Epée: test box showing bright green light and pale red when tip is depressed

I just want to know if this makes sense.

I disassembled an epée tip to clean inside the barrel, aa I often do before tournaments.

Put it all back together and plugged it to my test box.

When I hold the blade with one hand and push the tip with the other, I *sometimes* see a vereeery pale red light, together with the normal green light.

I initially thought there was a short or a grouding on the springs. Took them off, checked that they were not dirty or bent... put them back.

Same thing.

So I'm thinking, what's happening here?

I look for a diagram online and see that if maybe I overtighten the tip screws, maybe I somehow damaged the insulation inside the tip.

So I try another tip. Same thing.

Then, as my hands are a bit dirty, I hold the blade with a piece of cloth and uaing the other end of the cloth, push the tip down.

Only green light, or so it appears.

I figure it's super humid tonight.

Could it be that *my hands* were causing the grounding?

Would that explain it? I am curious, because while it seems to explain what was happening, I'm still afraid of showing up at the piste with a potentially faulty weapon.