Hi all. I wonder if someone can offer me some advice on an electrical wiring problem (forgive my use of layman's terms!).
In my bedroom I am trying to install an electric curtain track (a Silent Gliss 5400). This has an electric motor which takes two wires - a mains 240v power wire (permanently on) provides the power for the motor, while a low voltage core 4 wire provides switching for control of the motor.
So a few weeks ago before installing the curtain rail I tested the motor - worked perfectly.
I then installed the curtain rail. Now, when I try and get the motor to switch on - nothing. At first I thought it was the motor, but I now suspect the power wire.
I bought a wire tester (one of those neon screwdriver things as it's all I could get at my local hardware store). I know these things have mixed reliability but it seems to work fine on other wires that I know are live. When I test the power line for the curtain motor, I get mixed results - often I get nothing, occasionally it lights up (however, it also lit up a few times when the mains power was turned off at the circuit board so possible false positive?).
I've checked the circuit breakers. They haven't tripped.
Can anyone else think what I might try? Or can anyone suggest why there might now be a problem with the wire?
It just seems odd because it was working perfectly and now nothing. It's very robust piece of wire and was only installed a few years ago so I think unlikely it's suddenly just snapped/degraded.
It's possible that I might have drilled through the wire when installing the curtain rail but (1) the curtain track doesn't really look like it goes anywhere near the line of the wire (it's possible that the wire takes a really unusual route back to the circuit board, but seems unlikely), and (2) if I had drilled through a live wire isn't it likely I would have noticed?!
I am going to get an electrician out to check it but I'd just be interested to hear your thoughts.
Thank you!
In my bedroom I am trying to install an electric curtain track (a Silent Gliss 5400). This has an electric motor which takes two wires - a mains 240v power wire (permanently on) provides the power for the motor, while a low voltage core 4 wire provides switching for control of the motor.
So a few weeks ago before installing the curtain rail I tested the motor - worked perfectly.
I then installed the curtain rail. Now, when I try and get the motor to switch on - nothing. At first I thought it was the motor, but I now suspect the power wire.
I bought a wire tester (one of those neon screwdriver things as it's all I could get at my local hardware store). I know these things have mixed reliability but it seems to work fine on other wires that I know are live. When I test the power line for the curtain motor, I get mixed results - often I get nothing, occasionally it lights up (however, it also lit up a few times when the mains power was turned off at the circuit board so possible false positive?).
I've checked the circuit breakers. They haven't tripped.
Can anyone else think what I might try? Or can anyone suggest why there might now be a problem with the wire?
It just seems odd because it was working perfectly and now nothing. It's very robust piece of wire and was only installed a few years ago so I think unlikely it's suddenly just snapped/degraded.
It's possible that I might have drilled through the wire when installing the curtain rail but (1) the curtain track doesn't really look like it goes anywhere near the line of the wire (it's possible that the wire takes a really unusual route back to the circuit board, but seems unlikely), and (2) if I had drilled through a live wire isn't it likely I would have noticed?!
I am going to get an electrician out to check it but I'd just be interested to hear your thoughts.
Thank you!