Anyone Else Struggling with Lighting Issues?

[Peel Electrical]

I've been working in this field for a while now, and honestly, the hardest part is dealing with lighting issues in older buildings. What seems like a quick fix usually turns into a bigger mess, old wiring, weird setups, and surprises behind the walls. Anyone else experience this? Or is it just me?

 

[truffle pig]

older property are always a problem, especially when they are not RCD protected (a lot of faults would have to be sorted before the RCD was installed). a lot of DIYers adding stuff on in the past, old circuits with no cps, outside lights getting water ingress, shared neutrals and the list goes on. I avoid if I can

 

[Hennery Peterson]

I've been working in this field for a while now, and honestly, the hardest part is dealing with lighting issues in older buildings. What seems like a quick fix usually turns into a bigger mess, old wiring, weird setups, and surprises behind the walls. Anyone else experience this? Or is it just me?

You're definitely not alone—lighting work in older buildings can be a real headache. Between outdated wiring, non-standard installations, and hidden surprises, even simple jobs can turn complex fast. It's a common challenge for anyone who's been in the field a while.

 

[PGB1]

We work mostly industrial and much is done in turn-of-the-century auto plants. They are a treasure trove of "made it up as we went along" wiring. (Like water pipe neutrals, Carter 3-ways, parallel conductors from 3, 4, 5 or more fuses, shunt trip using relays controlling relays, controlling relays... Stuff like that)

The only residential I've done is family and friend freebies. Sometimes they are loaded with what Truffle Pig said about DIY wiring. A common one? Using black for neutral because the DIY person knew cars and black is "negative". Oy!

Paul

 

[Peel Electrical]

You're definitely not alone—lighting work in older buildings can be a real headache. Between outdated wiring, non-standard installations, and hidden surprises, even simple jobs can turn complex fast. It's a common challenge for anyone who's been in the field a while.

So true, older buildings always have a surprise or two! Gotta stay flexible and roll with whatever comes up.

 

[Peel Electrical]

older property are always a problem, especially when they are not RCD protected (a lot of faults would have to be sorted before the RCD was installed). a lot of DIYers adding stuff on in the past, old circuits with no cps, outside lights getting water ingress, shared neutrals and the list goes on. I avoid if I can

Totally agree with you! Older places are full of surprises, especially without RCDs. You end up chasing all sorts of faults, DIY hacks, old wiring, water getting in, shared neutrals, it's a lot. I try to avoid them when I can too.

 

[Peel Electrical]

We work mostly industrial and much is done in turn-of-the-century auto plants. They are a treasure trove of "made it up as we went along" wiring. (Like water pipe neutrals, Carter 3-ways, parallel conductors from 3, 4, 5 or more fuses, shunt trip using relays controlling relays, controlling relays... Stuff like that)

The only residential I've done is family and friend freebies. Sometimes they are loaded with what Truffle Pig said about DIY wiring. A common one? Using black for neutral because the DIY person knew cars and black is "negative". Oy!

Paul

Wow, sounds like you deal with some seriously creative wiring setups. Those old auto plants must be a real challenge with all that "made it up as we went along" stuff. I've seen similar DIY quirks in homes too, like using black as neutral just because of car wiring habits. Definitely makes the job more interesting (and sometimes frustrating)!

 

[PGB1]

Those old auto plants must be a real challenge with all that "made it up as we went along" stuff.

Sometimes it gets more challenging when one has to figure out "is this on the DC system or the AC system". Great, figured it out to be AC. Next = "Hmmm. The wye or the delta system?". And sometimes 2-phase (90 degree shift) is still active when they have their own steam generating plant..

Detroit used to be exclusively DC. When AC was installed, many loads remained DC with in-house rectifiers or steam powered generators. (Parts of Detroit have central steam that one can purchase for heating, cooling or generating electricity.) Elevators are commonly left as DC, as are stage lifts in old theaters.

I sure wasn't complaining about the old buildings. It is a total blast to explore and find cool stuff.

My favorite "accidental find" is the bus bars in the Ford Model T plant on Piquette Street, now a museum. The first time I worked in there I noticed long, super shiny, large diameter brass rods running along the ceiling of each floor. I didn't pay much attention. At one point I brought in a 20' ladder. The manager told me "Watch out for those brass rods. They are live.". Sure enough- They use them to this day.

An other favorite find were the tunnels below Ford Motor Company's Product Development Center. They go for miles. think they even go to the Rouge Plant and Power House.


If you ever visit Detroit & like old cars, be sure to check out the Model T museum. https://www.fordpiquetteplant.org/
Greenfield Village & Henry Ford Museum are also a fun way to spend a few days- or more. (They aren't auto museums. Just cool everything). https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/s. Working projects in the museum is really fun, as one could expect.