One to confuse you all!!

[axel132132]

Right then this has now happened to me twice.. and ive not a clue whats going on so if anyone has had the same issue it would be good to see what causing it.

Anyways SO i have a 2G2W light switch upstairs and a 2G2W light switch downstairs.. I Wire them both correct.. Up have Brown from 3-core in Common, then black in L1 and grey in L2 and Live in in L1 and Live out in L2.. that controls the lights on the stairs..

Then i do exactly the same with the upstairs lights. Feed in, feed out L1 + L2 etc.. ok all simple so far..

NOW COMES THE CONFUSING BIT..

The stair lights are working fine on the 2-way wikid..
The LED spotlights in the celing dont work.. OK

SO i swap the cables, basically swapping the switch.. NOW the LED spotlights work on the 2-way but the stair lights dont..

OK so maybe the switch is broke.. Change the switch (TWICE still dosent work)..

Umm maybe i have a strapper down or something.. Bell out the strappers.. BELL OUT FINE.. ok now WHAT the hell is going on here??????? Switch is fine, strappers fine and if i move the strappers from one switch to the other it works so this proves that the Live IN to switch and the Live to the light works an that all the lamps are working..

any ideas anyone?

cheers

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Hang on folks, how does a broken test lead on a meter cause a two way switch circuit NOT to work? Axel, I have tried to help, can you please explain what the fault was (in simple terms for a dummie like me!)

 

[Tidy Max]

i read it as it wasn't the test leads that were broke but one of the cores in the lighting circuit.

The test meter was registering continuity through the broken core however it wasn't continuous.

Thus broken meter, and broken circuit.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[nikmet]

But the test meter would be registering continuity before it was even connected if that was the case??

 

[VoltzElectrical]

ok. I have had broken cores in a brand new cable too. Sounds unbelievable but it does happen. Bit of a head scratcher at the time but break down the circuit and test and fault found. Bit strange cable giving continuity on a broken core though. Especially as the circuit WORKED WHEN PUT ON ANOTHER SWITCH!

 

[nikmet]

Think im gonna have to bow out of this, certainly an interesting fault indeed

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Dunno about you guys, but I use a Fluke T5-1000 with built in clamp meter for general belling out, voltage testing ect...

The FIRST thing I do is switch it on, and select the required function - Voltage/ current/ continuity.

The SECOND thing i do if checking for continuity is join the bloody leads together to check it works! FFS 4 sparks couldn't get that right?

What's that funny smell?

 

[Amp David]

Also the t120 isn't really the best thing to be belling out with, as it screams its ---- off if you hold one tip in each hand.

Has someone let one rip in here, or is it the BS starting to pong a bit? :biggrin5:

 

[bigbaddave]

Im waiting for the punchline...

 

[Guest55]

9 pages on a poxy domestic lighting fault - awesome lol.
only 2 pages short of the epic "9.5kw shower on 6mm" thread.
anyone else feel a tad embarassed that this fault wasnt nailed within 2 pages lol.

 

[bigbaddave]

9 pages on a poxy domestic lighting fault - awesome lol.
only 2 pages short of the epic "9.5kw shower on 6mm" thread.
anyone else feel a tad embarassed that this fault wasnt nailed within 2 pages lol.

OMG i missed the "9.5kw shower on 6mm" When was that posted??

 

[Guest55]

a good 3-4 months ago , it made the spanish inquisition look brief lol.
i'll try and dig it out later

 

[Guest55]

Here BBD , enjoy it in its full 17 page glory........

http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...electrical-forum/56288-9-5-kw-shower-6mm.html

the thread that all other threads are measured against

 

[Seank]

I agree with ackbarthestar do a wiring diagram you may find the problem is staring you in the face. Works for me.

 

[vernam616]

It was 2nd fixed incorrectly and let that be the end of it

Hopefully you have learnt two things from this

1. How to 2nd fix 2 way lighting

2. Not to come on here asking how to work out a fault that was never there and become abusive when you get sussed and your pantys pulled down


I have been using fluke testers identical to that for 10yrs, never let me down once why......... Because they are used correctly

 

[SYKRAPS]

Here BBD , enjoy it in its full 17 page glory........

http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...electrical-forum/56288-9-5-kw-shower-6mm.html

the thread that all other threads are measured against

Epic thread:90:

 

[VoltzElectrical]

It was 2nd fixed incorrectly and let that be the end of it

Hopefully you have learnt two things from this

1. How to 2nd fix 2 way lighting

2. Not to come on here asking how to work out a fault that was never there and become abusive when you get sussed and your pantys pulled down


I have been using fluke testers identical to that for 10yrs, never let me down once why......... Because they are used correctly

I love 'em, they're bomb proof. I've seen 'em in a hellava state in toolboxes and still going strong (not mine, they're in a case and cherished!). I want to get the crock clip accessory for them.

 

[IzzyS]

Having trawled my way through this post, it all becomes clear. The Fluke T120 continuity tester will still buzz for high resistances. It is not broken, it is operating within its intended design specification.



The morale is use a proper tester - had the OP bothered to follow the procedure and performed the dead tests, rather than "bang testing", this thread wouldn't have existed and we, the forum members, wouldn't have collectively wasted hours reading it all and slagging each other off.

 

[jase]

Right then this has now happened to me twice.. and ive not a clue whats going on so if anyone has had the same issue it would be good to see what causing it.

Anyways SO i have a 2G2W light switch upstairs and a 2G2W light switch downstairs.. I Wire them both correct.. Up have Brown from 3-core in Common, then black in L1 and grey in L2 and Live in in L1 and Live out in L2.. so where is your SL ? shouldnt it be live in/out in L1 and SL in L2 ?that controls the lights on the stairs..

Then i do exactly the same with the upstairs lights. Feed in, feed out L1 + L2 etc.. ok all simple so far..

NOW COMES THE CONFUSING BIT..

The stair lights are working fine on the 2-way wikid..wikid??
The LED spotlights in the celing dont work.. OK

SO i swap the cables, basically swapping the switch.. NOW the LED spotlights work on the 2-way but the stair lights dont..

OK so maybe the switch is broke.. Change the switch (TWICE still dosent work)..

Umm maybe i have a strapper down or something.. Bell out the strappers.. BELL OUT FINE.. ok now WHAT the hell is going on here??????? Switch is fine, strappers fine and if i move the strappers from one switch to the other it works so this proves that the Live IN to switch and the Live to the light works an that all the lamps are working..

any ideas anyone?

cheers

..............................................................

 

[Amp David]

Having trawled my way through this post, it all becomes clear. The Fluke T120 continuity tester will still buzz for high resistances.

View attachment 15629

The morale is use a proper tester - had the OP bothered to follow the procedure and performed the dead tests, rather than "bang testing", this thread wouldn't have existed and we, the forum members, wouldn't have collectively wasted hours reading it all and slagging each other off.

It only took 127 posts, all counts though for the forum

 

[StuSpiers]

I want my 30 minutes back.

10 pages ffs!

 

[Geordie Spark]

Broken tester, the Common link brown of 3-core belled out fine with my tester.. But when i put pressure on anything with the probes it belled out fine.. I pressed one down on a wall and the other on my arm and it said it was a circuit

SO the issue wasnt as simple as all put out to be, cable belled out fine BUT due to testers being broken wasnt fine therefore that was the issue

Sorry for late reply been busy

:icon_bs::icon_bs:

 

[Amp David]

Of topic slightly, but did you get the Astra sorted in the end axel132132?

 

[UNG]

I recall back in the days when I went to college they drummed into you how to choose the correct test instrument for the job in hand and understanding the specifications and limitations of various test equipment that was available. It appears now many years later when a greater emphasis is placed on testing an important section of the training is missing.

Had a problem the other day and narrowed it down to a dodgy test lead as the tester was giving erratic readings but understanding the meter and carrying out some simple tests confirmed the problem without any confusion or irrational posts on a forum. May be this just highlights the failing training that a small section of the industry appears to support with the scam systems we have giving credibility to woefully under trained operatives

I wonder how many installations have been tested with faulty instruments or test leads

 

[Amp David]

^^^^ thats because you went to college and not a training centre

 

[axel132132]

Lol amp yeh mate I put some red ex in and it seemed to fix it how mental is that

 

[Amp David]

Cheap fix then, which makes a change.

Still use a similar product on a regular basis on my van to keep it running sweet.

 

[axel132132]

Yeh quality it was and im guessing very lucky ha! OH i also put abit of that Coolant seeler you know the radweld you pour it in coolent and it blocks holes.

Did this about a month ago, this didnt sort anything, but then put Red Ex in about a week ago and it still did it for about 3 days after Red Ex then stopped doing it

 

[Elmer BeFuddled]

What's that funny smell?

Sorry!! :redface:

 

[ackbarthestar]

I recall back in the days when I went to college they drummed into you how to choose the correct test instrument for the job in hand and understanding the specifications and limitations of various test equipment that was available. It appears now many years later when a greater emphasis is placed on testing an important section of the training is missing.

Had a problem the other day and narrowed it down to a dodgy test lead as the tester was giving erratic readings but understanding the meter and carrying out some simple tests confirmed the problem without any confusion or irrational posts on a forum. May be this just highlights the failing training that a small section of the industry appears to support with the scam systems we have giving credibility to woefully under trained operatives

I wonder how many installations have been tested with faulty instruments or test leads

I agree.

The electrical training is woefully inadequate. The employers get you up to speed in the areas that they are going to receive maximum immediate profit and the rest, such as motors, generators, switching arrangements, design, I&T get left because its too costly to give a breadth of education.

Forums like this one are a valuable source of information and should encourage trainees and those who are new to the industry to develop their skills and knowledge. However, it should also come with a health warning since those who pose curious questions are likely to get curious answers which, by the way, are often quite entertaining :rockon2::rockon2:

 

[UNG]

Forums like this one are a valuable source of information and should encourage trainees and those who are new to the industry to develop their skills and knowledge. However, it should also come with a health warning since those who pose curious questions are likely to get curious answers which, by the way, are often quite entertaining :rockon2::rockon2:

While forums may be a valuable resource to newcomers they are not a replacement for a basic breadth and understanding of core knowledge that is gained over a few years not a few weeks doing peripheral qualifications. Now it is too easy to engage keyboard rather than look up or research the answer, how would these training companies survive if they expected people to go to a library and find answers that way. I find it a bit arrogant that some posters get upset when their questions go unanswered or they don't get the answer they expect but that's the way it appears to be these days

By curious questions I assume you mean those stupid you should know the answer if your qualified questions