Problem...too much electricity!

[davhill]

Here's a weird one that's suitable for losing my forum virginity...

The villain of the piece is my stair head light, which went out one evening. No drama, no breaker tripping, just darkness. So, I whipped out the existing energy saver and changed it. Nothing. So, I tried another one, and an incandescent. Result, seven times the square root of foxtrot alpha.

Next day, I returned with an LED neon thingy from GnomeBase.

The light can be switched from both levels so I took out the top (single) switch to reveal...lots of red wire, and there were lives to detect in there.

'Check the bulb holder' I thought. Here's where it gets strange. Both pins inside tested as live!

The holder and ceiling rose were aged so I just changed it. No evident damage to the wires coming from the loft and no evidence of crosstalk between live and neutral. All changing the rise has done is make the tester light brighter.

So I'm stumped. Nothing else has been fiddled with so something has failed all by its little self. The bottom line is therefore simple...er, Help,

Cheers, David

 

[The Ghost]

Any chance of a picture or two?

 

[telectrix]

i'd suspect a fault on the neutral. and chuck that neon driver in the bin if it's the type you have to put a finger on the end. then i'd advise getting an electrician in. with the relevant experience and test gear, should be sorted for the sake of a call-out charge. compare that with the cost of getting even a mild shock and falling down the stairs, breaking bones etc.

 

[LankyWill]

Possible faulty switch or either a loose connection somewhere, best get a spark in to sort it. I would advise throwing the neon screwdriver in the bin and stop sticking it in places you don't really understand. Not being an arse just hate for you to look a numpty in a pile at the bottom of the stairs.

 

[davhill]

Thank you, gents.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, scraped off the film. I once found the only quick way down the spiral staircase and have had many shocks.

You can accept that advice has been taken 100% on board.

Vortigern want pictures. Of what, I wonder?

 

[telectrix]

Thank you, gents.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, scraped off the film. I once found the only quick way down the spiral staircase and have had many shocks.

You can accept that advice has been taken 100% on board.

Vortigern want pictures. Of what, I wonder?

your girlfriend/wife in her underwear of course.

 

[Toneyz]

What type of lamp holder is it ?as above if post some pictures it would be more helpful

 

[davhill]

It's a bog standard pendant fitting...



Here's where it gets weirder still...



This is the dimmer switch in the bedroom, just off the stair head.
The LED thingy is busy telling me that the securing screws are
allegedly live. The same goes for the single switch at the top of the stairs.
Given I opened that one yesterday without receiving a shock, the
probe thing is clearly telling porkies. It'll be binned next.

 

[Rpa07]

Any chance of a picture or two?

Look what you've done now! There's a neon screwdriver in that 2nd photo - I NEED TO WASH!
No offence @davhill - you didn't know!

 

[Des 56]

That screwdriver likely won't help finding your problem
From your description it would appear you have lost the neutral return,have you changed any other lights recently?
That decorative switch is metal,is your lighting earthed?

 

[davhill]

It's actually an LED one, a whole quid from Gnomebase. It claims to do everything but make the the tea - it has batteries and everything. Perhaps I should've got the neon one instead - know where I am with one of those.

 

[Toneyz]

I think that if you can't find anything obvious eg broken cable you need to call a electrician.

 

[The Ghost]

Those neon screwdrivers can be very misleading as they can detect as low as 12v. It is entirely possible to get up to 15v on earth and maybe that is the case. You can only really tell the voltage with a proper v. measurement instrument. As has been advised, throw, you know how to throw don't you @davhill ? (paraphrasing Bogart film) Pictures, well maybe not- I was thinking of the wiring NOT i repeat NOT what @telectrix suggested (wife is watching gotta say something, although...ah nvm). As stated by @telectrix very likely a neutral problem, which translates as a wire has come adrift somewhere. Maybe you should get a spark to track it down. Always a chance when looking for loose connections of sparks and bangs if you don't approach it right.

 

[ackbarthestar]

your girlfriend/wife in her underwear of course.

don't you mean: 'your wife's girlfriend' ?
Most likely a floating neutral voltage.......

 

[telectrix]

don't you mean: 'your wife's girlfriend' ?
Most likely a floating neutral voltage.......

get up to speed. it's gender neutral voltage these days according to the politically inept brigade.

 

[davhill]

Floating neutral? Isn't that to do with the Swiss navy?

Have disembowelled the LED thing so I now have a spare screwdriver...and some mercury cells!

Here comes Plan B...

1: Go to Scroofix.

2: Get 1x double switch and 1x single one.

3: Switch off consumer unit.

4: Fit switches, wiring like for like, seeking any strays.

5: Fire up and see.

6: Rejoice in the knowledge that the bits with moving parts are new.

7: Wait for sparky chum to arrive to do planned inspection for holiday accommodation safety.

By the way, the dimmer switch is earthed.

No other changes save for putting 12v LED GU10s in kitchen a while ago.

Talk me down, tower...

 

[telectrix]

Floating neutral? Isn't that to do with the Swiss navy?

Have disembowelled the LED thing so I now have a spare screwdriver...and some mercury cells!

Here comes Plan B...

1: Go to Scroofix.

2: Get 1x double switch and 1x single one.

3: Switch off consumer unit.

4: Fit switches, wiring like for like, seeking any strays.

5: Fire up and see.

6: Rejoice in the knowledge that the bits with moving parts are new.

7: Wait for sparky chum to arrive to do planned inspection for holiday accommodation safety.

By the way, the dimmer switch is earthed.

No other changes save for putting 12v LED GU10s in kitchen a while ago.

Talk me down, tower...

when it still don't work, bale out.

 

[davhill]

Will do, Skipper.

It's actually two 2-gang switches so plan B will cost about £6...plus the skin grafts.

 

[telectrix]

and the new underpants.

 

[davhill]

You underestimate a man of my calibre...
That's .177