Lights are flickering on and off after accidentally bumping into light switch
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During the night, I accidentally bumped into my light switch, jamming it in towards itself. Now, the lights in my room will sometimes flicker on and off very quickly when after turning on the lights. My mother, who has no experience with electrical work, wants to unscrew the light switch cover and see what's going wrong. Is this safe? I'm suggesting that we call an electrician, but she wants to inspect it herself first.
electrical wiring lighting switch wire
asked 9 hours ago
JoséJosé
311
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During the night, I accidentally bumped into my light switch, jamming it in towards itself. Now, the lights in my room will sometimes flicker on and off very quickly when after turning on the lights. My mother, who has no experience with electrical work, wants to unscrew the light switch cover and see what's going wrong. Is this safe? I'm suggesting that we call an electrician, but she wants to inspect it herself first.
electrical wiring lighting switch wire
asked 9 hours ago
JoséJosé
311
New contributor
José is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
During the night, I accidentally bumped into my light switch, jamming it in towards itself. Now, the lights in my room will sometimes flicker on and off very quickly when after turning on the lights. My mother, who has no experience with electrical work, wants to unscrew the light switch cover and see what's going wrong. Is this safe? I'm suggesting that we call an electrician, but she wants to inspect it herself first.
electrical wiring lighting switch wire
asked 9 hours ago
JoséJosé
311
New contributor
José is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
During the night, I accidentally bumped into my light switch, jamming it in towards itself. Now, the lights in my room will sometimes flicker on and off very quickly when after turning on the lights. My mother, who has no experience with electrical work, wants to unscrew the light switch cover and see what's going wrong. Is this safe? I'm suggesting that we call an electrician, but she wants to inspect it herself first.
electrical wiring lighting switch wire
electrical wiring lighting switch wire
asked 9 hours ago
JoséJosé
311
New contributor
José is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 9 hours ago
JoséJosé
311
New contributor
José is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 9 hours ago
JoséJosé
311
New contributor
José is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 9 hours ago
JoséJosé
311
asked 9 hours ago
JoséJosé
311
311
New contributor
José is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
José is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
José is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Removing the cover to look at the switch is safe IF you first turn off power to the circuit at the breaker panel. If you aren't completely sure which circuit it is, then either turn them all off, or double-check with a multimeter or non-contact voltage detector.
However, most likely you will not be able to see what's wrong with the switch because the damage will be inside the plastic housing. Since basic light switches cost less than $1, I'd recommend just replacing it. It's a simple task that's easy to DIY. Here's one guide, or you can find a dozen others by googling how to change a light switch.
answered 8 hours ago
Nate StricklandNate Strickland
56610
8
Of all the advice you could provide, you began with the best. Something can go wrong, but no one gets hurt if the breaker is off.
– fred_dot_u
5 hours ago
1
It's possible that the connection wires are grounding off the housing box. Simply prying the switch back into it's correct place might work, or if the wires aren't secure in the screws, they can be tightened. But it's more likely that the switched needs replaced, if it's been hit so hard it's deformed.
– computercarguy
3 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Removing the cover to look at the switch is safe IF you first turn off power to the circuit at the breaker panel. If you aren't completely sure which circuit it is, then either turn them all off, or double-check with a multimeter or non-contact voltage detector.
However, most likely you will not be able to see what's wrong with the switch because the damage will be inside the plastic housing. Since basic light switches cost less than $1, I'd recommend just replacing it. It's a simple task that's easy to DIY. Here's one guide, or you can find a dozen others by googling how to change a light switch.
answered 8 hours ago
Nate StricklandNate Strickland
56610
8
Of all the advice you could provide, you began with the best. Something can go wrong, but no one gets hurt if the breaker is off.
– fred_dot_u
5 hours ago
1
It's possible that the connection wires are grounding off the housing box. Simply prying the switch back into it's correct place might work, or if the wires aren't secure in the screws, they can be tightened. But it's more likely that the switched needs replaced, if it's been hit so hard it's deformed.
– computercarguy
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Removing the cover to look at the switch is safe IF you first turn off power to the circuit at the breaker panel. If you aren't completely sure which circuit it is, then either turn them all off, or double-check with a multimeter or non-contact voltage detector.
However, most likely you will not be able to see what's wrong with the switch because the damage will be inside the plastic housing. Since basic light switches cost less than $1, I'd recommend just replacing it. It's a simple task that's easy to DIY. Here's one guide, or you can find a dozen others by googling how to change a light switch.
answered 8 hours ago
Nate StricklandNate Strickland
56610
8
Of all the advice you could provide, you began with the best. Something can go wrong, but no one gets hurt if the breaker is off.
– fred_dot_u
5 hours ago
1
It's possible that the connection wires are grounding off the housing box. Simply prying the switch back into it's correct place might work, or if the wires aren't secure in the screws, they can be tightened. But it's more likely that the switched needs replaced, if it's been hit so hard it's deformed.
– computercarguy
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Removing the cover to look at the switch is safe IF you first turn off power to the circuit at the breaker panel. If you aren't completely sure which circuit it is, then either turn them all off, or double-check with a multimeter or non-contact voltage detector.
However, most likely you will not be able to see what's wrong with the switch because the damage will be inside the plastic housing. Since basic light switches cost less than $1, I'd recommend just replacing it. It's a simple task that's easy to DIY. Here's one guide, or you can find a dozen others by googling how to change a light switch.
answered 8 hours ago
Nate StricklandNate Strickland
56610
Removing the cover to look at the switch is safe IF you first turn off power to the circuit at the breaker panel. If you aren't completely sure which circuit it is, then either turn them all off, or double-check with a multimeter or non-contact voltage detector.
However, most likely you will not be able to see what's wrong with the switch because the damage will be inside the plastic housing. Since basic light switches cost less than $1, I'd recommend just replacing it. It's a simple task that's easy to DIY. Here's one guide, or you can find a dozen others by googling how to change a light switch.
answered 8 hours ago
Nate StricklandNate Strickland
56610
answered 8 hours ago
Nate StricklandNate Strickland
56610
answered 8 hours ago
Nate StricklandNate Strickland
56610
answered 8 hours ago
Nate StricklandNate Strickland
56610
56610
8
Of all the advice you could provide, you began with the best. Something can go wrong, but no one gets hurt if the breaker is off.
– fred_dot_u
5 hours ago
1
It's possible that the connection wires are grounding off the housing box. Simply prying the switch back into it's correct place might work, or if the wires aren't secure in the screws, they can be tightened. But it's more likely that the switched needs replaced, if it's been hit so hard it's deformed.
– computercarguy
3 hours ago
add a comment |
8
Of all the advice you could provide, you began with the best. Something can go wrong, but no one gets hurt if the breaker is off.
– fred_dot_u
5 hours ago
1
It's possible that the connection wires are grounding off the housing box. Simply prying the switch back into it's correct place might work, or if the wires aren't secure in the screws, they can be tightened. But it's more likely that the switched needs replaced, if it's been hit so hard it's deformed.
– computercarguy
3 hours ago
8
8
Of all the advice you could provide, you began with the best. Something can go wrong, but no one gets hurt if the breaker is off.
– fred_dot_u
5 hours ago
Of all the advice you could provide, you began with the best. Something can go wrong, but no one gets hurt if the breaker is off.
– fred_dot_u
5 hours ago
1
1
It's possible that the connection wires are grounding off the housing box. Simply prying the switch back into it's correct place might work, or if the wires aren't secure in the screws, they can be tightened. But it's more likely that the switched needs replaced, if it's been hit so hard it's deformed.
– computercarguy
3 hours ago
It's possible that the connection wires are grounding off the housing box. Simply prying the switch back into it's correct place might work, or if the wires aren't secure in the screws, they can be tightened. But it's more likely that the switched needs replaced, if it's been hit so hard it's deformed.
– computercarguy
3 hours ago
add a comment |
José is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
José is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
José is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
José is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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