're smart and prepared, you can make sure that you don't have to buy a new one. Just make sure that you follow some basic safety rules before proceeding.
Photo Credits: Leonid Mamchenkov
Originally posted 2009-07-27 08:00:07.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 23, 2010 in
Electrician, How to Fix
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