Embarrassment avoidance today .

Talk Electrician Forum

Help Support Talk Electrician Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Evans Electric

TEF LINUX ADMIN™
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2008
Messages
23,507
Reaction score
527
Location
Birmingham
Final testing  on a domestic garage ,    the usual , cable from house / 2 way board  /  one socket /  four lights .  

Shoving the front on the 2 way  board , about to flick the  power back on ..................customer , who was taking an interest in proceedings says  " Oooh   whats that plug top with a red cross taped on it doing in the socket ?"       Ooops ! 

I quickly retrieve  my 13A   L- E shorting out plug   with a muttered  .."Ah its to with the testing   ...don't worry "     

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I did that a few years ago, the MCB won. It took me a moment with me saying to myself what the .... just happened there and then the ahhhh, I know 😀

 
I was dead testing years ago and couldn't figure the dead short between LN&E. 

Wondering what I'd banged a nail thru and retracing my steps...last thing I'd done was remove a burnt and cracked batten holder in the loft and temporarily made it safe with a 3-way Wago rather than terminal strip...

 
Final testing  on a domestic garage ,    the usual , cable from house / 2 way board  /  one socket /  four lights .  

Shoving the front on the 2 way  board , about to flick the  power back on ..................customer , who was taking an interest in proceedings says  " Oooh   whats that plug top with a red cross taped on it doing in the socket ?"       Ooops ! 

I quickly retrieve  my 13A   L- E shorting out plug   with a muttered  .."Ah its to with the testing   ...don't worry "     
Surely you discovered the shorting plug by insulation testing before energising.

 
Shorting plug tops if you must are best made up with old 5A (or less if you have it) fusewire  . .  Still goes bang though

 
Dear electrical police,

Some times we do silly things when we're tired or have other things on our minds; forget that link before energizing, not do the correct sequence of tests or just wire **** up wrong.

We aim to be perfect but occasionally perfection eludes us.

Thanks.

Normal people. 

 
In my inadequate defence I had only just discovered Wago blocks...

Even use them on site in control panels now mainly for (temporarily) bridging corroded DIN rail terminals or replacing dogs *****.
Side track number 1

I think Wago have missed a trick here as all their lever blocks just 'common' the wires together. Someone has now brought out a 3 way "double connector'  which is 3 single Pole  'through connectors' in one block. Big Clive did a favourable review on them a few weeks ago and they are now on fleabay

side track number 2

Dogs ***** were originally made by the Screwit company  ( people call them screwits which is technically incorrect )

there were 2 sizes.   NORMAL or MIDGET.      We wouldn't be calling them that nowadays

...end of fun facts, Carry On!

 
I think Wago have missed a trick here as all their lever blocks just 'common' the wires together. Someone has now brought out a 3 way "double connector'  which is 3 single Pole  'through connectors' in one block. Big Clive did a favourable review on them a few weeks ago and they are now on fleabay


Both 3 & 2 way available, listed on Toolstation as part No 78346 3way: https://www.toolstation.com/in-line-spring-lever-connectors/p78346   Or 2way part No 30952: https://www.toolstation.com/in-line-spring-lever-connectors/p30952  Possibly more bulky than 3x 2way Wago's if you trying to do a connection inside a standard accessory box. Could be useful for temporary connections during testing fault finding.  However, I do like the newer more compact style of lever Wago  https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/WA412C.html  and the miniature push-fit https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/WA203.html

Doc H.

 
Side track number 1

I think Wago have missed a trick here as all their lever blocks just 'common' the wires together. Someone has now brought out a 3 way "double connector'  which is 3 single Pole  'through connectors' in one block. Big Clive did a favourable review on them a few weeks ago and they are now on fleabay

side track number 2

Dogs ***** were originally made by the Screwit company  ( people call them screwits which is technically incorrect )

there were 2 sizes.   NORMAL or MIDGET.      We wouldn't be calling them that nowadays

...end of fun facts, Carry On!


Bloody awful things for testing are dogs co**s. If using Wagos in harsher environments I've taken to dipping the wire ends in silicone grease. Been doing that for years when using crimps anyway. Not lost a patient yet.

Wasn't it Tom Sharpe coined the term "Porg"?

 
That wouldn't be the way to do it though, would it?

Nor does it particularly explain the need for a plugtop to short phase and cpc.


well you can either link L-E at the board and test at the end, or you can link L-E at the end and test at the board... sometimes the first is easier, sometimes the 2nd

 

Latest posts

Top