Any electricians here today?

9 years ago

We've got an odd problem.

Two years ago we put on an addition to our house and had a licensed electrician do all the wiring so it would all be done right and to code. We thought we might want to add a pergola over the back porch at some time, so we had him put in the wiring for it with a switch inside and an outlet in the soffit just outside the door.

We've never used that outlet until this year when I decided to put Christmas lights, C9 LEDs, around back and plugged them into that outlet. When I turned off the switch inside, the bulbs were still glowing - not as bright as when the switch was on, but not off either.

When the electrician was wiring the switches by the back door, there is a one-way for the porch light, a three-way for the kitchen lights, the one-way for this outlet, and a one-way sliding dimmer for the dining light. I bought all the switches and outlets before he came and for the three-way, I bought a lighted switch so I could find it when I walked in the dark house. But when it came time to wire that one, he couldn't find it so used a non-lighted one he had with him.

However, the one-way switch to this outside outlet has a light in it, and the only lighted switch I bought was for the three-way. So, could he have accidently wired the three way to that outlet, and if so, would it make the Christmas lights dim but not go out when the switch is turned off?

Or is it something else entirely?

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Comments (6)

greg_2010
9 years ago
The way the pilot light works is that the switch lets a tiny little amount of electricity pass through it when the switch is off. It lights up the switch, but isn't enough to light up an incandescent bulb.
However, it is enough to light up LEDs a little bit.

You've found your missing lighted three-way.

I'm guessing that if you unplug your LEDs, then the switch's pilot light also goes out.

This post was edited by greg_2010 on Tue, Dec 9, 14 at 13:18
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
why not call back the guy who did the job... to see what he has to say ...

an honest man.. will fix it pronto ... mistakes happen ...

an dishonest one.. will want to charge you .. hit the road jack

ken
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
why not call back the guy who did the job... to see what he has to say ...

an honest man.. will fix it pronto ... mistakes happen ...

an dishonest one.. will want to charge you .. hit the road jack

ken
btharmy
9 years ago
It is easy enough to find out if he used a 3 way for the outside lights. As long as they are not decora type, single pole toggle switches have on and off on them. 3 way switches do not.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes, they are the decora type. The electrian was a neighbor of ours who went to work for a big company and moved. So no calling him back. I took the plate off and compared that switch to others in the house and it looks like a single so it's probably just the fact that it's a lighted switch. Not a big deal to change that out except that it's a 4 gang box and crowded.
greg_2010
9 years ago
I bought all the switches and outlets before he came and for the three-way, I bought a lighted switch so I could find it when I walked in the dark house. But when it came time to wire that one, he couldn't find it so used a non-lighted one he had with him.

I'm guessing that you accidentally bought a regular lighted switch instead of a 3-way, which is why he couldn't find a 3-way.