ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (Scott35), 260 guests, and 19 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#67399 07/03/06 07:26 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 257
M
Member
This is an electric puzzle that was shown to one of our electricians at a supply house. I have been told that hundreds of people have tried to solve it to no avail. I have not seen this thing but our guy has explained it to me. If there are any questions I will try to get answers. I have not tried to solve it myself as of yet but I will later.


Here it is,

There are two single conductors connected to a 120V male 2-wire cord cap.

Each wire, the hot and grounded conductor, goes to a different box made of porcelain or something similar and non conductive.

There is a single conductor between the two boxes.

In each box there is a toggle switch and a porcelain light socket with an incandescant lamp.

The toggle switch controls the lamp in the opposite box regardless of the position of the switch in the box with the controlled lamp.

The switch is a mini toggle switch. Don't know if it is SPST, SPDT or DPDT.

Our guy swears it works as described.

Good luck? Let me know what you come up with.

Brian

Edited female cord cap to male cord cap.

[This message has been edited by master66 (edited 07-04-2006).]

#67400 07/03/06 08:21 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 806
N
Member
Do the bulbs light to normal brilliance?

I suspect they are running on half-wave rectified power, and there are some diodes involved somehow.

#67401 07/03/06 08:49 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 257
M
Member
Not sure but I will find out.

#67402 07/03/06 09:33 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,213
S
Member
Edit: no, thought I had it, but I didn't.

[This message has been edited by SteveFehr (edited 07-03-2006).]

#67403 07/03/06 09:44 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 178
J
Member
NJwirenut's got it right.

The switches are SPST. There are two diodes in each box. The lamps glow at half-brightness due to half-wave rectification.

Here's the real question:

How do you get power to a setup like this that has a female cord cap? [Linked Image]

#67404 07/03/06 10:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 812
Member
Quote
Here's the real question:

How do you get power to a setup like this that has a female cord cap? [Linked Image]

Easy. I just need two el-cheapo extension cords, some of 'em wire stripper things, and some duct tape. [Linked Image] [Linked Image] [Linked Image]

Ian A.

[This message has been edited by Theelectrikid (edited 07-03-2006).]


Is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?
#67405 07/04/06 01:53 AM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
J
Member
I added a couple caps and sent dxfs to Scott & Master66. Did you want dimmers with those? I was stuck at work on Emergency Standby until the fireworks were finished. I knew the answer immediately, just not my ECN password for the work computer.
Joe

#67406 07/06/06 01:37 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,723
Likes: 1
Broom Pusher and
Member
Hello everyone! [Linked Image]

The Schematic has been uploaded and posted to the Technical Reference section.

It can be found under the topic:

Lamp Puzzle!!!

Clicking the Hyperlink above will open that page.

Scott35


Scott " 35 " Thompson
Just Say NO To Green Eggs And Ham!
#67407 07/06/06 07:50 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
P
Member
Similar circuits for signaling have appeared in electronics journals for years.

Another variant is to have a multi-way switch in one box signal four different states to lights in the remote box by feeding rectified positive, rectified negative, or straight A.C. down the line. The receiving end then shows lamp A, lamp B, both lamps, or none.

#67408 07/06/06 09:51 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 257
M
Member
According to the information that I am getting, JoeTestingEngr was correct.

This "puzzle" was presented to one of our guys by Sam Scott of Scott Electric Supply near greensburg PA. Found out today that one of our other guys suggested to Mr. Scott a while ago and was correct also.

Thanks for the input.

Brian

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5