Diagnosing Electrical Problem - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/13/2009 11:09:52 PM · #101

I'd kinda like to see the second photo done with a lensbaby, and a nice b/w conversion....

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

02/13/2009 11:29:56 PM · #102

Originally posted by chromeydome:

I'd kinda like to see the second photo done with a lensbaby, and a nice b/w conversion....

chromeydome

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/13/2009 11:42:12 PM · #103

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Originally posted by chromeydome:
I'd kinda like to see the second photo done with a lensbaby, and a nice b/w conversion....

HAH! now it is a photography thread!

MelonMusketeer

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

02/14/2009 12:01:28 AM · #104

It's Doc's new arc light flash system.

chromeydome

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/14/2009 12:06:29 AM · #105

What's the guide number on that puppy?

mikeee

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

02/14/2009 12:09:17 AM · #106

Joking aside, I'd take some time to make sure the clown who wired that socket didn't do the same elsewhere. Dodgy electrics are a major cause of house fires and that was terrible wiring.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

02/14/2009 04:23:14 AM · #107

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

A happy and inexpensive ending. Now we can all switch to another thread. : )

You mean it's lights out for this one?

Rando D300

02/14/2009 08:37:22 AM · #108

[quote=DrAchoo] SUCCESS!! WITH THE SMOKING GUN!!

I include the following exhibits:

It looks like whoever did the wiring left too much wire exposed when shoving them into the quickwire holes. It was shorting against the ground on the plug in the same receptacle. Everything looks to be in order now. :)

Holy jumping sparks !!!!After seeing that I would say that there is definably reason for some concern !
I sure would like to see what the inside of your electrical panel looks like .
Too me that's not the work of skilled tradesman

Nobody

Pentax K-S2

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF for Pentax

02/14/2009 09:20:23 AM · #109

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

SUCCESS!! WITH THE SMOKING GUN!!

I include the following exhibits:

It looks like whoever did the wiring left too much wire exposed when shoving them into the quickwire holes. It was shorting against the ground on the plug in the same receptacle. Everything looks to be in order now. :)

Thanks a ton for everybody's help! The voltage detector provided a great sense of security when I was working. Looks like kudos to Notroubles who was the first to mention the switches. :)

Sorry, DNMC.

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

02/14/2009 09:28:45 AM · #110

Originally posted by mikeee:

Joking aside, I'd take some time to make sure the clown who wired that socket didn't do the same elsewhere. Dodgy electrics are a major cause of house fires and that was terrible wiring.

Amen to that. It's time for a complete inspection of all switches and outlets, dude.

R.

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

02/14/2009 10:15:10 AM · #111

just make sure you have an excellent home owners insurance policy

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/14/2009 10:33:30 AM · #112

Originally posted by JulietNN:

just make sure you have an excellent home owners insurance policy

And be sure it isn't invalidated if electrical work is done by a non-certified electrician (you in this case)...

R.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

02/14/2009 10:48:14 AM · #113

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by JulietNN:
just make sure you have an excellent home owners insurance policy

And be sure it isn't invalidated if electrical work is done by a non-certified electrician (you in this case)...

R.

Actually, that's almost never an exclusion, since it would make home improvement all but impossible to be done by the homeowner. As long as work is done by the homeowner to code, permits are gotten where necessary and inspections done by the necessary agencies it's all good.

I did all the wiring on my new garage/shop when I built it. I pulled the permit, I did the work and the inspector stuck a nice green sticker on the box and complimented me on my work when he came for the inspection.

Similar story with the building permit process.

Message edited by author 2009-02-14 10:55:44.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

02/14/2009 10:58:22 AM · #114

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by JulietNN:
just make sure you have an excellent home owners insurance policy

And be sure it isn't invalidated if electrical work is done by a non-certified electrician (you in this case)...

R.

Actually, that's almost never an exclusion, since it would make home improvement all but impossible to be done by the homeowner. As long as work is done by the homeowner to code, permits are gotten where necessary and inspections done by the necessary agencies it's all good.

I did all the wiring on my new garage/shop when I built it. I pulled the permit, I did the work and the inspector stuck a nice green sticker on the box and complimented me on my work when he came for the inspection.

Similar story with the building permit process.

You're right, I mis-spoke. I should have said what you said, that work needs to be inspected and certified as up-to-code in many policies.

R.

PapaBob

Sony Alpha a7 IV

02/14/2009 11:36:15 AM · #115

I get confused easy so some times you need to type slower for me. How did the outlet relate back to the light switch that was tripping the circuit, I was under the impression the light was an overhead fixture but from you photos I am seeing it was a switched outlet is that correct? Are you going to replace the outlet, if so make sure you get the right type of outlet, normally switch controlled outlets will have one socket that will be live all the time and the outher socket is isolated so it can be controlled by the switch so make sure you get the correct type.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

02/14/2009 01:24:22 PM · #116

Originally posted by PapaBob:

A light switch for the light and a plug on a different circuit were in the same box. What I speculate was happening was that in a certain orientation of the 3-way (down/up or whatever) the right wire was carrying juice and shorting against the ground for the plug. It's also possible that it was some certain physical pressure when you switched the light that would push the wire against the ground.

Message edited by author 2009-02-14 13:25:12.

Rando D300

02/14/2009 01:27:03 PM · #117

I have to say this cause it has been bothering me .I don't believe these types of threads should be allowed .
Had some of the information shared in this thread had been used ,it could have turn a bad situation into a very dangerous situation .
I understand people just want to help but really I don't think sharing this type of information can ever be a good thing.
Just think about it ,after all it is a members family and home that could have been put in Harms way !
I am just glad that it turn out in a good way .

Message edited by author 2009-02-14 13:32:57.

PapaBob

Sony Alpha a7 IV

02/14/2009 01:40:21 PM · #118

Originally posted by Rando D300:

Had some of the information shared in this thread had been used ,it could have turn a bad situation into a very dangerous situation .

What information in this thread would have made the situation more dangerous? Most people made recommendations to have the system checked by a professional and Jason felt he had enough expertise to figure it out which in the end he did. I agree electricity can be very dangerous but with a basic undersatnding of the danager and circuits most home repairs can be accomplished. I am all in favors of having a good electrician evaluate any and all homeowner alterations because I have seen the effects of poorly done circuits and when I deal with clients I never recommend they do their own repairs but I know enough about circuits that I would have traced this one down without bringing in a professional so how can I say Jason can not do the same, its his call whether he can handle it or not.

Message edited by author 2009-02-14 13:41:23.

02/14/2009 02:00:13 PM · #119

Originally posted by PapaBob:

Originally posted by Rando D300:

Had some of the information shared in this thread had been used ,it could have turn a bad situation into a very dangerous situation .

What information in this thread would have made the situation more dangerous? Most people made recommendations to have the system checked by a professional and Jason felt he had enough expertise to figure it out which in the end he did. I agree electricity can be very dangerous but with a basic understanding of the danger and circuits most home repairs can be accomplished. I am all in favors of having a good electrician evaluate any and all homeowner alterations because I have seen the effects of poorly done circuits and when I deal with clients I never recommend they do their own repairs but I know enough about circuits that I would have traced this one down without bringing in a professional so how can I say Jason can not do the same, its his call whether he can handle it or not.

Absolutely. I don't think we'd have seen quite the same discussion if Jason had come across as a clueless n00b in matters electrical; which he assuredly did not. So some of our members, who have experience in matters electrical, were helping Jason brainstorm the problem, confident that he wouldn't do something stupid. And of course, the overwhelming consensus was "this might be serious, a pro would be a good idea", so where's the problem?

R.

Message edited by author 2009-02-14 14:00:30.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

02/14/2009 02:25:44 PM · #120

I appreciate your concern Randall. I perhaps point out that to take your conclusion to a logical end we should remove all over-the-counter medications because there is always the possibility people are trying to treat something serious which needs a doctor's attention. If you don't know what you are doing, hey, call the doc; if you have enough experience to know it's a cold, then treat away.

Anyway, I'm a bit paranoid about the plugs and switches now too. I take some solace in knowing houses these days have circuit breakers and it had been doing its job. I want to switch all the light switches out for the sexier flat ones anyway so I'm likely to do that next time my dad (twenty years general contractor) is down. I'm not too psyched about pulling out every plug to look at it though.

Today I'm doing the highly non-dangerous job of painting Laine's room pink. :) Then it's installing that 20-amp circuit. (I'll try to take a picture of that secret tunnel so BeeCee can bring over some BC Bud...)

I also think there is a very minor leak in a plumbing pipe upstairs. When we run the water in the master bath, I swear I hear a metronomic "drip" in the ceiling that stops 30 seconds after the water is turned off. It's fairly loud though and I don't know if pipes can just make noises like that or there is actually a drip pan in the ceiling somewhere (and the metal amplifies the sound). The worst part, in my mind, is not knowing if I need to worry about it or not. I don't see any water damage anywhere.

PapaBob

Sony Alpha a7 IV

02/14/2009 03:08:16 PM · #121

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I also think there is a very minor leak in a plumbing pipe upstairs.

Remember standing in water while turning on a shorted light switch will likely end up badly!

Message edited by author 2009-02-14 15:08:35.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

02/14/2009 03:34:35 PM · #122

Originally posted by PapaBob:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I also think there is a very minor leak in a plumbing pipe upstairs.

Remember standing in water while turning on a shorted light switch will likely end up badly!

But would make a great photo op! :D

MelonMusketeer