Switch still gives 30V when switched off

[Dirk]

When I turn off my switch, it still gives a bit of current. While I expect the voltage to be zero.
I noticed this because one of my lights (with candle-style bulbs) was shimmering when it should be off.

I set out to investigate, and found that:
- if the switch is turned on, it gives 230V (as expected)
- if the switch is turned off, if gives about 30V (excepted: 0V)

First I thought this was because I use those cheap Action-switches (10 euro's for 3 switches if I remember correctly), but even my KAKU-switches have the same behavior. Is this something I should worry about? Any idea how much electricity this consumes?

[SweetPants]

Do you measure this also with the bulb connected? That should not happen

[Dirk]

I measured this by directly putting my multimeter into the holes of the socket, without a light. This does not change anything right: there is a voltage difference between the two holes, so as soon as you connect a wire (or a light) between them, there will be a current. Very strange that I have this with two different brands; I have not checked the other devices yet (I have 12 actions-switches and 3 KAKU-switches), since I first wanted to check if this is expected behavior.

[SweetPants]

It could be that there is something in the circuit (capacitor), but depends on the circuit schematic. Without that it's hard to tell what is going on.

[Dirk]

But it should NOT be the case that there is a Voltage difference when turned off, right? Neither a current (even a small one) when a bulb is attached.
I was in doubt because I saw the same behaviour in both devices.

[devros]

hello, i noticed this also with these cheap switches
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Crystal ... 0.0.r8mtH7

so if you have some low power led you see some shimmering...
maybe its not 30V but i definitely see some light...

[Dirk]

@devros I see this with both the expensive Kaku and the cheap action switches. That's why it confuses me.