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Vintage Television and Video Vintage television and video equipment, programmes, VCRs etc.

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Old 14th Nov 2017, 5:53 pm   #61
Heatercathodeshort
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Default Re: Thought this might amuse you...

During my many years in the trade I came across just about every bodge you could think of.

Another common mystery was a dead receiver that came in for another fault i.e. a frame collapse. All was revealed when the plug top cover was removed. The customer had wired the plug live to live, neutral to the earth pin. My isolated bench supply revealed the mistake. This was surprisingly common.

I think I have posted some while back the Philips 17TG100U that was working with a 2" gap around the picture so I won't repeat it unless you want me to..John.
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Old 14th Nov 2017, 6:14 pm   #62
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The adhesive - lined heatshrink is excellent where mechanical stability and splash-proofing is required.

I had the same problem as Boater Sam. I don't know why some manufacturers supply these lamps with such a short cable. It's asking for violations of the IET 17th Edition!

You can see the average DIY person using choc-bloc a a quick wrap of cheap insulating tape.

David.

Last edited by Vintage Engr; 14th Nov 2017 at 6:15 pm. Reason: Miss-spelling.
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Old 14th Nov 2017, 6:16 pm   #63
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Default Re: Thought this might amuse you...

I once spotted a DJ with a bank of sockets from an old work bench powered by a length of twin and earth fitted with a 13A plug at each end. It was just waiting to go bang.
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Old 14th Nov 2017, 6:32 pm   #64
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The adhesive - lined heatshrink is excellent where mechanical stability and splash-proofing is required.
Though it's perhaps OK to use heatshrink-and-such for your own stuff [at your risk] it's definitely not something I would ever do for equipment or premises to be used by anyone else, specially when the likes of:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/teetube-i...le-joint/92911

are available for a pittance and offer full IP68 protection.
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Old 14th Nov 2017, 6:32 pm   #65
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Default Re: Thought this might amuse you...

I've come across a 4 way extension socket wired in 2.5 T&E, but it did at least have the right connectors at both ends.
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Old 14th Nov 2017, 6:36 pm   #66
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Default Re: Thought this might amuse you...

I've seen the reverse: 0.75mm 3-core circular flex buried direct in the plaster of a wall [no metallic penetration-proof protection involved...] used to wire up light-switches.
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Old 14th Nov 2017, 7:25 pm   #67
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I've come across a 4 way extension socket wired in 2.5 T&E, but it did at least have the right connectors at both ends.
Hi.

On a similar note, I came across one of the neighbours' lead lamps also wired with 2.5mm T&E. I tried to explain to the neighbour that the cable should be a flexible type and not installation cable. He couldn't understand as he said "it's working alright". At least I tried!

Regards
Symon.
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Old 14th Nov 2017, 10:23 pm   #68
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I once spotted a DJ with a bank of sockets from an old work bench powered by a length of twin and earth fitted with a 13A plug at each end. It was just waiting to go bang.
Such an arrangement is known in some quarters as "a widowmaker cable".

I was involved with installing new PCs at multiple branches of a well known supermarket, and as all the power outlets were Electrak
http://media.rs-online.com/t_large/R8765597-01.jpg
it was agreed that their electrical contractors would make up the correct number of cables for the PCs and screens with an Electrak plug on one end and an IEC connector on the other and send them to site.

In every case they had used IEC MALE connectors, did they have to be told?
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Old 14th Nov 2017, 11:16 pm   #69
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All was revealed when the plug top cover was removed. The customer had wired the plug live to live, neutral to the earth pin.
Came across this several times. Asked if the customer had done it and they often replied that they thought that they would not have to pay for the electricity as it wasn't connected between live and neutral.
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Old 14th Nov 2017, 11:42 pm   #70
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The customer had wired the plug live to live, neutral to the earth pin. My isolated bench supply revealed the mistake. This was surprisingly common.
Yes, I found that once when my brother had an odd issue with his stereo (well turntable with integrated amp). Back in the eighties so no such thing as an RCD. It came to light when he was finding that sometimes he would hear radio Moscow over the headphones when it wasn't playing. Previously he had all managed to cross L/N on another device. Glad he never crossed L/E. BTW he is now an Openreach Engineer trainer.
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Old 15th Nov 2017, 6:40 pm   #71
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I rescued a Rigonda party time record player from a skip a couple of weeks ago, as always I checked the wiring in the plug. I am glad I did as not only were the live and neutral were reversed, the amount of bare wire around the connectors was an accident waiting to happen. Oh yes, it was fitted with a 13a fuse!

The worst was yet to come, the original lead had been extended rather badly.
Again there was way too much bare wire at the join, and the green insulating tape used had slid down the cable exposing live wires

It beggars belief how no one got electrocuted! Bodges like this are so common, I removed the extended cable and rewired the plug correctly and fitted a 2a fuse.
And yes, it does work fine other than a couple of noisy pots

Mark
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Old 15th Nov 2017, 8:25 pm   #72
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Default Re: Thought this might amuse you...

It's not only the wise that just don't touch live wires. And in most cases there will be little earth conduction so a bitten finger will be the only result- a good reminder not to do it again.

No excuse for the bodge, but the relatively low death rate isn't that surprising.
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Old 16th Nov 2017, 2:42 pm   #73
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Default Re: Thought this might amuse you...

I know it seems over the top when you know you're doing a good repair, but sometimes you have to do things by the book. For example I have on the bench a 12v 7.5A mains adaptor with (only) a failed internal fuse. It belongs to a friend, but I had to break the casing open to find this. It's not damaged and I COULD glue it back and my friend would be happy, but maybe he will sell it or lend it out one day? And if something happens and it's obviously been opened and stuck back then I'm responsible, no matter if it isn't my 'repair' that failed. No - he's having a new one.
Glyn
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Old 23rd Nov 2017, 3:23 pm   #74
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Default Re: Thought this might amuse you...

I know it's not a telly but along the same lines I had a Decca music centre in today with one channel blown this is how the 2 pin din was wired to the speaker he obviously had a crimper but no soldering iron
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Old 25th Nov 2017, 11:43 pm   #75
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He missed out the bit of masking tape round the pushons!
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Old 26th Nov 2017, 10:53 am   #76
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He missed out the bit of masking tape round the pushons!
Sellotape, surely?
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Old 26th Nov 2017, 11:57 pm   #77
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I've seen Rizla papers used for insulation .....
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Old 27th Nov 2017, 12:18 am   #78
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How about rice paper?

Symon
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Old 27th Nov 2017, 3:42 am   #79
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Default Re: Thought this might amuse you...

Having come across a telly wired across L and E in its plug, I once got a sheepish explanation from the perpetrator. He'd heard that the leccy meter wouldn't spin so fast if it was wired that way!

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Old 27th Nov 2017, 1:29 pm   #80
Herald1360
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He missed out the bit of masking tape round the pushons!
Sellotape, surely?
Nah. The pushons are car bits (mostly). Car bodgers use masking tape not sellotape!

It's also much easier to scrounge from work
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