Naused it right up

[ga8ry]

Was putting a new concrete driveway in. And decided lights would be a good idea. So four driveway lights connected up. Quick continuity test and concrete poured. Connected up back in the house and it keeps throwing the trip. Another continuity test everything ok. Did an ir test 500v and got 0.01 across all 3 cables. Any ideas on how I went wrong and more importantly how to fix it lol

 

[Octopus]

Sounds like damp from the wet concrete to me!

 

[ga8ry]

It's only been down from Saturday, so it's still quite fresh. Think it cud dry out and be ok??

 

[Octopus]

what do you think......

 

[ga8ry]

Probably not :-(

 

[Octopus]

Why did you not do an IR test before you poured the concrete?

 

[dazza1981]

What cable did you use????

 

[ga8ry]

Concrete was arriving as I did final connections. Used hi tuff 1.5 in conduit

 

[GMES]

Agree with Murdoch ,an IR test is essential before powering up regardless of of it going in concrete or not.

 

[ga8ry]

Yea would tend to agree now lol

 

[Octopus]

Concrete was arriving as I did final connections. Used hi tuff 1.5 in conduit

And what were the connections contained in?

 

[dazza1981]

And what were the connections contained in?

Cement pmsl

 

[ga8ry]

The waterproof boxs supplies with the lights then wrapped in polythene

 

[Octopus]

The waterproof boxs supplies with the lights then wrapped in polythene

yeah right. What waterproof boxes specifically??

 

[ga8ry]

Pmsl dazza. The waterproof boxes black plastic. 3 trs glands and gusset around the lid

 

[Silly Sausage]

.......... more importantly how to fix it lol

 

[ga8ry]

****!!

 

[davesparks]

Are the connection boxes accessible?

 

[ga8ry]

With a big hammer maybe!

 

[Pete999]

Concrete was arriving as I did final connections. Used hi tuff 1.5 in conduit

Plastic conduit???

 

[ga8ry]

Yea plastic

 

[GMES]

View attachment 24770

Archy I bloody love you that wants nominating as the best answer of 2014

 

[telectrix]

thougfht of the hamlet ad. but then thought this might be more appropriate:

 

[davesparks]

With a big hammer maybe!

So you've used a suitably approved maintainence free connection then?

 

[ga8ry]

So to clarify, no one has a secret magical cure that avoids taking up the concrete?

 

[shanky887614]

So to clarify, no one has a secret magical cure that avoids taking up the concrete?

if you have a spoon and some klim tins

 

[Marvo]

Monitor the IR values over the next few days and see if there's a trend of it getting better. If you believe in a higher being now would be the time to be on your knees

I'm all out of magical cures but if the IR doesn't improve to around 1 Meg @ 250 volts then the only way I could suggest you might pull this out of the toilet is you may be able to convert the entire system to 12 volts depending on the fittings.

 

[ga8ry]

There just gu10 lamp holders with crimped joints inside the and I would have room for a transformer inside. I'll get the knee pads on and start praying

 

[Marvo]

I wasn't thinking about transformers in the light fittings, more like one single transformer somewhere near the point of supply before your dodgy cabling disappears into the concrete and maybe 12v LED lamps (or bulbs as they're known in the UK).

 

[Brightspark2]

Split the circuit up at each light and re test to try and locate the problem...

the concrete and maybe 12v LED lamps (or bulbs as they're known in the UK).

Lamps here too...

 

[staggie65]

Got a rule. If it's going in the ground, no Chinese ****. Design in maintanence above ground. I learned hard way too

 

[trev]

So to clarify, no one has a secret magical cure that avoids taking up the concrete?

Hire a moling contractor?

 

[ga8ry]

Might five that a go would be less labour intensive that digging up 6" of Crete in 3 places lol

 

[GMES]

I wasn't thinking about transformers in the light fittings, more like one single transformer somewhere near the point of supply before your dodgy cabling disappears into the concrete and maybe 12v LED lamps (or bulbs as they're known in the UK).

That's it Marvo kick a man when he's down :tounge_smile:

 

[Marvo]

That's it Marvo kick a man when he's down :tounge_smile:

I couldn't let him off scot free but I did sandwich it in with some good advice though

 

[GMES]

It's ok Marvo and regarding the op, he is a pillock for not doing his IR testing and i think he would agree with that.
But I do feel for the op he seems like a DOWN TO EARTH GUY :smilielol5::smilielol5:

 

[Plonker 3]

You did do the IR test with the loads disconnected didn't you?

 

[telectrix]

these guys could help.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...9-xwm9RjKG5liY8I****isQ&bvm=bv.67229260,d.ZGU

 

[ga8ry]

Yea no loads, when I eventually done the IR

 

[Silly Sausage]

Good to see Gazzer is taking all this in good humour; the Northern Irish, friendliest people in the UK I heard on the radio the other day.
OK, describe exactly what you've done, the actual bits of kit you used, etc. etc., might help to resolve the problem.

 

[GMES]

Agree with Archie. Also I don't know if it's been mentioned yet but if not, Split the circuit down and IR between everything it may not be as bad as it seems. You may not have to dig it all up,maybe a small section.

 

[ga8ry]

Are u sure it said friendliest?? That Doesnt sound like us. Lol

 

[ga8ry]

There is only 3 connections buried and I know where they are(almost) I'll give the 12v transformer ago with low voltage lamps. If not I'll get the pick out and channel the seven dwarfs lol

 

[Knobhead]

 

[GMES]

Gary just give it a couple of day's to see if the readings improve which as already been suggested. It may just yield a result for you!

 

[ga8ry]

Yea fingers crossed. Cheers everyone for the help and and the no so helpful pictures/videos :rofl:

 

[Silly Sausage]

Archy I bloody love you that wants nominating as the best answer of 2014

Easy with the bromance cock!

 

[GMES]

Easy with the bromance cock!

Maybe using Bromance and cock in the same sentence was not the best idea!, but don't fight it I say.

 

[Richard Burns]

Make sure you have checked inside the fittings to see they are not full of wet concrete!
Quick hairdryer in the fittings just in case (without melting the cables).
Getting low IR across all cores unfortunately does sound as if a connection has pulled out and been covered in concrete!

But concrete does get hot as it cures so it may dry it out, perhaps

 

[telectrix]

get digging while the concrete is still soft.