Florescent bulb flashes in a parallel circuit?

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

I've got a hallway light switch, an outside light switch, and an open space in the box at the front door. I want to fill that empty spot with an outlet. I have the hallway light in parallel with the outlet. I have a circular florescent light for the hallway light. If nothing is in the outlet then the light comes on just fine. If there is something plugged into the outlet (like a nightlight) the light will flash even though the switch is OFF! When I turn the hallway light ON then it's fine (it lights steady and bright). What gives?

House is in Oregon, built in 1968. I've never seen so many damn 3-way circuits in my life! I miss the electrical simplicity of our previous 1960 house

 

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Do I need to stick with an incandescent fixture? That setup works fine. Is there a 120v diode I should install??

 

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Okay, I have the incandescent light back in. I have a drop-light in the outlet. I turn the drop-light on and hallway light is off. Now, when I turn on the hallway light the drop-light turns off! If I turn the hallway light off the drop-light turns back on.

Aside from my original posting question, can someone explain this issue as well?

One point to note: Originally I did not have the circuit breaker off. I used my proximity current sensor and it did not flash/beep so no current was flowing through the wires according to it (light switch in the OFF position). When I held the ground wire and touched the hot (black) wire I felt electricity! It wasn't much but I know what it feels like so I turned off the breaker. So I'm wondering if the power is going from the breaker to the light and THEN to the light switch? I'm used to the power going to the switch. What say y'all?

 

[Random Guy]

I think something may be wired very wrong. Either something is in series that shouldn't, or somewhere a hot and neutral may be reversed. Or something else could be wrong. I think I'd really have to see it and play with it to figure out what is going on.

 

[mrb]

might be a 'bootleg' 3 way, where the line to the lamp is switched between hot an neutral

 

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

might be a 'bootleg' 3 way, where the line to the lamp is switched between hot an neutral

?? Can you please explain (or show a diagram ) of what you mean?

The brother of the owner did a lot of the work on the house. Not a licensed contractor and no permits drawn. Groovy. So some creative wiring wouldn't surprise me