Electrician Google

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Electrician Google

dunnersdude

162 posts

Master Geek

#215208 16-Jun-2017 19:03

Have a sudden issue at my house. Turned on a light and a spark and audible bang resulted from the stem where the light bulb attaches. 10A fuse on the switchboard blows.

I reset switch and try again - boom! Same thing with a visible spark and audible bang. Light bulb worked momentarily and isn't blown.

I switch the light bulb and boom! Same thing. At this stage I give up and will call for electrical help.

Any ideas on likely problem? Hoping it won't be expensive.

1 | 2

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1802337 16-Jun-2017 19:05

Try removing the bulb while the circuit breaker is off and see if that works for now.

Edit:

BTW, a 10 amp breaker sounds a bit high for a lighting circuit. I thought 6 amps was the highest they're supposed to be.

Ge0rge

2056 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1802338 16-Jun-2017 19:05

What sort of bulb?

dunnersdude

162 posts

Master Geek

#1802339 16-Jun-2017 19:06

40W Edison bulb. Sorry should have mentioned there is now no light bulb installed. Tried turning the switch on - Boom.

Ge0rge

2056 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1802346 16-Jun-2017 19:11

Hmmm. Hanging fitting (ie exposed metal etc) or recessed downlight?

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1802348 16-Jun-2017 19:14

You definitely need a sparkie. Fault is probably just a loose live wire touching the neutral or earth. So should be an easy fix unless your wiring is old failing rubber insulated wiring.

Note that some methods of wiring the lights have the power going to the light first then the switch. So that is why turning the switch off doesn't stop it from going bang.

Fuse / circuit breaker size depends on size and length of cable to explain in simple terms. So 10A may be ok. Ask the sparkie while they are there.

dunnersdude

162 posts

Master Geek

#1802350 16-Jun-2017 19:15

Ge0rge

2056 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1802352 16-Jun-2017 19:18

Ahhh - bayonet rather than edison. No matter - it will be as above - one of the screws will have come loose and shorting. Home owner rules allow changing like for like fittings, however as you have felt the need to ask on here, I definitely recommend you call a sparkie.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

dunnersdude

162 posts

Master Geek

#1802353 16-Jun-2017 19:19

Ge0rge: Ahhh - bayonet rather than edison. No matter - it will be as above - one of the screws will have come loose and shorting. Home owner rules allow changing like for like fittings, however as you have felt the need to ask on here, I definitely recommend you call a sparkie.

Ok so *probably* a simple fix? Definitely wouldn't touch it myself. Just wanting to know if it's going to be major :(

Ge0rge

2056 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1802358 16-Jun-2017 19:24

Yes - depending on the age and type of wiring. If it's an older place, it could be as @aredwood has said and the wiring is failing - not so much fun.

dunnersdude

162 posts

Master Geek

#1802359 16-Jun-2017 19:26

1970s build - is that old?

Ge0rge

2056 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1802361 16-Jun-2017 19:31

Easiest way to answer that is leave the breaker off, grab a screwdriver and undo the two screws holding the fitting to the roof.

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1802363 16-Jun-2017 19:41

dunnersdude: 1970s build - is that old?

No. That'll have modern TPS wiring, rather than the awful old black rubber coated wiring.

dunnersdude

162 posts

Master Geek

#1802364 16-Jun-2017 19:44

Is this photo ok?

It was hard to unscrew those screws - the gib board or whatever it was is crumbly. I have left screws out at this stage as screwing and describing could damage the board and make it impossible to screw back in.

Ge0rge

2056 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1802367 16-Jun-2017 19:54

yup - as per @darthkermit, it's tps so no drama there. There looks to be signs of arcing on the right on the plastic. If I was in your shoes, I'd be getting a sparkie to swap the batton holder out for you. 10 mins work tops.

dunnersdude

162 posts

Master Geek

#1802369 16-Jun-2017 19:58

I have seen someone demonstrate to me how to change a faulty 3 pin plug.

This wiring looks near identical to what he showed me. Said something like "brown bear" or something as a way to remember which was a live or dangerous wire from memory.

Is this actually a pretty simple job that I could achieve myself?

If I bought the fitting and stuffed it up then it wouldn't damage the fitting for the Sparky that ended up being called in right? Or would this require testing with equipment that I don't have.

1 | 2