> Quite frankly there is more danger of water getting into this 
> outlet than getting into a light switch in the bathroom.
> 
> >In Italy, recently (<15 years) there's the use to split 
> Mains into 2-3 
> >or more zones, each one with a Breaker. Say: bedroom, bathroom and 
> >kitchen, else, and so on.
> 
> <VBG> I just cannot get used to the ring main system in the 
> UK. having grown up with star wiring in NZ, where the 
> standard practice was to have adjacent rooms on different 
> lighting circuits, so if the fuse blew you at least had some 
> spill over light from an adjacent room to find your way to a torch. 
> Instead in the UK the whole house blacks out .... 


Australia has all lights (& the occasional fan) run off a single circuit.
Easy to spot, it's the 8 amp one.  One out, all out, comrades.  The rest of
the house gets split into a few zones.  Sheds and such usually get a
'common' circuit for both lights & power.

Except where I'm living, of course.  For some reason, the lounge room light
is on the same circuit as the kitchen oven.  Interesting logic.  As a bonus,
the wiring for the lights is so old it's that 'pipe with wire and a bit of
insulation jammed down it' stuff, whatever it's called.  I've seen it
before, but never a 'live' one.  I guess this house skipped the 'rubber
stuff that disintegrates after a while' phase.

I recall being puzzled once by some light switches that had a light fitting
in it.  You could put a bulb in it and it would light up, along with the one
of the roof.  I put a dead ones in them to save me from sticking my fingers
into it when fumbling for the switch whilst half asleep.  I later found out
you were supposed to put a small 15w globe (like in a fridge) but painted
red in there.  This was your power on/off indicator.  I suppose these days
you'd paint it green.  I guess that was before neon indicators were
invented.

The bathroom has a powerpoint, conveniently located behind the toilet.  I'm
unsure of the logic behind this choice either, other than to encourage the
gentlemen of the house to aim a bit more carefully.

Tony

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist