A Bit of Light Relief

[roberta1000]

To brighten the working week I was called in yesterday to sort out some wiring problems in a guy's garage which he'd wired up himself.

The symptoms:
First lighting circuit had 2 incandescent fittings above a lathe. With switch off one light was on. With switch on both lights were lit at half intensity.

Second lighting circuit had 4 fluorescent fittings for the main garage. With switch off the lights were on. With switch on there was a loud bang and the fuse in the house blew.

Rather surprisingly the lathe seemed to work OK!

You wonder sometimes how the human race has survived so long...

 

[pompeygit]

Can you tell us what your investigations found plse Robert?

 

[Spark123]

educated guesses:
1) the lamps were wired in series. The switch connected across the L&N of one of the lamps
2) switch connected directly across L&N.

 

[roberta1000]

Ooops! Sorry, a bit slow getting back on this but yes Spark123 of course you are right! Heh!

While I was fixing it I found that the whole garage was fed in 2+1 from a 13A plug in a socket in the bedroom, out through a hole in the window frame and draped along the garden fence to the garage at foot of the garden. Gave him a little talk on electrical hazards/life and death etc. and quoted him to do it properly. No reply yet though - ah well!