this post was submitted on 25 Dec 2025
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Here's my answer that works with any kind of lightbulb.
Flip switch 1 on, switch 2 off, and get switch 3 stuck in a halfway point which I've done on both lever switches and flat switches.
If it's on it's switch 1, if it's off it's switch 2, if it's flickering or dimmed it's switch 3 and you should probably turn it off to stop damaging the relay.
Trying to get a switch stuck half way sounds like a good way to start a fire. If the bulb is dimmed, that means not all the power is making it to the bulb, and half of it is probably going into heating up the switch contacts. It could also be arcing inside the switch, which will also destroy the contacts. I think some new building codes require "arc fault protection" on circuits for this type of reason, in addition to "ground fault protection" (GFCI) on bathroom/kitchen circuits.