Fault - the smell is like an old "cap" gun

[Octopus]

Ok - this is going to sound odd but a good customer of mine has a fault on a lighting circuit - the odd thing is that the smell was like the "cap" guns from my early days!

Any suggestions of what might make that smell (assuming you remember it too)

I've given them a quick temporary fix for tonight so they don't have use of 3 sets of lights .......... and will be going back tomorrow when its light and I have more time

Thanks

 

[ruston]

Ozone caused by arcing.

 

[chris gray]

I would guess at a loose connection

 

[westward10]

Maybe they have been firing a cap gun.

 

[Octopus]

Maybe they have been firing a cap gun.

I would have thought that a "staff member" would be better than that.

 

[ruston]

I got chucked out of the pictures for firing one when I was a lad.
It was a lone star Lone Ranger look alike.

 

[ipf]

Don't forget to take your water pistol with you when you go back

 

[ruston]

And a mask if it is strong.

 

[ipf]

And a mask if it is strong.

Why? Tonto never had one.

 

[KEV 1 N]

Is this one of those “shot in the dark” faults or is it gonna be easy to fix like “shooting fish in a barrel” but don’t “jump the gun” or you might end up “shooting yourself in the foot”

Can’t think of any more gun puns!!

 

[ruston]

Why? Tonto never had one.

It was him that made all the smells. That is why he was always behind Kemosabe.

 

[GMES]

What about a burnt out transformer somewhere, just thinking of the smell of melted plastic.

 

[ruston]

Could be , or Bakelite. Depends how old the gear is .

 

[Octopus]

There is some MICC on this circuit ...........

 

[westward10]

Sounds like it could be some old electrical insulating varnish, any old floris on site.

 

[Dave OCD]

I was just going to suggest an old choke/ballast overheating.
Knackered old lampholders tend to smell 'fishy' rather than the old cap gun smell.

 

[PEG]

Sulphurous and fulminate type odours,can also come from baking insects and beetles,in,say a light fitting...

I went to give an opinion on a particularly poor new CU fitment,last week...the fitter is allegedly a scheme member...all i could smell was fear...

 

[stevethesparks]

After viewing several posters in different threads, I think we need a "miserable git" button.

 

[PEG]

After viewing several posters in different threads, I think we need a "miserable git" button.

...Which ironically,is what my missus calls my parts...

 

[buzzlightyear]

Could be old VIr cable .just thinking about that .the smell i took the grankds to watch the big giants in tels neck of the woods and can you imagine the crowds there.where some s&&t desided to have S&&t inthe crowed and woman in front of us had walk in it and the smell .
the woman in front did not where to look .trying to get it off like trying to get snow off her boots .