Some appliances on and some off...help!

[almac7]

I have a small business beside my house which has power going underground from the house to the premises. Today, some lights, cooker etc went off but other appliances stayed on. There is a fuse box in both premises but no switches have tripped on either of them. Help!

 

[decolad69]

To be safe call an electrician.

 

[bigbaddave]

If all breakers are on then you have a fault.. Are you sure the rcd hasn't tripped? Picture of consumer unit would be good

 

[GLENNSPARK]

neutral dropped someware....

 

[MDJ]

Help!

Try the Yellow pages M8

 

[plugsandsparks]

If you are sure ALL breakers are in the on position and its not faulty appliances, then its covers off time which is the job of an electrician - sorry cannot be more help

 

[GLENNSPARK]

If all breakers are on then you have a fault.. Are you sure the rcd hasn't tripped? Picture of consumer unit would be good

so if some of the breakers were off......then there wouldn`t be a fault eh?...

 

[plugsandsparks]

Reminds of a job i went to: "No lights in cellar" - sure enough there were at least 8 separate lights covering this cellar warren. Immediately thought supply had tripped, but no.... strewth i thought this could get interesting, checked the switch, yep power there, thought OK, smart arse fault... i will track you, so went to the first light from the switch and well, power was there but the bulb had blown, stuck a bulb in so i could at least see without a torch and ................. YES all bulbs had blown. Looks like they had being going over time and when the last one went they reported it..
hey ho

 

[bigbaddave]

If all breakers are on then you have a fault.. Are you sure the rcd hasn't tripped? Picture of consumer unit would be good

so if some of the breakers were off......then there wouldn`t be a fault eh?...

Not nessessaely. The Rcd can trip for minor imbalance for example a lamp blowing. I know in the past I've been to installs where people have assure me that all the breakers are on but in fact the rcd covering half the board has tripped. Is that a fault?? In the case of a lamp blowing then I'd argue it as a no.. But all MCBs are on and rcd on then yes Defiantly a fault. Without seeing the install and limited info its impossible to say.

 

[pjcomp]

Hi Almac, if you're still there. One of the posts above alluded to a probable explanation, which is the RCD. Some makes of RCD look like they're still on when they've tripped off, and the switch only travels halfway down instead of all the way. In this instance you need to press the switch down until it clicks, then back up to reset it.

You mention the two properties but you don't say which one has the problem (or is it in both?)

PJ

 

[telectrix]

could even be a faulty MCB or RCD. without a neon screwdriver, you're buggered. :shout:

 

[chrish_1977]

Or a lampholder, lamp and a bit of flex. Take it old school

 

[almac7]

Hi, thanks all of you for replying...have just gone out to take a pic (Just realised I can't post a pic without 6 comments) and on processing it on pc have spotted one of the RCD buttons is down (didn't even notice it when I was out taking the pic)...can I assume this is the fault and just flick it back up?

 

[telectrix]

Hi, thanks all of you for replying...have just gone out to take a pic (Just realised I can't post a pic without 6 comments) and on processing it on pc have spotted one of the RCD buttons is down (didn't even notice it when I was out taking the pic)...can I assume this is the fault and just flick it back up?

yes you can, but if it won't hold in, then you have a fault . if that is the case, eliminate the appliances by unplugging them all then plug in 1 at a time. if the fault is still there with all appliances unplugged, you need an electrician to trace the wiring fault.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Hi, thanks all of you for replying...have just gone out to take a pic (Just realised I can't post a pic without 6 comments) and on processing it on pc have spotted one of the RCD buttons is down (didn't even notice it when I was out taking the pic)...can I assume this is the fault and just flick it back up?

oh for gods sake...so it took for an attempt at a pic to spot that eh?...
i give up sometimes....knock all the breakers off that it feeds (RCD)....then reset RCD (if a memara then you push the toggle down fully before pushing up)...onec you have reset the RCD....start putting the breakers back on till the RCD trips...then make a note of which breaker caused it to trip and knock that one off.....then carry on with the rest of the breakers i at a time....if the RCD holds with all breakers on...then it`s likely to be a connected load....so try switchin em on one at a time...until the RCD lets go....then you will know which appliance is tippin it over the edge....
doesn`t necessarily mean all the other appliances are good though...
consider having them pat tested....