brightspark
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- Thread starter RonHopeful
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I think the clue was in the fact that he wasn't the OP
Bill Edwards
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Opps, wasn't paying much attention when I replied!
Red face!
Red face!
RonHopeful
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Now, the odd thing is that my neighbour was welding from an extension lead from his garage (though not 50m). But we both did better with that setup than I can with the supply to my shed. I don't know what my setup is, except that there's a thickish cable that runs from the house, under the garden, to the shed about 15 metres away. Oh, and there's an RCCD thingy in the house which, I believe, is there to stop me electrocuting myself, or blowing up the house - I can't remember which.
Is it true that I wouldn't get voltage drop if my shed was higher up than the house? I'm sure I read that somewhere and it made a lot of sense at the time.
Is it true that I wouldn't get voltage drop if my shed was higher up than the house?
I'm sure I read that somewhere and it made a lot of sense at the time.
the snooper
getting older by the day
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I have some rods well within the amperage range of my old buzz box, but the welding voltage is lower then the rods recommend and it is hard to maintain an arc with them and I think they are esab
Now, the odd thing is that my neighbour was welding from an extension lead from his garage (though not 50m). But we both did better with that setup than I can with the supply to my shed. I don't know what my setup is, except that there's a thickish cable that runs from the house, under the garden, to the shed about 15 metres away. Oh, and there's an RCCD thingy in the house which, I believe, is there to stop me electrocuting myself, or blowing up the house - I can't remember which.
Is it true that I wouldn't get voltage drop if my shed was higher up than the house?
No, voltage drop has to do with the length and size of the cable, not the height of the source and destination
RonHopeful
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Ah, I found the original explanation: It's mainly due to gravity. Where a cable runs downwards, the voltage tends to drop and collect towards the bottom. Old fashioned rubber insulated cables allowed some bounce so the drop could be counteracted somewhat. However, with modern PVC insulated cables, it is more of a problem. An easy test: measure voltage in your upstairs sockets and compare it to those downstairs - the downstairs voltage will be higher. Ways to counteract volt drop mainly involve fitting undersized cables - the voltage has trouble squeezing along these so tends to stay high. Volt drop is not generally a problem in bungalows.
Someone suggested mice were eating some of the voltage but I thought that was just silly.
Someone suggested mice were eating some of the voltage but I thought that was just silly.
Rig Pig
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You must be a sparky!Ah, I found the original explanation: It's mainly due to gravity. Where a cable runs downwards, the voltage tends to drop and collect towards the bottom. Old fashioned rubber insulated cables allowed some bounce so the drop could be counteracted somewhat. However, with modern PVC insulated cables, it is more of a problem. An easy test: measure voltage in your upstairs sockets and compare it to those downstairs - the downstairs voltage will be higher. Ways to counteract volt drop mainly involve fitting undersized cables - the voltage has trouble squeezing along these so tends to stay high. Volt drop is not generally a problem in bungalows.
Someone suggested mice were eating some of the voltage but I thought that was just silly.
Jan
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I think you'll find that the mice are only nibbling through the outer insulation as it's the elektrickery that they actually want to eat. In dry weather you can hook up a wire to their mouths and bottoms to give enough current to run a small radio or tiny torch bulb for several hours. In the wet they can be easily located by the sparks running the length of their bodies! 
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brightspark
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i went on a callout to a house,there electric tripping . traced it back to the cooker . when pulling it out it stunk behind mucky sods i thought . took the back off and there was a mouse with its bum sat on the live terminal and its front pores were on the eathed casing and it was still cooking 
dont ever eat fried mice it stunk
dont ever eat fried mice it stunk
brightspark
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they can get through a hole less than the size of a a pencill
Jan
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Many years ago we had an entertainment centre built into a piece of furniture that looked much like a short sideboard (they were all the rage in the 70's). The dog had been quiet for a while, but suddenly gave loud yelp and came scrabbling out from under the centre. On examination I found that he had chewed through the live power cable and vapourised part of one of his canines. He never repeated that mistake 
RonHopeful
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I just had an electrician round to quote for upgrading the supply to my shed. My supply at the moment is a spur off the ring main, which isn't ideal apparently. Also, it needs thicker cable. I'm worried that thicker cable will just encourage more mice, but perhaps he knows what he's talking about. Anyway, he's going to quote for running a cable round from the main 'electricity into the house' thinggumajig. I hope it's affordable.
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Get more than one quote.
brightspark
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but dont let on to him your getting more prices or he may do what i do .tell u to go get them then and dont bother going to look and waste my time as i dont need the extra work
take it or leave it 