Emergency lighting fault

Smartguy · Jun 4, 2015

So I went to a job today where the mcb kept banging out on a emergency lighting circuit but once I turned up the mcb and been turned back on! After looking, what I had found it appears most the emergency light fittings lamp were nearly black and one had blown completely, as I went to check some off them one off the circuit boards was basically burning! I then discovered someone has connected into the circuit to run 3 fluorescent lights off it on the perm live side I'm guessing. There is also a switch connection on the same circuit which powers other light fittings. If these fluorescents where connected to the emerg lighting system would it cause one off the boards to burn and he the fittings to burn? I have now put the fitting on the switch lighting supply.

interesting.

tomspark93 · Jun 4, 2015

It should not cause them to "burn" no. If there was an overload the suitable over current protective device should trip. Any burning is more likely due to a loose connection which should be investigated Asap. If the internal wiring of the fitting is brushing against the ballast then this can cause heat damage and ultimately a break down in the insulation over time, especially when running for long periods of time.