arching switches

[rcantrell]

On tues inspection I walked in the living room turned on the lights and noticed one that delayed coming on. Switched them on a couple of times and while doing this I heard an arching sound in the switch. Then smelled burning. Went to other switch that controls same of lights and it done same thing. The lights were five in a ceiling fan and one bulb was a flouresant bulb. It was the one that had a delay. Now I wrote it up but now just trying to figure out why arching. Thought maybe loose wire but not on both switches. Any ideas. The home is 8ys old.

[Greg Fretwell]

cheap switches?

[Ian Gills]

This happened in my basement. You will probably find that the sound is coming from a loose wiring connection, probably connecting the fan/lamp i.e. not the switches.

But as a first check, make sure the bulbs are screwed in properly. A loose bulb will also make this sound.

It can be hard to tell where the tzzz is coming from.

I removed my lamp for inspection and the hot wire just fell off the terminal. Could have been a fire waiting to happen.