Originally Posted By: bsmith
ok, so way off topic.

my electrician says to just replace the unit. an electrical switch is either on or off.

i then plugged a strand of old-fashioneds into the timer and ran through a cycle overnight. they were not glowing in the am.

i purchased a new manual timer. plugged in the strands of leds. came on at the designated time, apparently went off at the designated time, and were not "glowing" at 0500.

the "glowing" was eerie, but not sure how safe it was.

any thoughts?


Normally an electrical switch is "ON or OFF" and the electrician is correct. Now walk over to the wall and ever so slowly (really slow) turn ON or OFF a light switch and watch the bulb. See it dim and then flicker before going off? That is the switch just starting to break contact. Electricity is arcing across the contacts providing a poor circuit contact to ground. That is why you hear the crackling noise behind the switch.
Now then, quit playing with the light switch! Didn't your parents teach you that was bad on the bulb!!!
_________________________
I do the things that I must, and really regret, are unfortunately necessary.

RIP OBG