Damn it; no shed lights.

[Toggy]

Was in the workshop most of the day and the lights worked ok. Left them on when I came over for a bite to eat. I went back between rain showers and could see light shining from the shed. By the time that I had walked the last 15 metres the shed was in darkness. Checked the circuit breaker and it was on. Jiggled it to make sure it was seated OK and heard a slight fizzle sound. No lights. Swapped it out for a fuse which was conveniently lying on a ledge under the power board. No lights. Pulled the fuse and looked at the guts of the fuse block using the torch. Bottom connection has wire. Top connection empty. Locked up and went home.

About a month ago we had a pea soup fog. Heavy fog was inside the shed also and everything was wet. When I turned the light switch on there was a crackling from the fuse board and the lights went out and circuit breaker tripped. I reseated it and reset it. Turned the lights on and everything has worked until tonight.

I am guessing that the crackling sound was that of the wire arcing out until the gap got too large to jump. Had that sound happen on the house switchboard a few years ago at 11pm each night until one morning there was no hot water. Sparky opened up the board and there was about 1" of wire missing from the HWS circuit.

Looks like this has happened in the workshop.

Time to make some room for the sparky around the fuse board in the morning and give him a call.

And to rub salt into the wounds; the Mrs is watching class Z crap on TV.

Ken

[Opelblues2]

sound very much like my dads shed,15 years ago. old wire fuses. upgraded them to plug in circuit breakers. no electrician needed.

and the Quote before the upgrade " DAD a nail is not a Fuse"

[Michael G]

For emergency lighting, you might try one of these -
http://www.cheapaschips.com/products...r-panel-light/
I bought a couple the other day on a recommendation and they are not bad - $10 each, run off 3AA cells and have both light and motion sensors in there
I actually bought them to put around the parents-in-laws' place so they did not have to juggle a torch while using a walking frame when waking in the middle of the night - however, as 'emergency lighting' in the shed they would do quite well.

Michael

[Toggy]

I will have you know that my wiring was "state of the art" when it was installed in 1954. I have had a safety switch installed and plug in breakers and the black insulated wire has all been replaced. And there has been no nails or fencing wire used as fuses in my time here.

I am guessing that the terminal screw may have slacked off causing the wire to arc out. I could have plugged a flood light into the power circuit as it was still operative.

Ken

[neksmerj]

Hi Toggy,

Got any possums around your joint, those buggers will have a go at anything?

The little blighters got into my exhaust fan roof vent and disconnected the cable powering the fan, not only that, they have disturbed the flashing around the vent causing it to leak when raining.

If it's not one thing it's something else like pulling out unwanted bamboo, but that's another story not to mention the constant onslaught of bills. I said not to mention............

Ken

[.RC.]

I prefer the old wire fuses myself... My shed got "upgraded" with click down fuses, now the mig welder when run flat out blows the 15 amp circuit breaker all the time.. It only ever did it once when the wire fuses were there...

[PDW]

I prefer the old wire fuses myself... My shed got "upgraded" with click down fuses, now the mig welder when run flat out blows the 15 amp circuit breaker all the time.. It only ever did it once when the wire fuses were there...

Put in a 20A breaker and run 4mm wire, problem solved.....

PDW

[eskimo]

I prefer the old wire fuses myself... My shed got "upgraded" with click down fuses, now the mig welder when run flat out blows the 15 amp circuit breaker all the time.. It only ever did it once when the wire fuses were there...

Put in a 20A breaker and run 4mm wire, problem solved.....

PDW

yep 20a or motor start CB

[Toggy]

Don't know what all the hoo haa is about. The lights work great. Well.... after the electrician opened the fuse board and repaired a very scorched wire that had somehow backed out of the fuse block terminal. He was cautious opening the board as he has had numerous rodents jump out at him; especially in dairies.

The shed is much brighter now; so I am guessing that there had been a gradual power loss to the lights and lowering their efficiency.

Ken