Damp in light fitment -any qualified electricians??

Chickenbrain2009

Hi, yesterday I used a spray for cleaning my chandaliers. The idea is you spray the stuff on, it drips down and with it the dirt. The first one I used it on is fine, and looks lovely. However the second one, which is a pricey Italian one I bought in the 90s makes a crackling sound on the light fitment itself when I turned it on. Its not a single arcing sound just lots of little crackles. I cant see anything happening. My assumption is that some damp got into the fitment near the connections. I took the bulbs out last night and didnt use it. This morning it is still making the same sound.:( I dont want to call out an electrician unless necessary. I am hoping if it is water it will dry out of its own accord. Advice from a qualified electrician would be welcome. I am sure lots of people have opinions but I would love some from an expert. Many thanks!

dunroving

Chickenbrain2009 wrote: »

Hi, yesterday I used a spray for cleaning my chandaliers. The idea is you spray the stuff on, it drips down and with it the dirt. The first one I used it on is fine, and looks lovely. However the second one, which is a pricey Italian one I bought in the 90s makes a crackling sound on the light fitment itself when I turned it on. Its not a single arcing sound just lots of little crackles. I cant see anything happening. My assumption is that some damp got into the fitment near the connections. I took the bulbs out last night and didnt use it. This morning it is still making the same sound.:( I dont want to call out an electrician unless necessary. I am hoping if it is water it will dry out of its own accord. Advice from a qualified electrician would be welcome. I am sure lots of people have opinions but I would love some from an expert. Many thanks!

Off-the-wall, non-expert thought: How about running a hair dryer over it for a few minutes at a time? The temperature should be low enough that it won't melt the wiring casing, but should help to evaporate any liquid, if that's the problem ...

Chickenbrain2009

I did that yesterday, trouble is its rather difficult to get into all the nooks and crannies.
I can try again today.

were

you have to let it dry. if it has formed a pool in a socket it will take much longer for that pool to evaporate than water on a flat surface.

Hair dryers can be hotter than boiling water, even melt nylon eventually... all glass chandalier?

Think the wiring will be fine though.

forgotmyname

I use a hairdryer to melt plastics, perfect for moulding them to shape.

Cheap 1600W model easily gets hot enough to soften and deform plastic, probably wouldn't take long to melt some also.

Chickenbrain2009

Armed with rubber gloves I took off the metal covering for the junction where the arms come out and sure enough it was quite damp inside! It was trapped because in theory at least it is covered so air couldnt get to it. I have used a hairdryer lightly on it and it seems to have stopped! I have left the cover off for now, its not on and hopefully it will be fine. It was a very expensive italian cut glass chandelier, cost a few hundred twenty years ago! The moral of the story is that if you are going to clean you chandelier cover up a potential problem area first! Something of a relief. Thanks so much for your support, it was very unnerving from the safety angle.

System

Cotton buds to wick up the liquid.

firefox1956

@Chickenbrain2009.......
Just for future reference & for the safety of anybody else that reads this thread.
Wearing rubber gloves & fiddling with anything electric is NOT going to stop you getting electrocuted !!!

Farway

firefox1956 wrote: »

@Chickenbrain2009.......
Just for future reference & for the safety of anybody else that reads this thread.
Wearing rubber gloves & fiddling with anything electric is NOT going to stop you getting electrocuted !!!

Agreed, turn it all of at the mains, or unplug, do not rely on the wall switch, it may have been wired incorrectly in the first place