Kitty Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Our house (in France) was re-wired recently so it is all up-to-date.However, when I unplug things e.g. an electrical radiator and when I plug things in e.g. this computer, there is a momentary spark.Should I be worried about this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 If the item itself is switched on when you plug it in then it's quite possible for there to be a small spark.When a computer is switched off simply by shutting down Windows or whatever you're using, in actual fact it isn't, think of it as any other piece of equipment which has a standby mode.If you are getting sparks from equipment which you know for sure to be hard switched such as lights or your radiator if it has a positive On/Off switch and not just a thermostat or frost setting then that is not right and needs investigating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Thanks Ernie. You are right - the radiator that I unplugged was still on and the computer is attached to a modem that is on all the time. I just cannot recall ever see sparks in our UK house.Another thing - in our UK house (also relatively new wiring) , if a bulb blows, a trip in the fuse box goes. Here in France, a bulb can really pop noisily and yet the trips remain in tact. Why should that be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 It may be because in the UK our trips are single pole and the trip senses a difference between live and neutral. In France they are double pole and disconect both sides.I could be wrong though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 A bulb blowing should not normally trip either a single or double pole MCB as it is an open circuit failure, if part of the remaining unsupported filament on the live (or in some circumstances neutral) side is able to touch the earthed outer casing (the bayonet or edison screw) then it will trip a RCD or other residual current device.This happens very often on bulbs with a horizontal orientation, eg uplighters, occasionally to those in the vertical plane eg table lamps, chandeliers etc and rarely on suspended ceiling roses.You might have some overvoltage surge issues Cathy as bulbs do not as a rule pop noisily although I have had one or two in both countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Sorry JR, its not an open circuit failure, its a plasma short circuit. A very common misconception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter@pons Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Are you using spark plugs? Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 [:D][:D] Peter. The last time that I touched a REAL spark plug was on my mushy-pea-green BSA Bantam. I would have to clean it (the plug, that is) nearly every day.Thanks for your answers, guys, some of which I could just about understand. Last week, when one of the ceiling rose bulbs went, one of my daughters shrieked that it was 'smoking. I hurriedly came into the room to find out that the 'smoke' was clouds of dust.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 [quote user="Cathy"][:D][:D] Peter. The last time that I touched a REAL spark plug was on my mushy-pea-green BSA Bantam. I would have to clean it (the plug, that is) nearly every day.[/quote]What a Woman![:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Teapot - I was about 19 years' old and it was my second motorbike, my first being a Garelli with pedals. My love interest bought it for me - he had a BSA 250, which was so heavy that if it fell over (which it regularly did), I couldn't pick it back up.I gave up the Bantam at the same time as the love interest. Both were very unreliable.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Agreed, next time my head needs to come off I'll be sure to give you a call Cathy [6] [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 That takes me back Kathy, we must be from the same era.Garelli mopeds were really hot and a wolf in sheeps clothing, sadly I never found a female owner but I expect taht they would have had the same characteristics [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.