Today I will try to cover the topic about the reasons for power strip and light flickering. A power strip is a set of electrical sockets. It stays in connection due to a flexible cable. The cable connects into an electrical outlet. It’s in use when a group of electrical appliances requires more wall outlets than are available. Sometimes the light in these power strips flicker. If you have one in your house you already know what I mean. Now, for those who don’t know, I will try and unfold the topics like:
- What does it mean by power strip and light flickering?
- What are the reasons for power strip and light flickering?
- How to solve flickering light in a power strip?
Power Strip
A power strip allows you to connect several devices to a single wall outlet. A surge protector is a power strip that is specifically built to resist a power surge and protect your equipment.
A neon bulb, commonly a NE-2 or NE-2H, is the main light for the strip. They use a single resistor to work directly off the power line. This makes them less expensive and easier to install than LEDs.
What does it mean by power strip and light flickering?
Due to the gradual deterioration of the indicator light, the universal power strips that we have in our home or business offices have a habit to flicker. Neon bulbs have always been in use by power strip makers because they are:
- Affordable,
- Long-lasting, and
- Run directly off the 120-volt AC that is in use in commercial electric power.
Neon bulbs are cool to the touch and use extremely little power — generally a fraction of a watt. The color of neon is orange, but a tinted plastic cover can make the lamp appear red. Because the light is so faint, it becomes most easy to notice in a dimly lit room.
What are the reasons for power strip and light flickering?
The bulbs have a finite lifespan. They begin to flicker as they age. If it starts to flicker then you should consider two possibilities:
- It is very old,
- The power strip stays on most of the time
The bulb has soldered leads and is located inside the rocker switch. This makes it difficult to replace.
How to solve flickering light in a power strip?
The only cost-effective option is to replace the entire strip. It doesn’t hurt and isn’t harmful. It’ll be alright. You don’t need to worry about it. In my experience, it can continue in this manner for many more years.
In most cases, the neon light in a power strip is built inside the switch. Although you can purchase new neon bulbs, replacing a burned-out portion can be tricky. In most circumstances, you have two options:
- Live with a non-glow power strip or,
- Replace it with a new model.
The blinking stays in limit to the light only; it has no effect on the strip or the available AC power at the sockets.
Conclusion:
I hope you enjoyed my ultimate guide to the reasons for power strip and light flickering.
Now I’d like to hear from you: did you know about power strips? Did you face similar problems with your power strip as well? How did you solve your light flickering problem in your power strip?
Either way, let me know by leaving a quick comment below. Also don’t forget to read our other articles!
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