Diwali and Chhath are the brightest weeks of the year in Jharkhand and Bihar. Homes, shops, puja pandals and ghats are covered in lights, often wired up in a hurry the night before. With Ranchi's recent fires still in the news, where reports pointed to a suspected short circuit, it is worth taking ten minutes to make sure the lights stay a happy memory.
Before you hang the lights
- Check last year's strings. Throw out any set with cracked wire, loose bulbs or melted plugs. A cheap new string costs less than the risk.
- Buy marked products. Look for the brand name, ratings and the BIS mark where applicable. Unbranded strings often use very thin wire.
- Prefer LED. LED strings and lamps draw far less power and run much cooler than old filament bulbs, so there is less heat near curtains and paper decorations.
Plugging in safely
- Don't chain extension boards into one another. Use one good-quality board with its own switch or fuse.
- Keep heaters, irons and induction cooktops off the same board as the decorations.
- Keep joints off the floor and away from water: balconies, rooftops, courtyards and ghats.
- Never hook wires directly into a socket or onto overhead lines. It is dangerous and illegal.
- Switch the lights off when everyone goes to sleep or leaves the shop.
Why an RCCB matters during festivals
Outdoor lights get damp with dew, and Chhath decorations are often close to water. If insulation fails, current can leak through a wet surface or a person. An MCB protects against overload and short circuit, but an RCCB is the device that trips on this kind of earth leakage. If your DB does not have one, festival season is a good reason to add it, through a qualified electrician.
For shop owners and organisers
- Work out the total load of the lights, sound system and anything else, and check it against your connection.
- Use a proper temporary DB with MCB and RCCB protection for pandals and stalls, installed by a licensed electrician.
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy, and keep a clear path to the main switch.
ATRICL supplies Ledure and Greatwhite LED lighting, along with MCBs, RCCBs and distribution boards, from our Upper Bazar shop in Ranchi to customers across Jharkhand and Bihar. Wishing you a safe and bright Diwali and Chhath.
This article is general information, not a substitute for a site inspection. Electrical work should always be done by a qualified, licensed electrician. ATRICL is GeM-registered.