I have several Decora Lighted Switches in the house. All work fine without any flicker. However, this afternoon, I tried installed some CREE 65W Replacement BR30 Bulbs in some of my recessed cans. Up unti now, I had 50W Halogen Par Bulbs and never did the lighted switch flicker. Now when the switch is in the OFF position, it flickers. Why? It did not do this when I had the 50W Halogen bulbs in the fixtures.
Not 100% sure but I suspect the LED replacements exhibit a significantly higher impedance when off, unlike incandescent and halogen.
If you have multiple cans controlled by one switch, try changing all but one to LED and likely there will be no flicker at the lighted switch.
If you leave at least one halogen on the circuit and it still flickers, be sure to comment here and I'll research further.
SOURCE: I have a hampton bay ceiling fan. I put cfl bulbs
The problem is that the CFL lamps, once they are lit, will stay energized by a very low level of current, and the remote obviously is not what we would call a positive off device .. if you use the wall switch and then go back to the remote in the off position , do the lights come on flickering again? You could try another brand of remote.
SOURCE: Have 3- 13 watt mini spiral bulbs on fixture. When
-Replace the compact florescent bulbs with regular incandescent bulbs and see if problem continues.
-Lighting controls are made for different kinds of bulbs.
-Your package should say what the watt rating and type of bulb.
According to the PR180 manual:
-I am looking at the Leviton PR180 occupancy sensor manual, and the PR180 sell-sheet, and these documents say for incandescent and fluorescent (rapid-start magnetic ballast only).
-Compact fluorescent are supposed to have a magnetic ballast.
-The manual does not specifically say it works with 'compact fluorescent'
-The manual does not say there is a minimum amount of wattage either. Some controls will not work correctly if the overall wattage is low. Your overall wattage is 39watts.
Read the product package (if this is a new installation and you have the package)
Try the incandescent bulbs.
If the PR180 is not your product, add a comment with product number and I'll look for information
SOURCE: new Leviton 'lighted, decorative' switch flickers when off
Personally, I've had no practical problem using the standard lighted switches with CFL bulbs but I am willing to put up with the flicker as the switches are in an unimportant area. The reason why they flicker is each CFL bulb has an electronic circuit in the ceramic base so you don't have to install a balast circuit in every lamp and fixture in your home. This is also why they cost more. You are basically throwing away a complete flouresent light fixture when you change these bulbs. Anyway, the reason the switches flicker is that there is a capasitor in the circuit that keeps charging and discharging through the little neon bulb in the switch. I had a CFL bug light on my back porch and when I was outside looking at the stars at night, I kept seeing something out of the corner of my eye. I stared at the bug light for a while and it was flashing every few minutes as the high voltage circuit in the bulb would charge to it's ignition threshold then fire the bulb and start the cycle all over again.
Good luck.
Jeff
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