What's your definition of 'ghost voltage' ?

[Lucien Nunes]

I don't like the term 'ghost voltage' a.k.a. 'phantom voltage*' much, not least because it's rather loosely defined and probably means different things to different people. I also suspect that quite a few people use the term without really understanding what it is they are referring to.

My definition of what constitutes 'ghost voltage' is quite specific, but first, what is yours?

*OTOH 'phantom power' (as used to power condenser mics and other audio sources via the signal cable) is a different kettle of spooks and very clearly defined.

 

[Dave OCD]

How much ??!!

 

[Lucien Nunes]

A notional £300/hour, based on being able to complete a faultfinding and repair job from start to finish in 6 minutes, with a minimum charge of £30 per job.

My point being that although I hear what Vortigern says and I get where he's coming from, many jobbing sparks might still easily recoup the time invested in mastering some troubleshooting skills.

 

[Vortigern]

Well I did earn that much the other day (notionally!) when asked to trouble shoot lights not coming on and emergency lights non operational in a commercial set of toilets. They had looked at the problem and no one could solve it. Twenty secs looking and I solved the problem. That is because the whole system is in my head like a computer simulation and I reasoned it out pretty fast it was actually quite simple. Some scamps had got up to mischief and turned out the stubs left on the pull switch (left after conversion to sensors) on a ceiling four meters high, don't know how they managed to get up there. So there are more ways...etc. I do accept your posit that a higher level technical knowledge can increase the chances of discovering what the problem is but most of my problem solving is straight forward shorts, disconnections failed components pretty straightforward. But I love to hear your thoughts on some of the more tech aspects, not that I might add I fully understand it all.
P.S. but that job you did....was in your own house though?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

They had looked at the problem and no one could solve it.

This.

IMO, every spark should be able to resolve, with certainty and efficiency, simple problems with things not connected up right, disconnects, shorts, the things you mention. But it took someone with a bit more imagination and skill to do so.

No, that broken strapper was not in my house, I don't have any intermediates, my wiring isn't that posh. OTOH I don't touch domestic wiring commercially; I just fixed it for a customer while I was there for something else.

I should do some faultfinding videos. There are many separate aspects to good faultfinding, I could write a very thick book about it but who would read it? So much more fun to find out for real why the jukebox plays the wrong record or the washing machine sometimes stops at the second spin, or the spatial interpolator aperture function looks a bit off.