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#4578 10/02/01 01:56 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
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pauluk Offline OP
Member
The following story was related to me a couple of years ago. I thought you might find it amusing, if not downright scary!

The owner of a small campsite wanted to rig the light in the washroom's toilet cubicle so that it would automatically come on when the door was shut and go off when it was opened.

Easy enough to arrange with a microswitch arrangement of some kind, but hey, that costs money!

The door and frame were wooden, and there was a nice two-part metal bolt there, so.....

Yep, you've guessed it. The guy ran one wire down the frame and secured it under the fixed plate and the other across the top of the door and down to the other part. Instant automatic light switch!

#4579 10/02/01 04:17 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
[Linked Image]

#4580 10/02/01 07:14 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
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pauluk Offline OP
Member
Yep, that's about what I thought.....

It wasn't here by the way, but across the water in France.

#4581 10/02/01 07:14 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,116
Likes: 4
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Sounds like a true Darwinian!

[Linked Image]


Bill
#4582 10/03/01 04:14 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
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pauluk Offline OP
Member
Definitely! The only trouble was he could have removed somebody else from the gene pool!

Apparently, this "switch" had been in use for some time before someone got shocked. Unless all the previous users had been wearing well-insulated shoes, I can only assume that he'd got it in the neutral side, with the main part of the bolt on the door to mains neutral so that only the small plate on the frame was hot when the light was off.

Just a guess, of course, but I think 220V would have made its present known sooner if not!

#4583 10/04/01 07:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
2 things come to mind:

1)The arcing/pitting would have eventually rendered the "switch" inoperable.
2)It seems like it would have been discovered if anyone had ever washed down the restroom. (They must have never cleaned it) YUCK! [Linked Image]

#4584 10/04/01 08:53 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 1
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>They must have never cleaned it

Well, they are French...

(France surrenders...)


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
#4585 10/04/01 04:13 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
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pauluk Offline OP
Member
Hey, I hadn't thought about that!

There's a lot I like about France, but their wiring often leaves something to be desired. Ah well, Vive la difference!


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