Screwing a light switch back on and I assume I hit a live wire?

[connellyd]

I was screwing a lightswitch back into the wall when suddenly a bang and the lights tripped, I assume I hit a live wire? Can anyone shed some light on what happened?

 

[Pete999]

I was screwing a lightswitch back into the wall when suddenly a bang and the lights tripped, I assume I hit a live wire? Can anyone shed some light on what happened?

Was the switch in question, attached to any sort of back box, or was a back box used? if not, and you tried screwing the switch directly into the building fabric the connections may have become in contact with some damp brickwork or plaster, without actually seeing what has been attempted, it's hard to say exactly what you have done, can you post a picture of the finished work or your attempt at it? this may highlight the problem.

 

[connellyd]

Was the switch in question, attached to any sort of back box, or was a back box used? if not, and you tried screwing the switch directly into the building fabric the connections may have become in contact with some damp brickwork or plaster, without actually seeing what has been attempted, it's hard to say exactly what you have done, can you post a picture of the finished work or your attempt at it? this may highlight the problem.

I never touched any wiring whatsoever the lightswitch faceplate in question was simply unscrewed and rescrewed into the wall, when screwing the left hand side screw in there was a flash and a little pop a similar to the sound of a lightbulb blowing and then all the lights cut off, the lightswitch in question was off at the time also just for added information (tried to upload a pic but got the error the uploaded file was not an image as expected)

 

[SJD]

Turn the power off (at the fuse box / consumer unit), remove the switch from the wall, and look for the flashover marks where you have either damaged a cable with a screw, or crushed a cable, or a cable has come loose and shorted somewhere. Correct the problem.

 

[buzzlightyear]

The possibility you have hit the the shroud of the cable, by unscrewing the switch and see what damage you have made and look at the screw to pin point it.

 

[markythesparky]

I was screwing a lightswitch back into the wall when suddenly a bang and the lights tripped, I assume I hit a live wire? Can anyone shed some light on what happened?

Was that pun intentional?

 

[ipf]

Probably embarrassed and realise what a d******d they are...….no sign of any gratitude, though.

 

[PEG]

I never touched any wiring whatsoever the lightswitch faceplate in question was simply unscrewed and rescrewed into the wall, when screwing the left hand side screw in there was a flash and a little pop a similar to the sound of a lightbulb blowing and then all the lights cut off, the lightswitch in question was off at the time also just for added information (tried to upload a pic but got the error the uploaded file was not an image as expected)

Hi,unless you have bluetooth connection to your fuses....this is not the case.

You may have damage to assess and correct,which will need the attention of a trained person.