Flickering light socket

[RSKY]

In our kitchen we have three single bulb pendant light fixtures hanging over the sink. The one on the right flickers. Not bad but noticeable. I have swapped the left and right bulbs around thinking it was the LED bulb going bad. The new bulb in the right fixture flickers, and the one from the right that is now in the left does not. So I swapped them around again and put the center bulb in the right side and it flickers.

I am at a loss to solve this problem. Any ideas?

RSKY

 

[ponytug]

Have you checked the socket and fixture wiring? Usually, it is a loose wire, but I have seen a few sockets that cracked and weren't making a good connection.

All the best, Peter

 

[FullMetalBucket]

Do you have a dimmer on it, and if so rated for LED?

 

[EddieWalker]

Since you have confirmed that it's not the bulb, then it's in the fixture, or the switch. It's extremely rare for it to be the wire itself.

In my experience, it's fairly common for the wire to be cut just a little too much when stripping it to bare copper. Over time, that cut leads to a break that's barely held together and when you start looking for the problem, it comes apart.

I've also seen older switches crack on the back side and barely hold the metal parts together. Same with outlets. Whatever that hard, dark materials used to make them is, it sometimes just cracks for no reason over time.

On newer light switches, if they pushed the copper into the little hole on the back of the switch, it sometimes doesn't have a 100% connection. Using the screws on the side will solve this.

 

[ponytug]

FWIW: The hard black plastic material is usually some type of Bakelite, one of the very first plastics. It is often found in electrical gear do to its low conductivity and heat resistance.

Bakelite - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

All the best,

Peter

 

[repete]

When troubleshooting this, do not overlook the possibility of an open neutral as well.

 

[Runner]

Following. I have similar problem on a ceiling fan with three bulbs. One bulb won't stay on. I can flick it with my finger and it will come on and stay on for awhile, then go off again.

I've opened up the wiring, but can't find anything wrong. New bulb, same thing.

 

[ponytug]

Following. I have similar problem on a ceiling fan with three bulbs. One bulb won't stay on. I can flick it with my finger and it will come on and stay on for awhile, then go off again.

I've opened up the wiring, but can't find anything wrong. New bulb, same thing.

FWIW: I've seen sockets where the center button (hot) is just a tad short, and the bulb doesn't make good contact. I've also seen bulbs where the solder blob on the side of threads limited how far into the socket the bulb could thread.

All the best, Peter

 

[EarPlug]

Unlikely it is the switch or wiring. If it was then all of lights would flicker. My first guess is the socket center contact is corroded and/or loose. Or the wiring to that socket/

 

[RSKY]

I got really irritated and threw away all the bulbs. Put in three of a different brand and no flickering. ????????????

Only thing I can figure out is that the right socket is a little longer, as in thousands of an inch, and that brand of bulb is a little shorter.

Will watch and see over the next week. But so far about thirty hours and not a flicker.

I wish all my problems were as easily fixed as this.

RSKY