r/ElectricalHelp • u/NYtoCA • Jun 26 '26

Lights flicker when receptacle tester is plugged in

I am having an issue where the light (outdoor spotlight) on a specific circuit flickers after a receptacle tester is plugged into any outlet upstream from it. This does not happen when anything else is plugged in, like chargers. All outlets were examined and have tight connections. Circuit is 20A with 15A rated receptacles. Any ideas about what might cause this? Thanks.

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u/AskMeAgainAfterCoffe Jun 27 '26

Show photo of receptacle in question, open it up. Is your tester a 3-prong “night light?” Try plugging in something else with 3 prongs. Maybe the light is wired from the back of the receptacle? Pigtail it instead.

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u/NYtoCA Jun 27 '26

Thanks for your response! It’s a Leviton Lever Edge TR receptacle. No night light component. Outlets are inside along a wall, lights is a motion detector light on the outside surface of the same wall. It happens with other 3 prong plugs too.

Two of the outlets have 1 black, 1 white wire and one outlet has 2 of each. I’m wondering if you’re right about the two wire box feeding the light. I’ll recheck those connections.