Mains Circuit Not Working

[thaigh]

Hello there,

I have recently changed one of my mains sockets, as it was not working. And as a result the entire mains circuit, which is for the downstairs circuits, is now not working.

I have tried bypassing the socket by putting the wires together, but this has not worked. The circuit board is fine, with none of the trip switches tripped.

I have no more ideas what is wrong, so any thoughts/ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.

Tom

 

[acat]

Have you exchanged the MCB in the CU to see if it is defective.

Chris

 

[thaigh]

As much as i hate to admit it, i am a bit of a novice! could you translate that, or is it whay out of my league?

 

[acat]

Its the "fuse" in your fuse box. Have you got any testing equipment. (or trip switch to use your words)


Chris

 

[thaigh]

the wonders of google... i understand! I have not tried changing it, but i managed to short circuit the circuit, which tripped the tripswitch, so i am assuming that it isnt the problem.

 

[chris gray]

you see the switch with a little t button on it? push it down then up

 

[acat]

If you have no equipment to check and not sure what you are doing I would recommend contacting a local electrician otherwise in all honesty the next short circuit could be you. What area are you in perhaps someone on the forum can help you out.


Chris

 

[GrannySmiff]

If you can short circuit it there must be current flowing right?.

So not sure what has happend, or why when you poked about with one the rest stopped working unless that was the first of a radial?.

How did you short it? what coulours are your wires and do you know where to put them?.

 

[thaigh]

I dont see it no, and i dont think it is me being blind. Where about on the box would it be?

 

[bugsy]

If your not confident get a sparkie, I you feel your capable go by a set of testers ( voltage testers - not a volt stick and not a neon ) then test the circuit from the MCB / Fuse through to each socket outlet.

 

[acat]

The trip switchs as you call them you are looking for something that is twice as wide as them and has a small test button on it that may need re setting have you lost your upstairs lights as well


Chris

 

[chris gray]

If your not confident get a sparkie, I you feel your capable go by a set of testers ( voltage testers - not a volt stick and not a neon ) then test the circuit from the MCB / Fuse through to each socket outlet.

a martindale would probably be the better option < no it wouldnt what was i thinking

 

[thaigh]

acat: I appreciate that I am an amateur, the only reason I am continuing is that we have had trouble finding a willing electrician in the past. I live in the Tavistock area, so any willing members would be greatly appreciated.

GrannySmiff: That is my thinking, which is why i am fairly confused. I put the red and black wires together, i know they aren't meant to be.

bugsy: i think a sparkie is going to be the way forwards... it is just finding one willing! i would feel confident doing it myself, but as GrannySmiff said, it is shorted out surely there must be some current flowing?

 

[thaigh]

I can see the fuse that is twice as wide, it has the mains power coming into it. but i cannot see the test botton. Everytihing else is fine, only the downstairs power sockets.

 

[acat]

Correct current is flowing how many red wires are going into the "switch" in your fuse box


Chris