Was in the workshop most of the day and the lights worked ok. Left them on when I came over for a bite to eat. I went back between rain showers and could see light shining from the shed. By the time that I had walked the last 15 metres the shed was in darkness. Checked the circuit breaker and it was on. Jiggled it to make sure it was seated OK and heard a slight fizzle sound. No lights. Swapped it out for a fuse which was conveniently lying on a ledge under the power board. No lights. Pulled the fuse and looked at the guts of the fuse block using the torch. Bottom connection has wire. Top connection empty. Locked up and went home.
About a month ago we had a pea soup fog. Heavy fog was inside the shed also and everything was wet. When I turned the light switch on there was a crackling from the fuse board and the lights went out and circuit breaker tripped. I reseated it and reset it. Turned the lights on and everything has worked until tonight.
I am guessing that the crackling sound was that of the wire arcing out until the gap got too large to jump. Had that sound happen on the house switchboard a few years ago at 11pm each night until one morning there was no hot water. Sparky opened up the board and there was about 1" of wire missing from the HWS circuit.
Looks like this has happened in the workshop.
Time to make some room for the sparky around the fuse board in the morning and give him a call.
And to rub salt into the wounds; the Mrs is watching class Z crap on TV.:banghead:
Ken
