All Lights in House not working.

[Stephen Hirst]

All the lights in the house have suddenly stopped working. Believe my wife tried to switch on on, and can't say what fuse box looked like after as she dealt with it first. Have tried re-setting rcd switch and light switch, though that is complicated. We had an extension a year ago and the one that says lights doesn't as far as I'm aware work the lights anymore. A new switch was added dead centre, which to the best of my knowledge works the lights. I'm adding a photo if possible. Anyone got any ideas at all please. Don't really want to be going round taking off every light and switch, when I haven't a clue where to look. Some lights do flicker, others do nothing at
all. Any help really appreciated. The switch to the left of centre is the one that was added and works lighting.

 

[Michael Sands]

At end of day it’s not our fault we can’t get replacements some even say we can’t use sourced ones from ebaby if secondhand who is going to walk away from a job just because they don’t want to use a pre loved mcb not me

 

[PEG]

I'm in the don't do it camp.

Of course you could probably find some similar device that has the same dimensions, manufactured by someone else that would fit perfectly in there. But presumably the manufacturers go through some testing regime to ensure their products are suitable and fit for purpose and within tolerances.

Guess you could come up with some risk assessment, to show you have investigated and tested the non compatible device is within tolerances and won't cause problems in the future. Submit your risk assessment with your certificate.

Sometimes even the manufacturer hasn't a suitable replacement device. But IMO thats not the sparks problem, the customer will just have to pay for some remedial work, if they want an alteration or addition.

In this case, as said there's a simple remedy, with an RCD field kit (if that is Memera 2000 CU etc). Ain't cheap, about £120 last time I fitted one.

Can't understand why try bother fitting a round peg in a square hole.

...There's always somebody on this forum...having a go,at another man's weight problem...

 

[PEG]

I'm in the don't do it camp.

Of course you could probably find some similar device that has the same dimensions, manufactured by someone else that would fit perfectly in there. But presumably the manufacturers go through some testing regime to ensure their products are suitable and fit for purpose and within tolerances.

Guess you could come up with some risk assessment, to show you have investigated and tested the non compatible device is within tolerances and won't cause problems in the future. Submit your risk assessment with your certificate.

Sometimes even the manufacturer hasn't a suitable replacement device. But IMO thats not the sparks problem, the customer will just have to pay for some remedial work, if they want an alteration or addition.

In this case, as said there's a simple remedy, with an RCD field kit (if that is Memera 2000 CU etc). Ain't cheap, about £120 last time I fitted one.

Can't understand why try bother fitting a round peg in a square hole.

...There's always somebody on this forum...having a go,at another man's weight problem...

 

[Midwest]

Sticky fingers?

 

[buzzlightyear]

Sticky fingers

could he repeat it a again.

 

[buzzlightyear]

There's always somebody on this forum...having a go,at another man's weight problem

you know we cant be all thin you know .

 

[chrisdungan]

I'd say really easy, It's a broken neutral, either at the board or the first light in the circuit. More often than not lighting issues are neutral issues

 

[gerry whitwham]

All the lights in the house have suddenly stopped working. Believe my wife tried to switch on on, and can't say what fuse box looked like after as she dealt with it first. Have tried re-setting rcd switch and light switch, though that is complicated. We had an extension a year ago and the one that says lights doesn't as far as I'm aware work the lights anymore. A new switch was added dead centre, which to the best of my knowledge works the lights. I'm adding a photo if possible. Anyone got any ideas at all please. Don't really want to be going round taking off every light and switch, when I haven't a clue where to look. Some lights do flicker, others do nothing at
all. Any help really appreciated. The switch to the left of centre is the one that was added and works lighting. View attachment 44583

The best place to start is by testing the outgoing side of the rcbo…..are you getting full voltage here across l-out and n-out ?????

 

[richy3333]

I think Hager now state in the instructions for their CU’s that other manufacturers parts should not be fitted. Wylex do.

The attached is an extract from an IET publication and then the BEAMA bulletin on the subject. (I guess the cynics here will now badger on about BEAMA ‘would say that wouldnt they’ syndrome etc?!). So, if BS7671, the IET and the manufacturers trade association basically say don’t do it careful consideration should be made before doing it. Just because it fits doesn’t mean it’s ok and/or safe?

 

[GeorgeCooke]

510.3 "...shall take account of manufacturer's instructions"

Exactly. i.e. guidance only and do not have to be followed. Manufacturers instructions are often wrong, when it would be foolish to follow them.

 

[str1ke]

You probably have this sorted by now but for future reference if all your lights aren't working then do the following simple check.
Leave MCB of faulty circuit (if u know or suspect which one it is) off.
Go round and set all light switches to off. Put MCB back on - it should work with no load on. Go round and try the light switches one by one. Making sure u switch to off before trying the next one. The MCB will trip again when the faulty load is applied. If it is the bedroom as you suspect then this will confirm it. As long as u leave this off u should be able to use the rest of your lighting without problems. Simplist way to locate faults and far quicker than pulling out test equipment etc. It also works on other circuits too- esp if u have a faulty appliance

 

[Midwest]

Is that the bang test?

 

[MDJ]

Might be a transformer or driver on the circuit gone belly up, get a sparky in.

 

[str1ke]

It's the process of elimination test until
someone with the correct test equipment can come out and test properly. I'm sure everything was correctly tested at time of installation and safety features be doing what they do .

 

[Midwest]

It's the process of elimination test until
someone with the correct test equipment can come out and test properly. I'm sure everything was correctly tested at time of installation and safety features be doing what they do .

Not sure its best to intentionally test an mcb in such way, might not work next time, when required. Just saying.