Pop and fizzle sound, lights flashing and dim

[Ulti]

Hey Hexites,

Hopefully this is in the right section.

I was just sitting in my bedroom and then heard a faint pop and fizzle sort of sound, like some gas just got released or something but I didn't really pay attention to where the sound came from as it was so quick and sudden.

All I know is that it was to my right and my PC is on the floor to the right and the light, which is one of those energy efficient ones, is also on my right but obviously on the ceiling. I looked at my PC which was the obvious culprit and sniffed but saw no smoke and could not smell anything and that's when the lights in my room started flashing and dimmed down.

I have now turned off the lights just incase they explode or something, I've never had a light bulb go out with a sound but my PC seems fine.

Any thoughts? No other electronics to my right.

[MrRockliffe]

Maybe a capacitor or two in the PC? Its strange that it seems fine though. The bulb hasn't gone either if its still on. Strange...

[Ulti]

Just had a look at the motherboard with a torchlight, can't see any burnt capacitors. My PC is pretty new and everything is stock so I don't think it's the PC.

Should I try turn on my lights and see if it's still flashing and dim? Or should I just replace the light bulb and ignore the problem?

[ik9000]

could be a minor surge. I had it a few times. Blew my wife's monitor once when we were dating.

Things to check - 1) water leaks onto the light circuit. Sounds daft, but I've seen a slow weep from a water tank soak a floor over many months (yes months) without leaving noticeable water stains. Luckily in that case it didn't get to the electrics. Found it by accident one day when we were doing DIY elsewhere, storeys below where the weep was!

2) agree that it sounds like a capacitor going. Had that in a motherboard (cooked) and a monitor (cooked). It is unusual for things to work 100% when one does go pop

3) rodent nibbling your electric cable

4) light bulb on the wane. Easy check swap it out and see.

5) light fitting on the wane. They do perish. I had to change two at my last flat where they literally disintegrated due to age. Snap crackle pop and eventually shed bits onto the floor.

6) foil in the microwave

7) unfinished popping candy absorbing moisture from the air

8) rodent in the leftover takeaway box (i notice the student tag)

9) rice crispies under the bed (the tag again)

[Ulti]

could be a minor surge. I had it a few times. Blew my wife's monitor once when we were dating.

Things to check - 1) water leaks onto the light circuit. Sounds daft, but I've seen a slow weep from a water tank soak a floor over many months (yes months) without leaving noticeable water stains. Luckily in that case it didn't get to the electrics. Found it by accident one day when we were doing DIY elsewhere, storeys below where the weep was!

2) agree that it sounds like a capacitor going. Had that in a motherboard (cooked) and a monitor (cooked). It is unusual for things to work 100% when one does go pop

3) rodent nibbling your electric cable

4) light bulb on the wane. Easy check swap it out and see.

5) light fitting on the wane. They do perish. I had to change two at my last flat where they literally disintegrated due to age. Snap crackle pop and eventually shed bits onto the floor.

6) foil in the microwave

7) unfinished popping candy absorbing moisture from the air

8) rodent in the leftover takeaway box (i notice the student tag)

9) rice crispies under the bed (the tag again)

Haha, some of these made me laugh. Thankfully monitor, printer, PC all seem fine. PS3 is off so doubt it could pop with no current going through it.

I'm actually a graduate now, but seeing as I haven't got a "proper" job yet, I've left my tag. If only I had some skills in social media, I would jump on that Asus job in the other thread!

I just switched the light bulb and my room is back to normal now. I replaced it with a like for like light bulb and the packaging seems to quote 10 year life (10000 hours) but I'm sure I only used the last one for around 2 years or so so maybe something happened with it. Well I'll mark the issue as resolved. Thanks you two.