LED dimly lit, or glowing, even when switched off demo

The effect is caused by capacitive coupling radiating tiny amounts of energy through the floating neutral side of the domestic wiring. The neutral is floating because it is a "switched neutral" configuration which has the physical switch in the open/disconnected position.

The LED is connected to an ordinary mechanical switch but still glows even when it's supposed to be switched off. There is no dimmer or any other electronic devices attached to the circuit. The circuit used in the video is a dual switched circuit configuration, which is commonly found in hallways and stairwells in the UK.

Multiple switched lighting circuits tend to have much longer wiring runs between the switches, which can make this effect more pronounced. Changing the position of the switches can also change the effective length of the floating side of the circuit and consequently changes the intensity of the glow.

As demonstrated in the video, you need both a susceptible bulb as well as the circuit in question must be wired in a particular way, ie switched neutral.

Best practice wiring is usually considered as "switched live" so the fitting is neutralized when switched off. Useful to a help avoid careless fingers receiving a zap when changing bulbs.

The strobing effect of the 8 watt Bonlux filament LED means I find these unsuitable for use in my home but it does serve to demonstrate this aberration.

Affiliate link to non-dimmable MiniSun BC 8w LED featured in video :

[stephenhall]

Fascinating -- and timely in my case after a switch got wet when a header tank leaked. After drying the problem ceased but I had the lighting circuit checked anyway by a qualified electrician.

[amandamourrr]

I recently bought led strip lights for my room and when they are shut off in the dark there’s a glow or some type of light but it’s dim. I just want to know if it’s dangerous.Great vid by the way🙂

[MrMicrolin]

found your video quite helpful cheers . basically the bulb is being powered the wrong way round .

[kellybrentonadams]

Is it dangerous ? I just kept the led light bulb and dealt with dim lite when switch is off. Just want to know if it’s dangerous ?

[petibatyo]

what if the wiring is OK, but the led still stays on after switched off?
this happens with wall switches that included some additional stuff (dimmer, status lamp, motion sensor etc.). In this case your wiring tricks won't fix the problem, you have to install a small (1 kOhm, 0.5 W) resistor.

[dusterdude]

I am not too.. familiar with electrical code in the UK,
[ forgive me, I used to do electrical work here in the US and am used to helping DYI'ers that tend run into trouble at times ]
but Our electrical code here is to always switch the hot rather then neutral. the reason for this is, if you were doing some rewiring [ Even with the switch off ] if you had one hand on the Hot lead and were to lose your balance on a ladder, and grab a hold of a grounded water or steam pipe to keep from falling, you would get zapped. also if the leads on the fixture were transposed, [ blue for brown and Vise versa in the case of UK color code ] the shell of the socket becomes energized at all times, if you were say, changing a light bulb and someone distracted you, and you were to touch the shell of the socket while touching a grounded pipe. you would also get zapped. you seem A lot more more familiar with your electrical systems then I am, I dont mean to appear condescending . . . just letting you know what our electrical is, and why . . .

[Ag-xcig]

Have the same problem but its in ikea lamps when iff the bulb is "ghosting " any ideas

[jesascaniusthusgaard]

Link to the bulbs that light up from the neutral when turned off???

[mannyarmas]

The glowing after I turn it off does not bother me. But is it costing me additional electricity consumption? Is this glowing wasting additional electricity?

[mikeypeters]

Is it easy to gofrom switched neutral to switched live?

[MBasaar]

I had a new set up of lighting in my room and the LED bulbs just stay dimly lit when switched off. I had no idea why. The issue is that 1 out of foor bulbs went off and not working at all after a month a so. The Tape light as well, there's only one side working fine currently out of four sides. Why is that? Is this set up burdening the lamps?

[theodoreloque]

thank your sir, now i understand why my led stip light glow when switched off.
very nice explanation👍

new subscriber here!

[lfewell]

When wired correctly power cannot radiate from the wire to the switch to the wire from the switch because the earth wire intercepts it, light won't glow, but if the neutral is switched it will radiate to the earth wire plus the other wire which is now neutral, the light now glows. Now have I got that right?

[bewarethechestnutmare]

Ok THIS explains why i cudnt switch off my new LED bulb today, but reg bulbs are fine. I have took it out as i am paranoid it is a risk. Can you confirm this set up is not dangerous ie fire hazard ect please.

[md]

I bought some G9 LEDs that do this....is it safe that the LEDs have a very dim light 24/7?

[Billyify]

You should go to jail for switching the neutral. It's criminal negligence. Are you trying to kill someone? Your lamp shell is always live.

[TheSoloAsylum]

You never want the neutral to be switched.

[noname-ibfe]

Alternatively, just leave the light on for a while. Sometimes they sort themselves out. Happened with mine.

Side note: Why anyone would think it is a good idea to make a "how to" video on something like this is beyond me. DO NOT ATTEMPT. Get a professional in to do it properly (key word being "properly")

[GoldenArmWelds]

No sure mines is LED but ill have to double check, i thought i had casper in my apt lol

[alexandrudriment]

Hi and thank you for the video. I have the same problem but I got 2 red wires which are connected (like yours with the yellow wire). Should I swap those with the current ones?