Spectro mains lead wiring

[Geoff Nichol]

Hi just checking the power lead for my new Specto 500 projector and was horrified to find the earth and neutral in the 13 amp plug reversed!. Is it something to do with the bulgin plug?

13 amp plug
Red = live , Black =Earth. Green = neutral

Bulgin plug
Red = terminal 2, Black = terminal 1. , Green = terminal E

Should it not be
13amp plug earth to bulgin E terminal
13amp plug live to bulgin terminal 1.
13amp plug neutral to bulgin terminal 2

[Dominique De Bast]

Geoff, I DON'T KNOW FOR THE UK, but in continental Europe, colours were different before the 70's.

[Geoff Nichol]

Yes i was there wiring plugs in the 60s and 70s. red live ,black neutral , and green earth.

[John Burgess]

Hi Geoff
Before you do anything I would remove the base plate of the projector and check the wiring inside, identify the wiring going to the male end of bulgin plug, particularly the earth. Then using new cable make up a new lead wired correctly, at the moment it looks pretty dangerous!!
Good luck John

[Geoff Nichol]

Thanks for the advise.
Inside wiring checked. Exploded RFI capacitor removed. New mains cable made up and earth continuity checked and insulation.
I think it would have worked as long as you did not touch something properly earthed and the projector case which would be neutral at the same time!
Quick initial run with new mains lead, motor works and lamp ok .
I thought the projector was a bronze/ gold colour, no its gray and the colouring is nicotine. Time for a thorough clean.

[Dominique De Bast]

In the Belgian news, today, an electric company made a wrong manipulation during works. Several houses got 400 volts, instead of our domestic 230 v. Needless to say, the electric devices were damaged

[Brian Fretwell]

Thanks for the advise.
Inside wiring checked. Exploded RFI capacitor removed. New mains cable made up and earth continuity checked and insulation.
I think it would have worked as long as you did not touch something properly earthed and the projector case which would be neutral at the same time!
Quick initial run with new mains lead, motor works and lamp ok .
I thought the projector was a bronze/ gold colour, no its gray and the colouring is nicotine. Time for a thorough clean.

I think it would have tripped a residual current detector on a recent distribution board detector long before any damage was doen to you or any equipment. An old fuse board would have been another matter.

[Ken Finch]

Definitely wired up wrongly Geoff. Good job you checked it. It appears that the internal wiring of the projector is correct if it is still fitted with the original lamp. The motor is mains voltage, the lamp 110 volts, reduced to this by the wire wound resistance in the lamp house.

[Geoff Nichol]

All running ok now. Watched my first film popeye film last night.

One thing that did have me scratching my head. After threading the film correctly, when the film was run the claw mechanism appered to be either not working or working in reverse. After much fiddling and fuming it appears that if the framing screw is only lightly screwed down the claw does not work.