testing help

[kristian]

heres one for u! called out to a job today with a claim of multiple faults on lights and smell of burning. (in a clothes shop)

got to the job. and was 3 paranoid ladies. informed me they heard a big bang, lights went off and they smelt fire!!!
lights were all off at the breaker, i gave all the lights in question a visual inspection. saw no signs of burning or damage so flicked breaker on, with no problem!! waited 30mins and still no problem. lights were 2 modulas and 8 downlights in the changing room.
i then noticed in a carridor a strip light that was out with visual signs of burning and the plastic ends had gone very brittal from the heat. i told client and they said no its definately these lights!
i removed strip light and made circuit safe cause was an obvious problem.

im not a qualified tester so not sure wat to do next..

any advice???

 

[telectrix]

you have done an emergency repair. no paperwork required. your next job would be to fit a new light fitting. again you can do a MWC, but that is optional , as you will not have altered any circuit characteristics. Part p does not apply.

 

[thekingiam]

I would say something like' jesus thats going to cost a bit and god you want to get that looked at right away!' then say i will have a look at if you want, my rates are think of a number. Then take a look at condition of electrics check downlighters are fire rated, isulation isnt burnt insulation resistance test if possible after a while state if good but say you can't fully state there is not a problem without doing a full pir your price for this would be 'state enough for a new meter' if she ever gets back to you your laughing.

 

[thekingiam]

was thinking of going around a few shops with some smoldering elecrical cable in my bag then turning up like superman, but they usualy call there own guys in.

 

[nickblake]

One of the biggest problems with shops that i have found was people wiring in twin and earth straight into the fitting terminal block which is normally 5 amp , then to the next and the next and the next , one of the problems with doing that is that the first terminal block has the total load of the other lights on it and have seen on an umber of occasions these blocks burning out , realy it should be twe into an jb then flex to the fitting then there is no problem about loading , im sure what i have just said has nothing to do with this thread but may be it has

 

[Sparky Ninja]

The demand on connections to luminaires in shops is much greater, and some electricians don't accommodate this when considering their choice of wiring and connection methods.

 

[kristian]

- yea so ill fit the new strip light. and be done with it really.

- trouble is we do a lot of work for homeserve and they fund it via insurance so they will just tell me to do wat evers needed. i reckon the ladies are lyin! the smell has came from the strip light were i can see the damage, its also blown and theyve nocked off another circuit! this is why women work in shops not sites!!!

-smolderin cables is not a bad idea, u could tell them it will be to late by the time ur guys get here repairs need doin stat!!

nickblake that does apply here, thats exactly how the lights are all wired and prob the cause of the problem.

so reckon tomorrow ill just replace the strip light, do an insulation test on the other lights and be done!

little swines didnt even offer me a cup of tea while there standin round gossipin!!