Kitchen sockets not working anymore

[Colin47]

Hi,

I was wondering if someone may be able to assist please. Recently all the kitchen wall sockets have stopped working so no power in the sockets except the oven but the oven has its own dedicated circuit breaker in fuse box. The kitchen sockets also has its own circuit breaker but it hasn't tripped. Would someone know why something like this may happen? All the circuit breakers in the fusebox are type A RCBOs and to date we haven't had any issues with any sockets in the house. The house itself is only 20 years old. I haven't used any new appliance in the kitchen recently either.

Thanks.

Colin

 

[James]

Try turning off the circuit breaker to the kitchen sockets.
UNPLUG (not just turn off) all things plugged into kitchen sockets including if at all possible the fridge and freezer
Turn breaker back on and then try plugging in a known working appliance, like a table lamp from another room.

 

[Colin47]

Thanks for the reply. So I did the above test and it appears 3 of the 8 wall socket outlets are not working. I brought one of those socket testers and those 3 sockets not working, the socket tester showed no lights but for the other 5 sockets the lights were on (two of 3 lights) and sockets were ok. Would anyone know why this may have happened suddently and how this can be rectified? Is it a wiring issue in the socket outlets or fuse box related?

 

[James]

Unfortunately this is most likely to be a wiring issue and quite possibly 2 faults to find.
Mostly but not always the wiring to sockets is done in a ring.
So if the ring gets broken by a damaged cable or a bad joint, it is not noticeable at first.
If the ring gets broken somewhere else as well, the sockets between the 2 breaks will stop working.
Unfortunately this is unlikely to be a simple DIY fix.

 

[mainline]

Thanks for the reply. So I did the above test and it appears 3 of the 8 wall socket outlets are not working. I brought one of those socket testers and those 3 sockets not working, the socket tester showed no lights but for the other 5 sockets the lights were on (two of 3 lights) and sockets were ok. Would anyone know why this may have happened suddently and how this can be rectified? Is it a wiring issue in the socket outlets or fuse box related?

Are the wall sockets that are working next to each other ?.

What size is the Rcbo 16, 20, 32 ?

 

[Colin47]

Are the wall sockets that are working next to each other ?.

What size is the Rcbo 16, 20, 32 ?

The wall sockets next to each other are working fine.

The RCBO is a B32.

 

[mainline]

The wall sockets next to each other are working fine.

The RCBO is a B32.

The best way is to get an electrician in.
The chances are that you have a ring final circuit, if that is the case then it's more than likely to have more than one fault.

It could still be a radial, in which case it maybe just a single fault, either way it needs someone competent to have a look.

 

[Jock from the north]

Hi,

I was wondering if someone may be able to assist please. Recently all the kitchen wall sockets have stopped working so no power in the sockets except the oven but the oven has its own dedicated circuit breaker in fuse box. The kitchen sockets also has its own circuit breaker but it hasn't tripped. Would someone know why something like this may happen? All the circuit breakers in the fusebox are type A RCBOs and to date we haven't had any issues with any sockets in the house. The house itself is only 20 years old. I haven't used any new appliance in the kitchen recently either.

Thanks.

Colin

Sounds like you maybe had an existing break in ring main which you wouldn't notice and now have a further break .only a sparks could check this out.kitchens are notorious for hidden junction boxes .

 

[brianmoooore]

Kitchens get kitchen fitter wiring. Three sockets in series, spurred off from a single point on the RFC, which has finally given up as a result of the periodic overloads.

 

[Jock from the north]

Kitchens get kitchen fitter wiring. Three sockets in series, spurred off from a single point on the RFC, which has finally given up as a result of the periodic overloads.

I gave up a good paying job because I was sick to death of doing eicrs for mainly leasing companies. If there was ever a fault on ring main [or kitchen ring main ]then the kitchen was first place to investigate.
Just as a matter of interest I've found half a dozen popped out live or neutrals on new build grid switches ,if I do my end to end resistance and its open its first place i look
Why are we so opposed to radial circuits .

 

[littlespark]

No one is apposed to radial circuits. And that discussion has been brought up a number of times before…. Doesn’t need to be brought up again.

OP, please keep us informed in what you, or your electrician find.

 

[Colin47]

Thanks for the replies. So basically if I am correct in basic terms this is something that most likely is going to be resolved from the fuse box as opposed to the socket outlets in the kitchen?

 

[littlespark]

Thanks for the replies. So basically if I am correct in basic terms this is something that most likely is going to be resolved from the fuse box as opposed to the socket outlets in the kitchen?

Nope. It could be anywhere in the circuit… at the board, at any of the sockets or at a hidden joint box somewhere.

An electrician with test equipment can methodically dismantle the circuit, test every cable inbetween and maybe get some, if not all sockets operational.


Just reread the thread and you say some are working, but not all?
It could simply be a loose cable somewhere behind a socket…
A fairly new build house would likely have a separate ring for a kitchen…. But if that kitchen has been remodelled… then kitchen fitters seem to be a law unto themselves.

You may find the sockets not working are a branch off the ring…. Possibly unfused, which is a big no no.