An illuminated switch is a convenient and stylish solution, especially for finding the light switch at night without fumbling in the dark. However, with the transition to energy-saving and later to LED bulbs, many people have noticed Flickering of Energy-Saving Bulbs or emit a faint glow when used them with such switches. The illumination feature itself causes this effect. Here, we’ll explain why LED bulbs flicker even when the switch is off.
Types of Switch Illumination and How It Works
Switch illumination typically comes in one of two forms:
- A neon lamp (glow discharge indicator)
- An LED
The neon or LED indicator consumes very little current (just a few milliamps). The neon indicator lights up when the switch is in the “OFF” position, meaning when its contacts are open. When you press the switch to the “ON” position, closing the contacts, the light turns on, and the indicator light goes off.
This basic logic is simple enough, but how does the switch illumination itself work?
Regardless of the type of illumination, a small current must flow through the bulb for it to glow. Previously, we used incandescent or halogen bulbs for home lighting, both of which emit light through a metallic filament.
With LEDs or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs, or energy-saving bulbs), the current from the illuminated switch cannot directly power these bulbs because they do not operate directly from the 220V mains and lack a filament. Instead, both types of energy-efficient bulbs are powered by specialized components: electronic ballasts for CFLs and drivers for LEDs.
In general, both of these power sources act as a type of pulse converter. When you connect a bulb to a circuit with an illuminated switch, the small current flow charges the smoothing capacitor until it stores enough energy for a brief burst of light, causing the bulb to flash.
This explains why lights flicker when the switch is off. Depending on the lamp’s power and circuit design, the bulb may flicker, glow dimly, or not react at all to illuminated switches. In some cases, the switch illumination may still function, or it may stop working altogether.
How to Solve the Problem
Solution 1: To stop energy-saving bulbs from flickering, remove the LED or neon light from the switch. First, remove the decorative cover from the switch, take the switch out of the wall, and locate the neon or LED indicator. This may be a small module or simply positioned between the contacts. In either case, removing the indicator light should stop the flickering.
Solution 2: Buy a special energy-saving bulb that works with Switch illumination.