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    OldBuilding's Avatar
    OldBuilding Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Oct 30, 2008, 06:20 PM
    Old building wiring
    I have just signed a lease for a very old building. We have begun restoration so we can move our business in within the next year. This evening I thought I heard voice in the cellar so I went down to check it out. But there was no one in the basement. As I walked around the lights turned on by themselves.

    Is it possible that old wiring can cause that to happen? Is that common? Is that a sign of really bad wiring... or can motion cause a power surge?

    Yikes.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #2

    Oct 30, 2008, 06:30 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by OldBuilding View Post
    This evening I thought I heard voice in the cellar so I went down to check it out. But there was no one in the basement. As I walked around the lights turned on by themselves.
    Who you gonna call..............
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #3

    Oct 31, 2008, 02:25 AM
    Sure, the wiring can be shorted and cause the lights to come on, or a bad switch.

    As for the voice, I doubt there is any issue with the wiring that will cause that.
    OldBuilding's Avatar
    OldBuilding Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Oct 31, 2008, 05:09 AM

    Thank you for the quick response. The "who you gonna call" gave me a good laugh this morning. I'm little less rattled than I was last night.

    I'll look into bad switches and shorting because the alternative is a little spooky.

    Thanks again. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions as the project continues--hopefully with more basic stuff about old floor outlets, etc.

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