Light Switch Renewal - Flash-BANG

[Orbital]

Hi guys (and gals)

I've been looking through the site, but can't see a solution...maybe I'm not understanding what I'm seeing...anyway..

Just replacing a light switch in the house, single ceiling rose light, single switch.

Copied the wiring from original switch, then tested the switch worked okay, so I pushed the switch back into the housing then FLASH-BANG !

Turns out the earth bar that the switch plate screws onto has a badly positioned earth poiont, in the middle.
Making it stop the switch going into place properly.

So, I moved the earth point along the bar, wired it all back up and nothing...still dark

Started searching this forum for help, still no bright ideas...so thought I'd register and ask.... stopped for dinner and tried again before posting this !


FOUND the problem.....on of the wires that went bang actually blew apart, but still left the outer insulation in place, so it did'nt look broken.
removed the broken bit, rewired and .... !

Thought I would post this in case it helps anyone else.
Always check wires are continous after a flashbang !

Thanks all !

 

[GaryMo]

Always check wires are continous after a flashbang !

More importantly, always perform an Insulation Resistance test before energising to avoid a 'flashbang'!

This would have highlighted your problem before is went 'flashbang' but 99.99% of DIY'ers won't have access to an Insulation Resistance tester so it's connect and pray

 

[conny]

Always check wires are continous after a flashbang !

More importantly, always perform an Insulation Resistance test before energising to avoid a 'flashbang'!

This would have highlighted your problem before is went 'flashbang' but 99.99% of DIY'ers won't have access to an Insulation Resistance tester so it's connect and pray

I presume you mean AFTER screwing the switch plate back on?
Otherwise if he had the equipment he would have got a good IR reading with the switch hanging loose.

 

[GaryMo]

Yes, with the switch screwed back.

 

[martinxxxxxx]

Always perform an Insulation Resistance test before energising to avoid a 'flashbang'!
:

I would do this before you start the job too.

Martin

 

[securespark]

so I pushed the switch back into the housing then FLASH-BANG !

You working live?

 

[Stoday]

The FLASH-BANG test is a standard DIY test procedure. It has visual and audiable indication of a failure.

The FLASH-BANG test is cheap, because it requires no equipment, but has the disadvantage that it can allow the smoke to leak out of the circuit. It is common knowledge that if you get a smoke leak, the equipment stops working permanently because you can never get the smoke back in.