3 way switch controlling light - acting odd.

[nbpt100]

I have a dimable LED light bulb on a 3 way switches. While the light is off it actually has a slight glow to it. I never noticed untill the other day as the globe mostly blocks a direct view of the bulb. I unscrewed the bulb and it does goes black. I thought one of the switches is leaking voltage. One switch is a 3 way push on/off rotary dimmer. The other is a 3 way toggle.. When I hold the toggle switch in the mid positon the bulb dims but still has some glow. Just not as bright. I started by changing out the toggle and nothing changed. I next replaced the rotary dimmer 3 way switch. Again nothing changed. What is going on? No one has messed with the wiring. It has been like this since the addition was put on 30 yrs ago.

 

[Terry D]

What did you replace the dimmer with, a dimmer or switch?. Are the 3 way switches lighted

 

[nbpt100]

What did you replace the dimmer with, a dimmer or switch?. Are the 3 way switches lighted

I replaced it with a new 3 way dimmer switch. Exactly what was there. None of the switches are lighted.

 

[Mr_fixit]

you probably replaced it with an incandescent dimmer (designed only for incandescent bulbs) If you want to dim an led bulb , you need the proper led dimmer.

or the bulb isn't compatible with the dimmer you have.

 

[Terry D]

The dimmer and lamps are not compatible

 

[nbpt100]

you probably replaced it with an incandescent dimmer (designed only for incandescent bulbs) If you want to dim an led bulb , you need the proper led dimmer.

or the bulb isn't compatible with the dimmer you have.

OK. I believe the dimmer said compatable with LED bulbs. I am not sure if that means most LED bulbs or ALL. (Maybe marketing hype. ) How does the bulb matter in this case? There should be no voltage to power anything there when they are switched in the off position. Please explain if I am wrong. Thanks.

 

[cybrdyke]

You have a tiny amount of voltage present at the socket, most likely from a neutral wire, but no way for us to know for sure. It is large enough to make the diodes come on, but not enough to make the incandescent glow. It's fairly common. Unless it drives you crazy, I wouldn't worry about it.
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[Mr_fixit]

If it's not an led dimmer, you need one. If it is it's stamped in the aluminum part of the switch. If it is, try different led bulbs. If it's not a dimmable bulb, try one of those.

Or could be a ****** dimmer. if it costs less than 10 bucks, you might need to install a $20..00 one...? and there's phantom voltage (or ghost voltage) for 3 way wiring, I don't quite understand it... I now use Lutron dimmers and haven't had any problems.

here's an article about led lights lighting when they're not supposed to: https://lamphq.com/led-lights-glow/

 

[nbpt100]

If it's not an led dimmer, you need one. If it is it's stamped in the aluminum part of the switch. If it is, try different led bulbs. If it's not a dimmable bulb, try one of those.

Or could be a ****** dimmer. if it costs less than 10 bucks, you might need to install a $20..00 one...? and there's phantom voltage (or ghost voltage) for 3 way wiring, I don't quite understand it... I now use Lutron dimmers and haven't had any problems.

here's an article about led lights lighting when they're not supposed to: https://lamphq.com/led-lights-glow/

thanks for that link. I will have to read it tonight when I have some time. I did measure the voltage in the light socket when it is off and I got about 45 volts. To me that sounds like a non bulb issue. Souldn't that be 0 or very close to it? It is a new LED compatable dimmer. I got it at HD and I think they sell Lutron. It was not a fancy one. I can not honestly recall the brand and the box is long gone.

 

[Viper98912]

I didn't think that those simple rotary dimmers worked with LED's. I only remember seeing the 'fancier' ones that have a huge circuit on the inside work with LED's.

 

[nadogail]

Looks like a hardware problem, try an LED dimmer.