I have a strange electrical problem

[GabrielT]

My garage is not the most electrically stable place but the wring is at least safe. I have been noticing for years one strange thing, the main lights switch lags when you flip it on no matter the bulb. The other lights in the garage work instantly but the main 2 don't. In the summer is is usually only a 1-2 second lag but in the winter it turns into a 10-20 second lag until they turn on. They don't flicker until they get full power it is just all or nothing. I am no electrical expert so I figured you guys would be a good place to start asking for advice. This isn't a problem, it is just really flippin annoying.

[Fatedmeeting]

My garage is not the most electrically stable place but the wring is at least safe. I have been noticing for years one strange thing, the main lights switch lags when you flip it on no matter the bulb. The other lights in the garage work instantly but the main 2 don't. In the summer is is usually only a 1-2 second lag but in the winter it turns into a 10-20 second lag until they turn on. They don't flicker until they get full power it is just all or nothing. I am no electrical expert so I figured you guys would be a good place to start asking for advice. This isn't a problem, it is just really flippin annoying.

 

Is it a regular switch?

It could have a faulty mechanism, or you have a loose connection.

[bp9801]

It almost sounds like a wire is not insulated in the garage. When its cold, the copper wire will contract and make any connection across it take that much longer. How old is the house? When was the wiring installed? Is the garage insulated properly? Tons of variables it could be..

[paulktreg]

Are they fluorescent tubes? Try a new starter.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

[d3bruts1d]

I'm with Paul. By saying "the main two" it sounds like you are using a fluorescent bulb. These type bulbs have always had issues in colder weather such as slow to come on, dimmer, etc.

 

You might try changing the ballast, but if it is that big of an issue for you, I'd suggest changing from fluorescent bulbs to a track light with flood lights.

[GabrielT]

Is it a regular switch?

It could have a faulty mechanism, or you have a loose connection.

Yeah it is a regular switch, the people who built the house did it on the cheap so it could be a bad swich.

It almost sounds like a wire is not insulated in the garage. When its cold, the copper wire will contract and make any connection across it take that much longer. How old is the house? When was the wiring installed? Is the garage insulated properly? Tons of variables it could be..

It is definitely insulated wires, the house is only about 25 years old.

Are they fluorescent tubes? Try a new starter.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

They aren

[wevsspot]

How many lights/outlets are on that same leg of the circuit. Are the two main lights at the beginning or end of those legs? If you have multiple light fixtures/switched outlets that turn on at the same time when you flip the switch they are all on the same circuit/leg. There will be one main line coming from your fuse box and feeding each of those lights/switched outlets. Probably either 12/3 or 14/3 copper or aluminum core wire. If the home is 25 years old I'll bet it's copper core.

 

Anyway the main line goes to the first fixture or switched outlet, then feeds to the next, which feeds to the next in a series until you reach the end of the "leg". If you have stringent housing codes in your area, each of the lighting fixtures in the ceiling will have it's own junction box where these connections are made/terminated.

 

Find out where your two main lights are in the circuit and check the corresponding wiring connections in the junction boxes that feed those fixtures.