Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

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Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

September 25, 2009, 12:13:53 PM

Ok, I have a double gang box in my kitchen with two switches in it. These switches are name-brand spec-grade, less than 3 years old (installed when the kitchen was remodeled). Each switch controlls one small ceiling light (one halogen, one cfl).

Last month, one light was flickering. I pulled the switch and found 120v going in but only 20v coming out. I replaced it and all was good. Now the other switch went out. Same symptom. 120v in, 20v out. Audible arcing sound inside switch. I replaced it too, and chalked it up to a bad bunch of switches. The next day, the oldest replacent switch went bad! Arcing sound too.

The question is- what caused these switches to go bad? Clues- Two different circuits, two different lights. The replacement switches were a different brand, and had the exact same problem. Hint- it's nothing to do with moisture, though it is on an outside wall.

Guess for a little bit, and I will provide the correct answer soon :)

Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

Reply #1 – September 25, 2009, 02:41:49 PM

im wondering if there is some kinda catch here we are supposed to figure out thats impossible to without being there.

only things i can thing of thats on an exterior wall(outside i mean) would be the main wire coming into the house, the meter or the grounding rod thing. im no electrician so im not even gonna bother to guess :finger:

Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

Reply #2 – September 25, 2009, 03:09:43 PM

LOL! Yeah, it is a bit of a trick question. I just wondered what kind of theories y'all would come up with. I know we have some real electrical geniuses around here.

Anyway, I'll go ahead and give the answer.

ANTS! Tiny little ants crawled into the switches and got in between the contacts and prevented the switch contacts from closing (thus being charred to death in the process). Here's some pics for your entertainment.

Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

Reply #3 – September 25, 2009, 08:25:36 PM

i am putting these pics up at work. with your permission that is.

nice training tool.

Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

Reply #4 – September 25, 2009, 08:31:42 PM

Wait til ya see what happens when the contacts don't close good on a 4000A breaker. It usually involves a LOT of magic blue smoke.

Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

Reply #5 – September 25, 2009, 08:38:41 PM

Hmmmm... Looks like you have a worse problem then switches going bad. LOL

if there's ants in the switches, moisture might still be your problem, since they are attracted to it, or near it to nest.
They like outside outlets the best.

Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

Reply #6 – September 25, 2009, 08:53:17 PM

Quote from: CoogarXR;292588

LOL! Yeah, it is a bit of a trick question. I just wondered what kind of theories y'all would come up with. I know we have some real electrical geniuses around here.

Anyway, I'll go ahead and give the answer.

ANTS! Tiny little ants crawled into the switches and got in between the contacts and prevented the switch contacts from closing (thus being charred to death in the process). Here's some pics for your entertainment.

"light switch",,
not "Switch Gear":flip:

Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

Reply #7 – September 25, 2009, 11:47:13 PM

im glad i didnt guess because that wasnt even on the map for me

dont feel bad though ive changed switches and outlets in some peoples homes with gross insects(roaches and bedbugs) jammed in them, never found ants in one though. those look pretty big too.
some things have no buisness being anywhere near that kind of stuff imo.

Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

Reply #8 – September 26, 2009, 11:12:32 AM

Quote from: jcassity;292619

i am putting these pics up at work. with your permission that is.

nice training tool.

Permission Granted :)

I figured you guys would find these pics interesting. It's not something you see every day.

Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

Reply #9 – September 26, 2009, 12:21:36 PM

I'm still curious what attracted them to go in there to start with. There's NOTHING organic in there, and if there's one thing I know about ants, they don't eat anything that isn't organic. Have to wonder if the contacts were buzzing or humming, and that attracted them? That's just too weird. And there's no siginficant ants present when you take the cover off?

Electrical mystery- Can you guess the answer?

Reply #10 – September 26, 2009, 01:24:31 PM

Nope, when I take the switch plate off, there are zero ants in the box. I have an ant problem in the kitchen though. These ants are wierd, they do seem to roam aimlessly and build nests in the oddest places.

For instance- I have the same ants in my shed (these ants are EVERYWHERE in my neighborhood, everybody complains about them). I had a stack of about 15 license plates. They turned it into a giant ant condo! The plates were stuck together with ant goop and probably 50,000 ants came pouring out when I started messing with it. Brake cleaner took care of them.

But, why the shed? There's nothing but tools in there, no food.

Why the light switch? Got me. These ants are aweful. I think they want to burn down my house, heh.