Can anyone help ??

[mwesty1]

Hi guys l was looking for some advice please, in my house the lights have started to flicker. It happens quite reguarly and just flash off for a split second. This happens in all rooms upstairs and downstairs even tho they are on seperate circuits. I have had an electrician out to look and he cant find the reason. He has checked all connections are tight and secure and has done a volt test but when they flashed there was no volt movement. Nothing else is effected i.e sockets so what can be the problem? Any Advice would be very much appreciated

mike

 

[DurhamSparky]

How old is the property?
How old is the Wiring?

possibly his test equiptment never responded quick enough when they flickered! some times it can take up to 1 second to register! i would contct your supplier and tell them you are possibly suffering a brown out (when the power in the line does not drop off fully but does not go below a set figure to be classed as a power cut)

normal electrical equiptment i.e tv etc can work between 110 and 250 so they may appear uneffected!

just a stab in the dark to be honest! have you spoke to your neighbours? do they suffer as well?

 

[mwesty1]

No neighbours not having any problems, if it helps l plugged a lamp into socket and that didnt flicker. Property was re-wired 4 years ago

 

[DurhamSparky]

did the electrician take any readings from the lighting circuit?? if so did he tell you what they were..?

what type of lights have you got fitted?? are they Down lights? do they have transformers inside them? or are they standard pendants?

 

[mwesty1]

No readings lm afraid and the lights and all different, l have D/L in the lounge and living room and all the others are either Eco light buld or just standard bulbs. there are no D/L upstairs at all

 

[DurhamSparky]

scratching head? with out looking at it there is little more to suggest or get you to try safely!

did you pay the other sparky?? as i would be tempted to try another one "preferably with a NO fix NO fee attitude" and get him to have a look...!

Local Authority Building Control - SEARCH <<<<------- have a flick through here for registered sparky's in your area!

 

[mwesty1]

Ok mate thanks for your advice will try another Lecy and also give Npower a ring. Thanks Again

Mike

 

[mechelec]

get the electrician to carry out Ze at the origin and Zs test at the affected fitting but also check the live to neutral with his loop tester. The L-N loop test will normally show any bad connections and whether internal or external to property.

 

[DurhamSparky]

Zn ?? yo mean ZS hahaha!! how did you press the N button..! its miles away from the S button

 

[mechelec]

Zn ?? yo mean ZS hahaha!! how did you press the N button..! its miles away from the S button

Very fat fingers

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Had quite a few of these over the years and they can be difficult to track down.........I'd say a fair number have turned out to be a dodgy connection in the head,usually in this case the flickering is worst when there is load on,and sometimes the head will get noticably warm.....Try turning on some load,cooker,couple of heaters..shower etc and see if the problem is worse or stays the same. Others have been caused by a dodgy joint on the overhead line,usually the neutral for some reason,obviously not applicable if your supply is underground....if all else fails and you are overhead get the DNO to check the poles.
In some cases the cause was never traced and the problem eventually disappeared of it's own accord!

 

[thewetspark]

If all the lights flicker together on two seperate circuits it suggests it must be caused by something that links them together, look at the CU.
Is it a split load board with the lights on one side of the split, check all the connections are tight on the power bus -TURN OFF THE MAIN SWITCH FIRST- so do it tomorrow in the light. If both sides of the split are RCD controlled check the neutral bus as well. It has to be something common to both circuits and a flicker suggests a loos connection / bad contact of some sort. - May even be the main switch for that split.
DON'T FORGET TO TURN THE MAIN SWITCH OFF FIRST AS THE POWER BUS IS UPSTREAM OF THE BREAKERS, ALL THAT PROTECTS IT IS THE 100A SERVICE FUSE!!!