Tag
Electrical repair
24 articles
ArticleHow to Do an Insulation Resistance Test on House Wiring: Isolating Safely, Choosing the Test Voltage, L–N and L–E Tests, Reading Megohms and Finding the FaultA house has just been rewired and the client wants the power on today. Another client's ground floor was flooded last week. A third has an RCD that trips "for no reason" every time…
ArticleHow to Use a Clamp Meter: Measuring Load Current Safely, Checking Circuits Against Breaker Ratings, Motor Inrush and Leakage Current BasicsA client says the breaker for the kitchen "trips every evening", another wants to know whether the old cable to the water heater can take a new, bigger unit, and a third suspects t…
ArticleElectric fan won't spin, runs weakly or hums: checking the fan capacitor, shaft bushings and windings, and replacing the capacitor with the correct ratingA client calls: “When I switch on my pedestal fan it just hums and the blades don’t turn, but if I give them a push it starts running. And the living-room ceiling fan on speed 5 sp…
ArticleWiring a wall-mounted split air conditioner: choosing cable and a dedicated MCB, and safely connecting the power cable and the indoor–outdoor interconnecting cableA client calls: “Could you come and wire up my new air conditioner? The refrigeration technician is coming to install it this afternoon.” Or: “Every time I switch on my air conditi…
ArticleHow to wire mechanical and digital timer switches for signboard lights and water pumps: choosing the type, wiring, setting the schedule and when a contactor is neededA shop sign needs to be lit from late afternoon until late at night, a water pump needs to run at set times, and garden lights need to switch themselves off when the owners go to b…
ArticleUnusually high electricity bill: checking the meter and tracing current leakage in the home“This month’s electricity bill has doubled, but we’re using everything the same as before.” “Could the house have a current leak?” “Or is the meter running wrong?” Electricians get…
ArticleTingling when touching a washing machine or fridge: causes of current leaking to the appliance casing, how to test and how to fix it safelyA customer calls: “My hands were still wet and when I touched the lid of the washing machine I felt a tingling. Our fridge does it sometimes too – the handle feels prickly. Is that…
ArticleInstalling a home voltage stabiliser for weak or fluctuating power: sizing, location, input–output wiring, bypass and safe commissioningA customer calls: “Every evening the lights in my house go really dim and the air conditioner doesn't cool. Could you install a voltage stabiliser for me?” This is a common request…
ArticleHot, scorched or melted sockets and plugs: causes and how to replace a socket outlet safely“A few minutes after I plugged in the electric kettle, the extension lead started smelling of burning, and when I pulled the plug out its pins were black.” “The air-conditioner soc…
ArticleLED bulbs keep burning out or failing early: finding the real cause (voltage, lampholder contact, heat, switches and dimmers, moisture) and how to fix it so lights lastA customer calls: “This is the fourth bulb I've put in the hallway light this year, all brand-new LED bulbs, and every few months it just goes dead.” Another is annoyed because the…
ArticleReplacing fluorescent tubes with LED tubes: removing the ballast and starter and rewiring the fitting correctlyTube light fittings with a ballast and starter are still common in homes, rented rooms and shops. When a fluorescent tube has blackened ends or keeps flickering without lighting up…
ArticleSocket outlet dead but the circuit breaker hasn't tripped: 7 steps to find the open circuit“The breaker is still on but the bedroom sockets are completely dead.” “It works on and off; I have to wiggle the charger plug to make it connect.” “The tester lights up on both ho…