Embarrassment avoidance today .

[Evans Electric]

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 "     

 

[ProDave]

It would have been interesting, which tripped first, the mcb or the rcd

 

[roys]

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

 

[OnOff]

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...

 

[Evans Electric]

made it safe with a 3-way Wago rather than terminal strip...

Nice one   

 

[sprocketflup]

Literally did the same thing today, except for my shorting device want as sophisticated as a plugtop…..

 

[Risteard]

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.

 

[Evans Electric]

Perhaps I did insulation test before inserting shorting plug . 

 

[Murdoch]

Perhaps I did insulation test before inserting shorting plug . 

Shouldn't you be doing continuity before IR? 

 

[Bruspark]

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

 

[Risteard]

Perhaps I did insulation test before inserting shorting plug . 

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.

 

[Blue Duck]

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. 

 

[OnOff]

Nice one   

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 *****.

 

[kerching]

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!

 

[Doc Hudson]

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.

 

[OnOff]

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"?

 

[steptoe]

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

Method 2 

L N E shorted 

 

[binky]

had a test short plug for at least a decade, though not used it for a few years for no particular reason I can think of.

 

[Evans Electric]

Good to see that infernal lepracaun  again . 

 

[Andy™]

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