flicker/dipping lights

1

18j

we had some work done back in jan, some new lights and sockets in a kitchen extension. until a few weeks ago no prob, since then we get the lights flicker and also any lights plugged into sockets also, the computer hard drive can be heard to falter so it effecting all lights and sockets in the house. called a sparky mate who did the ext but couldnt find anything other than the current at 234v coming in. is this possibly the prob and if it is whom do i contact about it?
 
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Did he run a new ring for sockets or radial? Are lights on a separate circuit?
Or are the above spured from existing circuits in house?

Did he do a proper test and cert for this as well (have to ask, as to acertain towards the problem ) .

sounds like maybe an earthing issue?? What say you guys?

Sav
 
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poor connection in CU, or meter tails , busbar under MCB clamp. sounds like its at or near the CU as it's affecting sockets and lights.
 
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it sounds like from experience a loose cable, because it effects multiple circuits i would suggest the tail connection or busbar in the main board, some poor design older boards allow the possibilty of the busbar prong to end up on the wrong side of the clamp in the terminal so take a visual look and see if this is the case by looking under the main switch at the live or neutral connection to the busbar or neutral tail respectively.
 
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the standard nominal supply voltage in domestic single-phase ( your house ) is 230 V and can be +10% -6%, so anywhere between 216 and 253 V, so thats not your problem. Are the extension circuits separated into lighting and sockets at the cosumer unit/fuse board?
 
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Its sounding like as we all are suggesting to be a loose connection possibly in consumer unit but common to all circuits i.e. main neutral termination or busbar termination to main switch, the only other point is further upstream maybe an henley joint box between the meter an dist board if you have one or the electric boards meter or cut-out point.
p.s DNO is your supplier and their equipment, the incomming cable cutout and links to meter.
 
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tell him to check the clamp is on the correct side of the out going side of the main switch for the live busbar and neutral as this is often overlooked if hes never come across it before.
 
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Check the connections in the dist board especially the factory installed cables if these are loose you could end up with an over heating bus bar , the other thing you should do is to check the Ze , then check the voltage ,under load ie stick the kettle on , it could be a supply fault but id start as the guys have said at the board check all connections
 
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had a letter on sat stating that there will be an interruption to the supply on nov 3rd for essential work on the dist system. could this have anything to do with our fault?, got worse last night with power going off for 1 or 2 secs.
 
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"called a sparky mate who did the ext but couldnt find anything other than the current at 234v coming in"

I'd suggest he came back and did a few more tests. Out of interest did he give you a certificate with his test results when he did the installation? These figures may give you somewhere to start because a "retest" should give the same numbers - if not .....
 
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would like to correct it its not the current but voltage comming in at 234v , the real test to carry out is a Ze test , and see what the readings are had a neutral fault on an installation flickering lights turned out to be a faulty neutral on the supply
 
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dont know if it makes a difference as i am not electrically minded but when the power dips enough to interupt supply to clocks for eg. it does not cause any of the rcd in the board to trip
 
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Definately sounds like connection fault at CU or Meter terminals, or even external on the incoming supply - you could give your meter tails a shake (or maybe let your sparky mate do it) and see if it happens then
 
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awoke this morn to no power at all, nothing tripped. after scrabbling about to find a torch the power came back on by itself. checked the boiler timer and found it had gone off at 5.30, came back at 7.40. streetlights were on and nextdoors security light was on when i got up so it was'nt a cut.
 
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Street lights and neighbours are not always an indication as power supplies are sub devided into 3 phases you may be on an effected phase while you neighbours and street on other phases but from previous posts it all seems to be pointing to the problem been local to your premises but ask around just to check others havent experienced it.
 
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18j said:
had a letter on sat stating that there will be an interruption to the supply on nov 3rd for essential work on the dist system. could this have anything to do with our fault?, got worse last night with power going off for 1 or 2 secs.
Click to expand...

Seems like your Nov 3rd came early. There as obviously been a fault on the distribution side of your supply. Most likely find that a DNO joint was failing, they had arranged to do it on the 3rd and it went before. ie this morning.

With a bit of luck that maybe an end to it. Though you could call your supplier up and ask if they have had problems and tell them what you have been experiencing
 
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as i write this western power are outside changing lamposts on the road, i spoke to them and said about the power being off and flickering lights, they said they would look at the joint on the post. so fingers crossed
 
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well they knocked the power off, i saw them up in the cherry picker for about 1/2 hr before elec came back on. guy knocked the door and said something(cant remember what) had blown and all should be ok now...so... we'll wait an see.
 
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flicker/dipping lights
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malcolmsanford,
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