Strange MCB Tripping

[newsparky]

Afternoon all,

Got called out to look at some external lights in a block of flats as management company said they were not working.
They are operated by a C10 MCB and wired via a photocell.
When I reset the MCB and cover the photocell the lights are all fine.
After speaking to a couple of tenants they said the lights just switch off over night.
First assumed it may have been rain as 2 lights were smashed so replaced them.
IR tests are all fine so am a bit stumped as to why they randomly trip the MCB over night?
All suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[Guest125]

No it isn't, if it absorbed the current then the lamps wouldn't strike!

Back to school for me then. I though the reason for installing C type breakers on discharge lighting was to account for the 1.8 factor when igniting????

 

[davesparks]

Back to school for me then. I though the reason for installing C type breakers on discharge lighting was to account for the 1.8 factor when igniting????

You said they absorb the current, if the absorbed it then it would flow in to the mcb and remain held within it and not flow out of it and into the circuit. As a sponge absorbs water.

They don't absorb anything !

 

[ronalsparks]

Sounds like a faulty ballast causing it to trip once it has heated up after a an undetermined length of time, it is likely to fail fairly quickly causing a short circuit fault. If you are lucky it may smoke out the lens of the light and will smell considerably making fault finding a lot easier. :sifone:

 

[Guest125]

You said they absorb the current, if the absorbed it then it would flow in to the mcb and remain held within it and not flow out of it and into the circuit. As a sponge absorbs water.

They don't absorb anything !

no you are right. And you don't spark either but I have not pulled you up on it as I understand what you mean.

 

[davesparks]

no you are right. And you don't spark either but I have not pulled you up on it as I understand what you mean.

Amongst many other things I am a director of a firework display company. There are days when the stuff that gets on my clothes and caught in my hair will do more than just spark if I get too close to a naked flame!

 

[Guest125]

Amongst many other things I am a director of a firework display company. There are days when the stuff that gets on my clothes and caught in my hair will do more than just spark if I get too close to a naked flame!

But if all you are doing is displaying the fireworks how can the stuff get on your clothes and hair. Surely thay are boxed up and in the display cabinets.

 

[davesparks]

But if all you are doing is displaying the fireworks how can the stuff get on your clothes and hair. Surely thay are boxed up and in the display cabinets.

'Display' is the correct word used to describe an event where fireworks are fired. What you describe is a fireworks retailer

And then nothing you see in a display cabinet will be a firework, it will just be dummy boxes (by law)

Plus as part of the business we have an explosives factory licence where we can manufacture, manipulate and alter fireworks.

 

[Guest125]

'Display' is the correct word used to describe an event where fireworks are fired. What you describe is a fireworks retailer

And then nothing you see in a display cabinet will be a firework, it will just be dummy boxes (by law)

Plus as part of the business we have an explosives factory licence where we can manufacture, manipulate and alter fireworks.

Display also means a cabinet in which you display things. (But don't worry. I know what you meant).

I have definately brought ought fireworks from a display case (you specifically said 'nothing'). This is not true in my experience (but don't worry. I know what you meant).

Do do you get my point?

 

[davesparks]

Display also means a cabinet in which you display things. (But don't worry. I know what you meant).

I have definately brought ought fireworks from a display case (you specifically said 'nothing'). This is not true in my experience (but don't worry. I know what you meant).

Do do you get my point?

If the fireworks were in the display case then they will have been stored illegally and in contravention of their licence, a quick phone call to trading standards or the HSE will have them closed down.

 

[micknew]

If the fireworks were in the display case then they will have been stored illegally and in contravention of their licence, a quick phone call to trading standards or the HSE will have them closed down.

Don't confuse him lol.

 

[Guest125]

If the fireworks were in the display case then they will have been stored illegally and in contravention of their licence, a quick phone call to trading standards or the HSE will have them closed down.

No you don't get my point.

 

[micknew]

No you don't get my point.

Thats life, never mind.

 

[TJ Anderson]

But if all you are doing is displaying the fireworks how can the stuff get on your clothes and hair. Surely thay are boxed up and in the display cabinets.

I think I just wet myself LMFAO!! UKES your humour is wasted here. That was so funny. Magic. Please don't ever leave this forum.

 

[micknew]

As they say, it takes all sorts lol.

 

[Guest125]

Thats life, never mind.

Exactly. What I done is dissect his post although I fully understood what he meant but because he did not use the exact terminology correctly decided to try and make him look stupider than he really is. In effect I made myself look stupid. Davesparks seems to do this a lot to other people.