Search results

Washing machines are, in fact, one of the most likely items to cause RCD tripping - electricity and water in the same box, all it takes is a little leak. Can't you unplug the washer overnight and see what happens?

But non-isolated shaver sockets shouldn't be installed in bathrooms. You could just as easily install a 13 amp mains socket next to the bathroom sink and argue that it's dangerous. Of course it is - it's not meant to be there. IF the shaver socket is isolated, and correctly designed, then it's...

230 * 0.2 = 46 watts - probably enough to run most reasonably efficient chargers. It's not even that dangerous - the whole point of the transformer in the shaver socket is that it provides isolation from input to output. You could (though it's not really a good idea) touch either one of the...

Hi all, Bit of an odd one. Noticed this morning that our prepay (it was there when we moved in) electricity meter has a blank screen and won't respond to button presses etc. Power is still on. Obviously only the owner of the meter can touch it, so we called our supplier (british gas)...

Hi all. I just got my first circular saw today, and the first time I used it found out what a kickback is :shock: Fortunately I was hold of it tight with both hands at the time and managed to control it just fine, but it has got me super worried about cutting my leg off with it now. What...

Went for the cheap plastic gland in the end. Works just fine. Just to finish the damned thing now. Yes, I am aware I need some heatshrink on those crimp terminals :shock: :D

Hi all, I am currently building an amplifier and need to figure out how to get power into the (home-made) case. The usual method is to use an IEC socket but I don't have the tools and don't trust myself to cut the square hole in the (acrylic) back panel without messing it up, so I want to...

I use LTspice for analog circuit design and simulating logic, so if it has a relay model (i'm not actually sure it does) that might work for you? It's got a bit of a learning curve though. For just drawing a schematic you might look into Eagle (http://www.cadsoftusa.com/), it's actually a...

Hi, I am designing a 10x6 workshop/shed. I'm currently designing the base, and because the entire garden is on a slope I want to do something like this: The front side will need to be raised around 47cm one one end and 37cm on the other to make the whole thing level. Pouring a concrete...

Hi, I am building a shed on an existing concrete yard. The concrete has a slope for drainage and digging it out to lay a new concrete base isn't an option, since it's a rented house. Here is the base and the yard where it's going: I've bought some bricks and my idea was to place 15...

Sounds like you have nailed through the cable to the light switch, thereby joining live and switched live together. The first thing you should do is turn off that circuit at the consumer unit (fusebox) - anyone that touches that nail could get a nasty shock! I'm sure someone else will be...

Hello, Part of my job is to install and maintain computer systems, and one in particular that I look after is a till system in a small shop. Ever since these machines were installed, they keep powering off and rebooting. Some days they don't do it at all, some days you can't get one to...

The alarm is designed to run for, presumably, quite a long time on batteries, so the current draw won't be much. 500mA SHOULD be enough, but if you can, get one that will supply more (say up to 2 amps) - then you know it will work.

They were a respectable make, I don't know which one but I got them from CEF and I don't think they sell substandard crap (or maybe... :D ) Makes more sense if they're a conventional flourescent with a heater - for some reason I was thinking they were CCFLs.

I left my floursecent under-cabinet kitchen lights switched on last night, and when I came home today there was a funny smell and they were no longer working. After checking for voltage at the plug I decided to actually have a look at the lamp and one end has melted itself into the holder...

You shouldn't rely on them for that - they can all too easily not light up! You can buy a multimeter for about £4 these days. :)

It tests for VOLTAGE, not current. IMO, as a non-electrician, while neon screwdrivers are obviously pretty rubbish, they're still better than having no testing gear at all.

That power supply is not rated for the voltage of UK mains, which can be between 220 and 250 volts. It might "only" be ten volts but if it is not rated for the voltage you are putting in it might fail catastrophically. The computer and phone charger you refer to may be rated to the UK mains...

As long as you don't exceed the rating of any of the extension leads it's fine. Be cautious as not all extension leads are actually rated 13A.

A load is characterised by resistance (or inductive reactance, which is a little more complex). There is a relationship between resistance, voltage and current called ohm's law. A bulb has a relatively high resistance, which limits the current through it. Your piece of wire has a very low...