2/3 of my sockets have stopped working

[littlewigin]

Hi guys


A few hours ago, 2/3 of the downstairs sockets in my house stopped working. I've taken a voltmeter to them (from my car mechanics box) but I'm no electrician (I've put in a spur and an RCD to an electric underfloor heater but that's my limit). The meter from L to N reads 230-235v on the working ones and 70 on the ones that arn't working. The only other weird/scary thing is the live to earth reading is 230-235 on the ones that arn't working.


As it's an old stone house with solid floors, I've got an idea about which socket links to which however after pulling a few skirting boards off to try to trace them, it's a bit hit and miss to work out which could link to which. There's also some signs of junction boxes but they havn't been opened/unearthed since we bought the house 14 years ago. Loads of the wiring is plastered in.


When they went, we seemed to be powering the QE2. The tumble dryer, washing machine (both WM and dryer are on a spur), fridge/freezer, dishwasher, microwave and tv/stereo etc were on (but I'm fairly certain that we've had that many things running at the same time before). The only other change is that 4 days ago, I've switched the RCD/underfloor heater back on (it's on a timer) and so I was afraid that this might have been the cause. I've uncscrewed this spur to try to discount it but the rest of the sockets still read the same voltage 70v.


There's an RCD in the consumer unit and that didn't trip. There's a similar post from a few years ago but with a new house and I *think* I've now followed that by checking each of the sockets that arn't working in turn to see if there's an obvious loose neutral. I just can't get my head around where to try to find the problem.

SHould I open up the sockets that are working or to open up the dodgy junction boxes OR call in an electrician. We're certainly not loaded and I havn't a clue how much is a reasonable rate for someone to take a look at it.


Any help VERY gratefully appreciated as the boiler runs off the mains and the rest of the family will be moaning if I can't sort it! ;-)


Thanks.




LW from Leicester

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[GLENNSPARK]

have you tested between line and neutral here?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

check ALL accessable joints here (including those behind outlets).....

 

[littlewigin]

I think I know what you mean? I've tested the voltage between the live and the neutral on the ones that are working and it reads 230-235v. When I put the meter between the live and neutral on the ones that have stopped working, they read 70v. Sorry if I've misunderstood.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Sounds like either a loose connection, or a broken neutral conductor.

 

[Richard Burns]

As spin says sounds like a loose / broken connection.

Depending on the layout of your sockets and the method of wiring the sockets (ring or radial) the problems may be different. However the fault is likely to be found either at the first or last non working socket or at the working sockets before or after.

Try and think if there have been any other changes that have occurred recently, tripping over a cable, putting nails in walls, etc. that may have affected the wiring.

Always switch off the power before checking connections, be safe.

 

[littlewigin]

Thanks When I get back from work tomorrow, I'm going to try to undo each socket and then screw each one back up to double check. Is it worth me checking the ones that work as well AND is there a best socket to start looking/checking? Cheers for all the comments. It's a cold lonely place otherwise

 

[littlewigin]

Thanks. I've been going back and forth to the CU switching it on and off! I got told a long time ago that you don't mess with it!

 

[Hawk81]

Have you looked at the neutral connections in the consumer unit? Switch off the consumer unit completely before removing its cover.

 

[Adam W]

I would have said 'loose or broken neutral' as well - either in one of the non-working sockets or the last working one, the problem could be finding the 'last' one.
Failing that it could be a connection in one of these JBs, which could be harder to find.

Do you know if the sockets are wired in a radial, or a ring?

 

[Richard Burns]

IF for instance you have a radial then the previous socket before the non working ones or the first non working one is likely to have a fault as in the attached diagram.
The red flash is the likely loose connection.

Please remember that without knowledge of the circuit and at a remote distance this can be only an idea of what may be wrong not a definite statement.

 

[littlewigin]

IF for instance you have a radial then the previous socket before the non working ones or the first non working one is likely to have a fault as in the attached diagram.
The red flash is the likely loose connection.
View attachment 10169
Please remember that without knowledge of the circuit and at a remote distance this can be only an idea of what may be wrong not a definite statement.

Thanks and I'm just appreciative of the help. I *think* that it's been wired as a ring circuit as I've only found 2 spurs.

 

[littlewigin]

Have you looked at the neutral connections in the consumer unit? Switch off the consumer unit completely before removing its cover.

It looked OK however tonight, I'll switch the whole thing off and check the connections again.

 

[Octopus]

If I were you, I'd call in an electrician.

 

[Paul.M]

Agree with Murdoch. Get a local electrician in, tell him all the info that you've posted on here to get the ball rolling, youve already done a bit of ground work but have reached your limits by the sounds of things.

I'm no car mechanic, only do basic maintaining and change flat tyres. Anything beyond that it goes into a professional garage. Good luck in getting this sorted.