Oh, you want more than that do you? Oh alright.
I've been wanting to get back to doing some filming for ages, but there has always been an excuse not to get round to it. I have a new camera, radio mic, computer and software, so there is a lot to learn about.
Also, I need to make sure that my production standards are more in keeping with what is expected today. Ten years ago nobody expected TV quality from a YT video, today, anything less than that is not acceptable. So yes, lots to learn.
I've decided to start by re-filming the very first thing I ever recorded, my Square of Thales gadget thingy. I've posted about on here before. So I've been filming clips, changing lighting, mic positions, the position of my workbench etc, etc, etc,
and sending them off to Eric the Viking, who is very generously putting me right, (he has professional expertise, especially when it comes to audio).
A couple of days ago I was filming, when I heard a fizzing noise from one of the lights. It is hung from the ceiling just behind me, and before I could switch it off, I had sparks raining down. Well it burned itself out in a second or two, and so I dismantled it. One of the ceramic holders (they are halogen bulbs) had fractured in two, the bulb end was no longer making a good connection, arcing, sparking - you get the picture.
So I took it apart, cannibalised an old outside light for the ceramic end and rebuilt it, all new cable connections. So far so good.
Today I was talking to my viewer when there was an enormous bang and all the lights went out. I say all the lights, but in fact it wasn't pitch black, there was an orange glow above me. The light was on fire. Proper flames and all that.
So I opened the door so I could see what was going on. Rather than the flames dying down, they were getting stronger, so I decided that it was time to intervene. I have a fire extinguisher behind my bench, so I grabbed it and tried to operate it. There is a safety pin, but I couldn't pull it out. The safety pin has a safety plug on the end of it! So once I'd figured that out, I removed the safety pin safety plug, then the safety pin and gave the light a blast.
It was only about half a second, but it was enough. The trouble is, the FE is a dry powder one, and it doesn't half make a mess. Goodness knows what it would be like if I had to put out a proper inferno.
So, conflagration averted, but with the air akin to a Victorian London murder mystery, I set about cleaning up. I have a Microclean air filter that I never use and had been thinking of selling, but not after this, it's been great at helping to clear the air.
Here are some pics.
When I took down the light I was pleasantly surprised to see that it appeared to be intact.
Even the (brand new) bulb didn't look to be damaged, just dusty from the FE.
But on removing the parabola, it looked a bit more ugly.
But just a mo. The lampholder looks fine, there is no scorching at the ends, where I would expect. The problem is where the mains cable comes into the redhead. Maybe I clamped it too tight, I don't know, but it looks like the insulation has failed, it has shorted and caught fire. This is the section of cable:
So I've rebuilt it using a length of cable from an electric iron, I've changed the way it was earthed, so that there is a lot less cable in the body of the lamp and put in a lower wattage bulb.
So, let's hope this is going to be third time lucky.
PS Although it's been on my TUIT list for yonks I am going to go and splash the cash for a CO2 extinguisher. Expensive by comparison, yes, but nowhere near as messy.
