Thread: A ghost in the electrics

So last night a spot light blew in the bathroom shattering glass all over the floor, and, as a result, the other ones were plunged into darkness..

The tgf was quick to assume it was the work of some spirit and hid under the sheets until she felt it was safe to pop out from under them and pluck up the courage to go and investigate.

She went down to the MCB - as previously rehearsed - and once the logic gene kicked in, asked me why the switch didn't trip; I couldn't answer!

I've had lights go out before, but they didn't have a knock on affect which took the others out with them, and perhaps more worryingly, the MCB switch didn't flick off automatically when the light blew it's bulb

We are calling the sparks in tomorrow and just wanted to ask if this was abnormal?

Somchai the sparks fitted it.

end of..

Bad or no earth?

Good possibility as we got a lightening strike on the house a good few month back. Rather than get a cowboy in, whats the best way of checking my earth ? I know for definate that I have an earthing spike.

Don't disregard a thunderbolt. Have you been lately engaging in any acts which may have induced the wrath of the gods?
Even the odd impure thought could bring you to the attention of the pure heavenly bodies which surround us, especially in SE Asia. Your girlfriend may have been quite right in hiding under the bedsheets. Who knows what mysterious spirits are hanging about. Just because you are are a logical thinker it doesn't mean that you are immune from what you don't know. Remember that you don't know what you don't know.

^Lay off the bottle..

Could be that the lights are wired in such a way that if one blows then the circuit is interrupted, like when a x-mas tree light blows then the rest go dark.

Just a guess so you IBEW guys don't jump down my throat!

Originally Posted by Bruno

She went down to the MCB - as previously rehearsed - and once the logic gene kicked in,

Thai yings have a logic gene? Thought that was a myth

Originally Posted by Agent_Smith

Thai yings have a logic gene? Thought that was a myth

Luck was on her side that day.

I guess it is Halogen Spots. They are in parallel and should normally work when one is defective.

The transformer or electronic transducer may have its own fuse that blew faster than the main fuse. I would look there for the fault first.

But not without switching off the main fuse first.

Pee pee pee.!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Takeovers

I guess it is Halogen Spots. They are in parallel and should normally work when one is defective.

The transformer or electronic transducer may have its own fuse that blew faster than the main fuse. I would look there for the fault first.

But not without switching off the main fuse first.

Spot on,

They are halogen lights and since they first went up, 4 years ago now, they have served me very well in times of darkness.

With halogen lights you are suppose to turn them up fully for around 2-3 minutes before you start to play around with the dimmer settings, so as to warm the bulb sufficiently and extend their life.

Unfortunately, after the bulb blew out the transducer also went which caused the others to black out. Getting a new switch tomorrow for 300 baht and a new halogen bulb, so problem fixed...

But of course, her going to the temple with some offerings to the monk had 'everything' to do with it and has kept that pesky house spirit nice and plump for the next month or so; should do the trick then!

Are you aware that dimming saves very little energy? The bulbs consume almost as much as with full light as the efficiency drops with dimming.

Putting in halogen bulbs with lower wattage would be much more efficient if available.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

Are you aware that dimming saves very little energy? The bulbs consume almost as much as with full light as the efficiency drops with dimming.

Putting in halogen bulbs with lower wattage would be much more efficient if available.

Thanks, I'll bear that in mind in four years time!

To be honest, I don't really care about the consumption of electricity used by halogen lights, my monthly electric bills are not high. They look amazing when dimmed and really create a beautiful, relaxed feel within the room. They are much nicer to come home to that those awful Thai bulbs that glare down on you with the ferociousness of a search and recovery helicopter when switched on...

Originally Posted by Bruno

To be honest, I don't really care about

No problem if you don't care. But one should know. Some believe they save when they dim.

A 5% reduction in supply voltage can significantly increase the life of incandescent globes (almost double the life). For example, if the globe is rated at 230 volts, a supply voltage of about 218v will almost double the life of a globe with very little noticeable decrease in brightness.

Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore

Somchai the sparks fitted it.

end of..

they by passed the MCB .
IS ANYONE KNICKING YOUR ELECTRIC ?

Originally Posted by EssEffBee

A 5% reduction in supply voltage can significantly increase the life of incandescent globes (almost double the life). For example, if the globe is rated at 230 volts, a supply voltage of about 218v will almost double the life of a globe with very little noticeable decrease in brightness.

True but the emphasis is on noticeable here. That is because the human eye and brain cannot detect lightlevels as they are capable of adjusting to an extremely large change of light.

If you measure it you will find that the drop of emitted light is very much higher than the few percent of reduced power. This is why the bulbs are rated and built the way they are, for efficiency in light per power consumed.

I am also not sure if it applies to halogen too. Probably not as the effect that makes halogen spots more energyefficient than ordinary lightbulbs depends on the high temperatures present only with full power. See quote from Bruno:

Originally Posted by Bruno

With halogen lights you are suppose to turn them up fully for around 2-3 minutes before you start to play around with the dimmer settings, so as to warm the bulb sufficiently and extend their life.

Originally Posted by EssEffBee

A 5% reduction in supply voltage can significantly increase the life of incandescent globes (almost double the life). For example, if the globe is rated at 230 volts, a supply voltage of about 218v will almost double the life of a globe with very little noticeable decrease in brightness.

Is that a tip from VIZ?

Originally Posted by EssEffBee

A 5% reduction in supply voltage can significantly increase the life of incandescent globes (almost double the life). For example, if the globe is rated at 230 volts, a supply voltage of about 218v will almost double the life of a globe with very little noticeable decrease in brightness.

If this is the case incandescent globes will last a very long time in the land of smiles.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by EssEffBee

A 5% reduction in supply voltage can significantly increase the life of incandescent globes (almost double the life). For example, if the globe is rated at 230 volts, a supply voltage of about 218v will almost double the life of a globe with very little noticeable decrease in brightness.

Is that a tip from VIZ?

What is VIZ?

Originally Posted by BKKBILL

Originally Posted by EssEffBee

A 5% reduction in supply voltage can significantly increase the life of incandescent globes (almost double the life). For example, if the globe is rated at 230 volts, a supply voltage of about 218v will almost double the life of a globe with very little noticeable decrease in brightness.

If this is the case incandescent globes will last a very long time in the land of smiles.

You obviously jest.

Originally Posted by EssEffBee

What is VIZ?

It's an teenager/adult comic. Viz Comic online

Originally Posted by Takeovers

Are you aware that dimming saves very little energy? The bulbs consume almost as much as with full light as the efficiency drops with dimming.

Putting in halogen bulbs with lower wattage would be much more efficient if available.

Not to mention halogen bulbs to blow more frequently than normal globes and are more expensive to replace so the actual savings end up at a big fok all.

I do like the light they throw off and there looks so that's where the benefit lye's.