The dark loft.

[westward10]

I rewired my loft three or four years ago fitting two twin 58w fluorescents. Been up and down getting Christmas stuff down, about the third time there was a pop from one of the fittings and it stopped working. Back up there today and a bigger pop from the other which took the breaker out now I have darkness, looked in both and no signs of damage or water ingress and whilst it may be a bit damp up there I never expected them both to go at virtually the same time.

 

[buzzlightyear]

have darkness, looked in both and no signs of damage or water ingress and whilst it may be a bit damp up there

Have you rang a local spark to assist, what I'm on about, could you have walked on a cable and damage it, IR the cable and all will be revealed.any way
I'm off to the pub for more drink po.

 

[ruston]

I rewired my loft three or four years ago fitting two twin 58w fluorescents. Been up and down getting Christmas stuff down, about the third time there was a pop from one of the fittings and it stopped working. Back up there today and a bigger pop from the other which took the breaker out now I have darkness, looked in both and no signs of damage or water ingress and whilst it may be a bit damp up there I never expected them both to go at virtually the same time.

I had this a few months ago, a little furry friend had made a railway line out of the FTE.

 

[buzzlightyear]

made a railway line out of the FTE

What kind of engine was you liitle friend
Driving. Chew chew train.

 

[ruston]

What kind of engine was you liitle friend
Driving. Chew chew train.

I think it was the disorientated express.

 

[westward10]

There is absolutely no evidence of damage and the cables are such they are never trod on the pops definitely came from the fittings.

 

[buzzlightyear]

There is absolutely no evidence of damage and the cables are such they are never trod on the pops definitely came from the fittings.

The games afoot Watson.

 

[James]

unless you want to be working over the holidays
invest in one of these?

NEBO Luxtreme Rechargeable LED Torch

Professional LED torch supplier. We stock high quality LED torches, Ledlenser, Maglite, Coast, Nitecore, Fenix, Olight, Elwis, Unilite, Xtar, Silverpoint, Duracell including professional torch, head torch, dive torch, key ring torch

www.torchdirect.co.uk

 

[buzzlightyear]

unless you want to be working over the holidays
invest in one of these?

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjtnszm0JD1AhVB6-0KHXiCAFAYABALGgJkZw&ae=2&sig=AOD64_0LliAq5lJN-xWuWuOaSp4pP8Zghg&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjatsLm0JD1AhXYQUEAHaEKD8EQwg96BAgBEDU&dct=1&adurl=

Like a candle in wind, bloody hell any body got any matches.

 

[loz2754]

I hope westward10 is not going to keep us all in the dark on this one....

 

[buzzlightyear]

hope westward10 is not going to keep us all in the dark on this one....

He need to share some light on it.

 

[brianmoooore]

,,Only thing that's likely to go 'pop' in a old style switch start fluorescent fitting is the PF correction capacitor, assuming they have one fitted

 

[westward10]

No they are only four years old so electronic chokes.

 

[brianmoooore]

Plenty of things to go pop in electronic ballasts. Bypass them and stick in LED tubes.

 

[westward10]

Could do but will just completely replace them.

 

[mattg4321]

Electronic ballasts absolute carp in my experience.

 

[mart spark]

Electro if ballast if it had that unique burnt odor

 

[Dave OCD]

I'd get a couple of the 5' 'high output' LED battens, they give at least as much light if not more that the old twin flourescent - and instant 100% light.

 

[westward10]

I'd get a couple of the 5' 'high output' LED battens, they give at least as much light if not more that the old twin flourescent - and instant 100% light.

It is exactly what I am going to do.

 

[Dave OCD]

Or if there's room the six footers are only a few quid more ?

 

[westward10]

Or if there's room the six footers are only a few quid more ?

Probably will put 6ft in there is plenty of space.

 

[Dave OCD]

The only downside to these home jobs is you can't give anybody a bill.

 

[westward10]

I only used floris originally as the wholesaler was flogging them off cheap as LEDs were a much higher price back then

 

[Dave OCD]

I'd have done the same.

 

[OnlQQker]

What's the temperatures like in the loft. I had some that blew once when starting up from very cold. Could of just been coincidence though

 

[westward10]

What's the temperatures like in the loft. I had some that blew once when starting up from very cold. Could of just been coincidence though

It is very cold in the winter and by the time the tube gases had stopped swirling and got to temperature I had done what I needed to do up there.

 

[littlespark]

I’m…. Im confused…. Are you saying you’re still up in the loft? Can’t see for getting down??

 

[westward10]

I’m…. Im confused…. Are you saying you’re still up in the loft? Can’t see for getting down??

You know any decent electricians

 

[littlespark]

You know any decent electricians

On this forum?

HAAAA!

 

[James]

You know any decent electricians

Sorry, I don’t
for people claiming to be experts at this electric stuff, try the plumbers forum!

 

[telectrix]

give pete999 a ring. he's in northampton and loves climbing into attics.

 

[marconi]

https://www.researchgate.net/figure...ration-employed-in-most-of-the_fig1_261095054

It may be that the electrolytic capacitors in the electronic ballast needed reforming after a long period without being energised. Over time the oxide layer which provides some necessary insulation in the aluminimum-electrolyte rolled sandwich becomes thinner and thence unable to withstand the operating potential difference between anode and cathode. See:

Electrolytic Capacitor | Types | Capacitor Guide - https://eepower.com/capacitor-guide/types/electrolytic-capacitor/#

Upon applying power then after a long period these capacitors, especially the smoothing capacitor act like a low resistance and a large current flows; IsquaredR - in a small space equals rapid heating and a pop.

As an example here are some instructions for an ABB electronic motor drives which have not been used for a while:

https://library.e.abb.com/public/79...892e4/Guide_for_capacitor_reforming_Rev_G.pdf