I mended something! And it feels great!

"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll) 09/11/2014 at 18:54 • Filed to: None

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A few days ago the dimmer switch in my living room failed and and I made do with some other lights. Browsing the web and watching TV in semi-darkness isn't too bad. I have an electrician turned electrical engineer in the family so I usually let him do this kind of stuff. Unfortunately, he is rather busy at the moment as he is responsible for all things electric at the site of the next G8 (G7??? will they let the Russians in, again?) summit in Ellmau.

So I realized that our schedules won't sync for quite some time and did try to see what is what.

I only needed to change the dimmer switch for a normal 0n/off switch or something. Being lazy, I wanted to use the switch next to it that basically is a switch for an unused socket. So I changed them. After a little back and forth, and running into the cellar to pull the fuse for this room, I not only managed to have the light on permanently, I could also switch it on and and off. Success?

I then wanted to watch the news, Ebola/Obamas new strategy/Ukraine, the lot. But the TV wouldn't turn on. Turns out I have light but the power is out pretty much everywhere else.

Got another switch, wired it up like I found it, and all was good. The guys who did the original wiring in this house must have had a funny day.

This is why I hate electrics! Especially when it is hidden. And that isn't only houses! It took me months to find the very one connection that needed re-soldering on my old Mazda to stop it from not starting or even dying in traffic. Mechanic stuff is easy. You see a part and it is either good/good enough/or broken.

TL/DR: Did some repair work, feel like Clarkson now.