Phantom lights!

[Diggerdi]

This is a strange one. Something I've only noticed this year, when we're on EHU the led spotlights "glow" slightly when they're off. This doesn't happen when we're not on EHU. Obviously it can only be seen at night. It seems odd because the lights don't actually work off EHU but off the 12v system. Any ideas please?

 

[pappajohn]

May be an induced current off the 230v circuits.
Don't think there's anything you can do about it.

 

[Neil Ric Tic]

We have the same problem with the lights over the cab door.......and we never use EHU!

 

[Burgo]

It's a well known issue - just Google it. Usually a bit of a duff earth, dodgy wire or can be caused by having an on/off indicator in the circuit as well.

 

[gus-lopez]

It happens in our house as well. I have a pair over a bathroom mirror that do it. You can use them as exit lights

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[Baggydave]

Hi
We have had the same issue. Only happens when we are over the water. It’s caused by the polarity being reversed on the hook up. Turn the two pin plug adapter around & it-will disappear.
Usual wiring is neutral to bulb & live through switch. Having the polarity reversed causes the bulb to very slightly glow in the dark.
Worked for us.

 

[bigtwin]

Hi
We have had the same issue. Only happens when we are over the water. It’s caused by the polarity being reversed on the hook up. Turn the two pin plug adapter around & it-will disappear.
Usual wiring is neutral to bulb & live through switch. Having the polarity reversed causes the bulb to very slightly glow in the dark.
Worked for us.

Very odd.

The LEDs are dc (and, in fact, will only work if the dc polarity is correct) and is completely unrelated to the fact the the ac Live and Neutrals are reversed.

I don’t understand why you’ve experienced what you have but it’s most odd.

Ian

 

[gus-lopez]

Very odd.

The LEDs are dc (and, in fact, will only work if the dc polarity is correct) and is completely unrelated to the fact the the ac Live and Neutrals are reversed.

I don’t understand why you’ve experienced what you have but it’s most odd.

Ian

I thought the op was talking about 220v led's as you say the 12v ones need correct polarity?

 

[Baggydave]

Hi
Our lights are mains. When you mentioned only on hook up I thought yours were the same.
Didn’t register your last line.

Sorry

 

[Odd-no-more]

Very odd.

The LEDs are dc (and, in fact, will only work if the dc polarity is correct) and is completely unrelated to the fact the the ac Live and Neutrals are reversed.

I don’t understand why you’ve experienced what you have but it’s most odd.

Ian

With reverse polarity the switch is after the lamp, normally the switch is before the lamp. LEDS need so little power that having a live feed may be enough.

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[bigtwin]

With reverse polarity the switch is after the lamp, normally the switch is before the lamp. LEDS need so little power that having a live feed may be enough.

The ‘reverse polarity’ being referred to is on the a.c. supply not the d.c. supply.

In any case, irrespective of the wattage, you still need a return path.

Your explanation would make sense if there was a short to earth but not otherwise.

Ian

 

[Odd-no-more]

The ‘reverse polarity’ being referred to is on the a.c. supply not the d.c. supply.

In any case, irrespective of the wattage, you still need a return path.

Your explanation would make sense if there was a short to earth but not otherwise.

Ian

You may be right but LED lamps required so little power that the induction voltage may be enough.

 

[Camping Gaza]

Have a gander at this:

https://lamphq.com/led-lights-glow/

 

[Richard n Ann]

Modern lights are switched on and off by solid state switches (ie transistor) not relays. That's why they can be dimmed.
Normally say 2ma leakage current wouldn't be anywhere near enough to light up a bulb but an led will light up. The switching circuit needs a small modification... Or a proper switch ?

 

[Diggerdi]

@Camping Gaza , having read the link you posted I suddenly realised that this has only happened since (a) television aerial was fitted or (b) we had an additional 230v three pin plug socket installed (by a qualified electrician, albeit one who had never installed in a motor home before). The electrical cable for the socket was put in by the aerial installer, the electrician just had to fit the socket and wire it into the consumer unit. Although a lot of the info in the link goes over my head, it did mention something about adjacent cabling. Is it possible that the new electrical cable is next to the 12v lighting cable?

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[Richard n Ann]

possible that the new electrical cable is next to the 12v lighting cable

If it is this, it will probably be worse when the new socket is being used by something. Try switching a toaster on and off and see if it has an effect.

 

[Camping Gaza]

Yeah...induction from the mains wiring,
get the kettle on to go with that toast if I were you ??

 

[Margaritaman]

Had a similar experience. Turned out the lead and plug I was using to recharge a torch via a 12v cig. lighter socket in the MoHo was allowing a voltage to flow back into the 12v. circuit allowing our led lights to glow slightly. Anything plugged into your 12v sockets that might be doing similar?

Does your new TV aerial have a signal booster. Wonder its something to do with it? Try unplugging the power lead to the signal booster to see if that stops the LEDs glowing. May take a few seconds to the glow to extinguish.

 

[Wellington]

I’ll trade you for my 12.45am alarm that goes off every night. I can’t find any way of even setting the time on the thing, let alone a damned alarm!