Current Bleed on a 3 way circuit???

[Limited-Time]

Went to change the ballast on a light controlled by 2 switches. With the light switches in the off position I still had enough current passing through to give me a small shock :^:^when I touched the bare wires. This does not seem right to me. Seems if the light is off there should on power to the lines. Am I wrong or do I have a problem???

 

[llfish]

Re: Current Bleed on a 3 way circuit???

There should be a hot wire running between the two switches. Is this the wire you are talking about?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Current Bleed on a 3 way circuit???

Not a problem......

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Current Bleed on a 3 way circuit???

There should be a hot wire running between the two switches. Is this the wire you are talking about?

No the wires I am referring to are the hot and neutral supplying the light fixture it's self.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Current Bleed on a 3 way circuit???

There probably was some current stored in the capacitors of the ballast, esp. if it's an electronic ballast...

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Current Bleed on a 3 way circuit???

There probably was some current stored in the capacitors of the ballast, esp. if it's an electronic ballast...

At first I figured that too..............But a test light across the lines indicates the presents of some amount of current.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Current Bleed on a 3 way circuit???

sounds like bad switch

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Current Bleed on a 3 way circuit???

With the light switches in the off position I still had enough current passing through to give me a small shock :^:^

This is why we have circuit breakers.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Current Bleed on a 3 way circuit???

If the switches are the "Illuminated" or "Dimmable" type, there is a small current path. If they are the standard 3-way variety, there should be no current path UNLESS the Neutral is crossed with the hot wire.

IF your system has a ground, look for Line voltage from the white wire to ground. There should be none or at worst, no more than 5 volts. Do the same for the hot wire. There should be line voltage with the switch on and none when it is off.
If your system doesn't have a ground conductor or shield (BX) then make these measurements to some other ground (Like the water pipe.).