Electrical Blues
Mar. 14th, 2011 02:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reynardoWe're starting to find out that our lovely house was built on what can only be described as "built on a tight budget". If you saw the paint jobs, you'd know what I meant.
Today, the smoke detector downstairs started beeping at 40 second intervals. "Cool", I think. "Replace the battery."
Most of these take the standard 9V battery, but I thought I'd better check, so I dragged the ladder out from the garage and wobbled precariously up. Did I mention I'm not keen on ladders?
Hmmm. When detatching the alarm from the roof, there's a mains cable as well, with a screw-on attachment. I very very carefully unscrew that - which then detatches the alarm from the mains cable at a plug type I've never seen before. No problems - I carefully unplug it, open the little window, and remove the standard-type 9V battery.
While I've got the wretched ladder out, I might as well get some more bulbs for the downlights, two of which aren't working. So again I wobble up the ladder, balance precariously a whole 900 mm from ground level, and finally work out that you are supposed to completely remove the fitting from the ceiling to be able to remove the bulb. I stash that bulb into the "box of things that need replacing", and then realise that I'm starved.
Breakfast/lunch/brunch/leftovers. Excellent. Head for the kitchen, turn on the light about the stove, and BANG! Inside the range-hood, bright white sparks fly. I notice that the microwave clock is now not showing, so head into the garage and re-trip the circuit breaker.
Opening the hood, I see the two bulbs at the end, with a light coating of burnt oil. * dammit must clean range hood more often * Unscrew them, and they're a really unusual candle-type bulb with a little screw end. Good thing this happened now, though, so I can get the replacements.
The sad thing about heading to the hardware shop on a long weekend is that there's always a sausage sizzle on. Oh how I suffer. * munch * *gulp* * munch *
Find the right bulbs. Find the right batteries. Head home. Screw in range-hood bulbs - no joy. Bugger. Looks like that one must have fused the unit, dammit. I've no intention of getting Dennis the Grumpy Bum Electrician back here, so that can wait until the next time we have a bundle of things need fixing.
Climb up to the downlight very very carefully, trying hard not to notice the occasional wobble in the ladder and push in the new bulb. Turn on switch. No joy. Now this is getting ridiculous.
Climb nervously up to the smoke detector and slip in a new battery. The blighter beeps a few times as I'm putting it back together and screwing in the plug, but it's been silent for the last 15 minutes so I have great hopes.
Climb up to the other downlight, change the bulb, test it. LIGHT!!!!! Ok, maybe I'm not as daft as I looked. Besides, this time I was right beside the couch. If I fell, the dog would cushion me. I hope.
And here I admit that the LJ cut tag was a misleading enticement. Not once was there a shock. Except to find that the range hood light doesn't work. I've had a closer look, and can't see any fuses, so it must be a complete unit and we'll have to get a proper electrician to look at that and the non-working down light. Oh the joys of home ownership.
And now - to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
da_norvegicus's room. You should be able to hear the screams from where you are sitting.
Today, the smoke detector downstairs started beeping at 40 second intervals. "Cool", I think. "Replace the battery."
Most of these take the standard 9V battery, but I thought I'd better check, so I dragged the ladder out from the garage and wobbled precariously up. Did I mention I'm not keen on ladders?
Hmmm. When detatching the alarm from the roof, there's a mains cable as well, with a screw-on attachment. I very very carefully unscrew that - which then detatches the alarm from the mains cable at a plug type I've never seen before. No problems - I carefully unplug it, open the little window, and remove the standard-type 9V battery.
While I've got the wretched ladder out, I might as well get some more bulbs for the downlights, two of which aren't working. So again I wobble up the ladder, balance precariously a whole 900 mm from ground level, and finally work out that you are supposed to completely remove the fitting from the ceiling to be able to remove the bulb. I stash that bulb into the "box of things that need replacing", and then realise that I'm starved.
Breakfast/lunch/brunch/leftovers. Excellent. Head for the kitchen, turn on the light about the stove, and BANG! Inside the range-hood, bright white sparks fly. I notice that the microwave clock is now not showing, so head into the garage and re-trip the circuit breaker.
Opening the hood, I see the two bulbs at the end, with a light coating of burnt oil. * dammit must clean range hood more often * Unscrew them, and they're a really unusual candle-type bulb with a little screw end. Good thing this happened now, though, so I can get the replacements.
The sad thing about heading to the hardware shop on a long weekend is that there's always a sausage sizzle on. Oh how I suffer. * munch * *gulp* * munch *
Find the right bulbs. Find the right batteries. Head home. Screw in range-hood bulbs - no joy. Bugger. Looks like that one must have fused the unit, dammit. I've no intention of getting Dennis the Grumpy Bum Electrician back here, so that can wait until the next time we have a bundle of things need fixing.
Climb up to the downlight very very carefully, trying hard not to notice the occasional wobble in the ladder and push in the new bulb. Turn on switch. No joy. Now this is getting ridiculous.
Climb nervously up to the smoke detector and slip in a new battery. The blighter beeps a few times as I'm putting it back together and screwing in the plug, but it's been silent for the last 15 minutes so I have great hopes.
Climb up to the other downlight, change the bulb, test it. LIGHT!!!!! Ok, maybe I'm not as daft as I looked. Besides, this time I was right beside the couch. If I fell, the dog would cushion me. I hope.
And here I admit that the LJ cut tag was a misleading enticement. Not once was there a shock. Except to find that the range hood light doesn't work. I've had a closer look, and can't see any fuses, so it must be a complete unit and we'll have to get a proper electrician to look at that and the non-working down light. Oh the joys of home ownership.
And now - to
da_norvegicus's room. You should be able to hear the screams from where you are sitting.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-03-14 03:09 pm (UTC)Y'all just be safe there, OK?
no subject
Date: 2011-03-14 04:44 pm (UTC)Particularly what happens to Tom Hanks from about 44 seconds onward (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaWD0ezM9HQ).
no subject
Date: 2011-03-14 11:00 pm (UTC)It gave me nightmares.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-15 12:42 am (UTC)I could have posted the kitchen scene but given what really did just happen, I didn't think it would be as funny for anybody.