Kitchen downlights trip circuit breaker

[heppenm]

Can anyone help me? I'm clueless on electrical stuff, but don't want to be fleeched by getting someone in to take a look at the problem.

12 months ago we had some new kitchen downlights installed, and 3 months after that we had a new fusebox installed as we had a new kitchen put in. Both jobs were done by qualified electricians.

The lights worked fine until 2 weeks ago when I switched the lights on, and they stopped on for 10 seconds then went off, blowing the circuit breaker. Now whenever the downlights are switched on, the circuit breaker blows. All the lights are on one circuit. All other lights work fine.

Could it be a blown transformer in the downlights? If so, how can I test for each one? I don't have a multimeter, although I can borrow one from my mate.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks

 

[Dave 85]

Flippin heck, only came on for a bit of advice so I didn't get ripped off again. Didn't expect all the sarcasm.
Thanks for all of you that tried to help, and to the rest of you, it sort of proves why people are sometimes reluctant to call tradesmen...you give us all a bad name.

Ignore the guys on here slagging you off pal, they do it to anyone (who hasnt been a sparky since 1920) asking for advice, some of the people just have no work and seem to think you (the general public) owe them a living. Do what Malc said, disconnect the transformers one at a time and retry the circuit after each one.

 

[applemac]

had lots of kitchen light problems in the past, lots of mice had been nibbling the silicon sleeves , all ok after replacing all of them,

 

[Octopus]

Stuck my head into a loft space above a kitchen today and found a huge pile of rodent droppings and a large section of nibbled cable!

 

[sedgy34]

i went in a loft the once as i lifted my self up without knowing i nearly touched a mouse trap, i said to the bloke you have a mouse in the trap he replied "WHAT WE GOT MICE" i was in histerics as hed put the trap there:smilielol5:

 

[plugsandsparks]

To the OP, common problem when fitting downlights. Depending on how many there are, my personal hit rate is usually either the last one or next to last, but i am very unlucky, so as mentioned you got to isolate then get them out one by one and inspect the wiring for any signs of trapped / burnt ca bles. It can be a tiny little cut you are looking for usually at a pressure point where the cable has been trapped - OR it could be a faulty transformer, again one by one disconnect, until lights stay on. The last one i did had 12 downlights that were tripping but lucky, this time for me i noticed two line outs from the switch so managed to half the problem at the switch. Also did get half working so i was not totally in the dark.
Good luck and good hunting

 

[Smudge]

Just for the record, I would never try to be rude to anyone, though I can be a little "short" if I think that someone is putting themselves or others in a potentially dangerous situation. Also, I am a looong way past being a "kid" and I find that remark very "insulting" if I'm honest. Also, I have never used facebook or Twitter.

My apologies. That was not a direct insult aimed at you. I'm dropping out this thread now as its going to turn into an argument i never intended. I have made my point, probably not in the most tactful of manners, but it is made none the less.