LED lights will not go off

[Vaider88]

Hi, I am new to this site.
I have a friend who has a problem with his lights, he has replaced his halogen bulbs with LEDs. Now the LEDs will not go off, they are still on all be it very dimly. It is a long time since I have done any electrical work, so might need the answer in plain english. there are 3 switches to turn lights on and off, I think this would be 3-way lighting. I checked and there is a constant 55volts on the LEDs when switched off, this is why they are still light. He had a professional electrician do all the wiring and testing and has the certs.
Any ideas why this could be happening?

 

[bernardgreen]

Capacitive coupling between the permanent live and switched live wires in the cables to the switches is allowing some current to bypass the switch and this very small current provides enough energy to light the LEDs.

www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1897855#1897855

 

[Vaider88]

Thank you for your reply. I have read this on some posts previous to writing on this forum. He has another circuit exactly the same, admittldy I did not measure the voltage, but the LEDs dod not stay on on that circuit. I was just a bit concerned that it is 55v, which I thought was quite high. Is there anything I can do if it is the capacitance?

 

[bernardgreen]

The 55 volts, you measured this with a high impedance digital meter which takes virtual no energy from the ciruit being measured. If you used an analogue meter the reading would be much lower as the meter would be taking energy to move the needle. The capacitive coupling is very high impedance so very little energy ( current ) can pass through it.


I use the following

Capacitor 0.047uF micro Farads 250 volts AC in series with a resistor 100 ohms

Which come pre-packaged as a contact suppressor from RS Components

RS Stock No. 206-7847
Manufacturer Evox-Rifa
Manufacturers Part No. PMR209MB5470M100

I have fitted them in ceiling roses between neutral and switched live

There are other sources of the contact suppressors