Whats the fault :)

[axel132132]

As you all know my electrical knowledge is not great, my fault finding is also not great. So please Dont abuse im only asking so i have more knowledge to my customer - I know exactly how to test, wire and all that just thought id ask this get a more clear idea

SO

Phone call from local pub, "dave my lights keep blowing!" i go down, the lights are on.. He has a GRID switch with about 20 light switches on, as soon as he presses Outside Lights BOOM breaker trips.. NOW going through my head is obv there a short in one of lights or something..

Few questions, first he said its been doing this a while now but before he was able to switch the breaker back on in the board and all the lights would come back on. (<-- this be what confusing me).. Could this possibly be a broken breaker and not a short?

Im thinking maybe overload has broken the breaker as the breaker is a 6A breaker.. But yet has all the pub lights on downstairs, and also all the external lights.. There are about 10-15 SON light fittings outside and 2-3 Sign Lights and then a socket that has all the fairy lights plugged into it!

Also next question why would the breaker trip and not the RCD? As the circuit is RCD protected (Again this will help my knowledge and able me to learn so would be greatfull cheers)

 

[telectrix]

think what the OP means, E54, is that "before, he was able to reset the breaker and the lights would come on, now he can't reset". ( note the comma i have inserted after before.)

 

[i=p/u]

Otside light fitting id be starting,,,, waterlogged im guessing, but get in before opening with ladders and screwdriver, WAS IN A BUS STATION HUT LAST WEEK AND NO LIGHTS ALL 3 LAMPS HAD FAILED IN BATHROOM TAKING FUSE WITH IT, CHANGED LAMPS AND WALLA, ON CLOSER INSPECTION ALL JOINTS TAPED TOGETHER ABOVE FITTINGS, BUT NOT MY PROBLEM AS WE NEED ORDER NUMBER TO DO ANYMORE THAN GET THEM WORKING.......

 

[axel132132]

Yep faulty light fitting thought as much was just hoping was breaker haha!

Luckily the pub had a JB, were the Outside light fed the JB then the JB split all the lights up, so had Upper lights, Lower Lights, Door Lights, Wall Lights... Just disconnected each cable tried until didnt trip.. Upper lights it was again luckily there was just 3 on the circuit!

Job Sorted + One happy customer!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I didn't have time to check the load or anything, i was just quickly passing and thought maybe he had a tripped breaker or something as he just said my outside lights Dont work

a good pointer for you mate....
whenever you go to a place caus MCBs wont hold etc....always suspect an outside fitting if on the circuit ...eliminate that before owt else....
caus a lot of the time thats where it`l be...

 

[Engineer54]

think what the OP means, E54, is that "before, he was able to reset the breaker and the lights would come on, now he can't reset". ( note the comma i have inserted after before.)

OK, That makes a lot more sense!! ...lol!!

 

[Robert Turnbull]

I didn't have time to check the load or anything, i was just quickly passing and thought maybe he had a tripped breaker or something as he just said my outside lights Dont work

a good pointer for you mate....
whenever you go to a place caus MCBs wont hold etc....always suspect an outside fitting if on the circuit ...eliminate that before owt else....
caus a lot of the time thats where it`l be...

Especially if its rainy season and its only just started to happen

 

[Darkwood]

Alot of inductive lights on one mcb... probably crap circuit design and as one of the ballasts gets a little worse and creates a added inrush issue you get an intermittent tripping problem... give us exact lamp sizes, no' of fittings and type and il tell you the required mcb.

 

[axel132132]

Mate you should see this place.. 10A breaker feeds all lights in building.. Inside id say possibly about 10, 50 watt lamps.. OUTSIDE id say about 10-15 200 watt lights, followed by about 10 50 watt lamps followed by the whole pub being covering in christmas tree lights constantly.. Followed by car park lights! All fed of a 1.5mm T+E coming out of the building into a JB.. Out of the JB in FP cable to each light

Pro electricians -_-!

 

[ian.settle1]

3-4 Kw+ of lighting of a 10A breaker, it is a wonder it will stay in with that load for the full night

 

[telectrix]

trypical pub installation. keep loading it up till it breaks, then gripe ast the cost of doing it right.

 

[Rockingit]

it is a wonder it will stay in with that load for the full night

It's a pub....once you start you just can't stop............ :54: