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Bathroom Light Switch: Contact Autopsy

The dual switch controlling the bathroom lights began requiring some fiddling, which was not to be tolerated. After replacing the switch, I cracked the old one open to see what’s inside…

The failed side of the switch controlled the lights over the sink:

Light switch contacts - lights
Light switch contacts – lights

The side for the ceiling vent fan + light got much less use, still worked, and look a bit less blasted.

Light switch contacts - ceiling fan
Light switch contacts – ceiling fan

Not much to choose between the two. It’s been running for nigh onto two decades, so …

Comments

2 responses to “Bathroom Light Switch: Contact Autopsy”

  1. celem Avatar

    My house was built in 1986 and several switches have similar failings. I went to Lowes and purchased a contractor’s pack of switches. Apparently they have a 30 year life and since they have similar usage they are failing nearly simultaneously.

    1. Ed Avatar

      Aye!

      The fluorescent tubes in the Basement Laboratory used to get flickery in groups, because I installed all the fixtures at once. Now they fail more randomly, but it took a decade to get there …