Any Electrictions? Sp?

[Siamese Fighter05]

Hey

I need some help with a problem i caused the other night

I was using a RO unit in the bathroom overnight without watching it....Just my luck when i wake up at 5am to see that the tube has broke off and water is all over the bathroom floor. Took me ages to clean it up and i could feel water squishing under the laminate flooring. I manage to get most of that out as well. The job seemed done so i went downstairs too see Some water dripping out of the Kitchen light. Not a great deal but diffenatly not a good sign.

About half on hour later i can hear weird noises from the light and it feels quite warm on the ceiling around the light. Then i hear a pop (The bulb Surge?) and the noises stops. I've turned off the downstairs lights and we're using lamps. The celing cooled down not long after the pop.

I was hoping i could leave them off for about 4days too let the water dry up. If i leave it will i be okay? I'm unsure if i just need to change the light bulb or the whole fixture needs removing? If i turn on the power again what will happen?

Thanks
Dan

 

[Lateral Line]

Water, in the form we most often encounter it, (1), conducts electricity, so wet electrics tend not to function as the routes normally closed to the current are opened. In most cases, the water providing additional routes for the elctricty to follow does not electrically damage the wet gear, and if it is allowed to dry out completely, it usually works again.

I have "washed" computer keyboards etc. that have had coffee etc. spilled over them by soaking them in water for a day or so and then thouroughly drying them out.

What can happen is the water has provided a much easier route for the current to follow, thus overloading the supply, which can pop a fuse or breaker.

(1), pure water does not conduct electricity to any real extent, it is the dissolved salts in the water that provide the charge carriers.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Thanks for your help Lateral

It was the rejected water that was pumped everywhere so i'd guess that the dissolved salts would still be in there and the quality of the water wouldn't be much better than when it left the tap. Hopefully this means i will be okay? I'll leave it a few more days and hopefully i should be okay
Thanks again
Dan

 

[sub.42]

Well,

If you know where the fusebox is, you may want to try turning off the supply to the lighting ring, and then poking a hole in the ceiling next to the rose that is hot, using an insulated screwdriver. Remember that if the cavity is holding water, the first place it will run is down your arm! Make sure the mains is off! Most conventional lighting circuits use a 'circuit' of 240 volts, and run the neutral from the circuit down to your light switch. You will not tell if the supply is off from checking the light switch. Be careful. Water will capilliary down cables.

DONT TRY THIS IF YOU CANT BE SURE THAT THE SUPPLY IS OFF!

Always use positive isolation procedures, I am only suggesting this if all else fails. If you are sure that the supply is off, poke some holes around the rose to see if the cavity is holding water.

DON'T TRY THIS IF THE SUPPLY IS ON!

If in doubt, get a sparky to check the ring. Does your house have a new type fuse box? I doubt it. Be very careful, even after a few days. The risk being that the water will allow the electricity to 'track' down to your light switch, and give you a nice reminder of why we should all have a RCCB mains board.

Be careful, 240 Volts can kill.

sub.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Thanks for that sub

I think i'd be best leaving it to an electrition don't feel comfortable messing around with 240volts with water near

Thanks for your help.

Dan

 

[sub.42]

I walk around in water playing with three phase electricity all day,

I just got a little paranoid that you had created a 'slow baker'. Electricity does some really strange stuff, it's best to get a sparky to take a look if you are unsure!

sub.