Quote:
Originally Posted by high_vacuum_house
An obvious point when restoring sets is to ensure good quality of replacement parts (i.e capacitors) and to ensure such things that insulation sleeves and wiring grommets on wiring to terminals haven't gone missing or crumbled away over time.
Obviously many sets were made before BS415 came into being so there may well be poorer construction standards than is satisfactory now. (mains switching, fusing, insulation material types and properties, creepage distances ect..)
Also worth ensuring like for like power rating for such items as resistors so that if a fault develops, a protection device would operate rather than a high power resistor in place of say a small or fusible resistor sit there causing heating of another component rather than failing itself.
I keep my sets on a wooden table or shelf and away from carpets etc.. so that the ventilation holes cannot accidently be covered up.
Christopher Capener
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I don't think the fault can be blamed on a previous repair as the tripler was an original PYE type and the disc capacitor looks as if it is the original one.
I have replaced the triper with a secondhand original type that is a later replacement made by ITT. so it should be safe enough. I have also made sure the soldering in the little cups is round with no spikes that could encourage tracking. All the wiring is tied back as it should be.
All of that said it has to be accepted that the set is well past its original design and expected life, insulation may well be past its best. It certainly has made me more aware of possible hazards and I will never switch off old sets and then leave the house for at least an hour after switching off and a second check of the set(s).
I have been to Screwfix this morning and have purchased two new up to date smoke alarms!