Switches and lamps keep blowing in new place

[babyshanks]

Hi guys, so I've moved into a new place but near enough every week a spotlight lamp will blow, tripping the RCBO and meaning I dish out £3 for a new lamp. This has been going on for a few months and now I've had 2 MK dimmer module switches blow on me in the last week. They are £25 a piece and I can't keep paying that sort of money out for replacements.

Has anyone got any sort of idea as to why this may be happening? At first I thought the lamps were overheating, but now these two dimmer switches going have made me think it might be something else. Are there any tests/inspections I can do bearing in mind I have no access above the ceiling as it's a ground floor flat?

Many thanks

 

[dan86]

by new place, do you mean new build or just new to you?

 

[Amp David]

Wonder what the supply voltage is?

3 quid a lamp, i'd change suppliers. And another reason to stay clear of MK stuff

 

[GLENNSPARK]

the lampholders may be shaged....causing fault current to flow and thus taking out the dimmers n all

 

[Octopus]

Replace the dimmers with standard switches and see of the lamps last longer.

From your earlier posts you appear to be a spark so what test have you done?

 

[babyshanks]

The place was built in 2008 and I moved in about 6 months ago. The lamps mainly blow in the hall which isn't on a dimmer, only the kitchen a living room are on dimmers and they rarely blow.

I haven't done any tests on it.. I've only just got a tester and that's off being calibrated. I'll take the dimmers out and put normal switches in to see if that helps, and I'll leave the hall lights off as much as possible. I tend to leave them on more than I should and they get bloody hot.

Thanks for the help though, any other suggestions?

 

[MDJ]

Whats the voltage there? I mean actual measured voltage at lights and the dimmers?

 

[babyshanks]

Whats the voltage there? I mean actual measured voltage at lights and the dimmers?

Not sure the earliest I can check is tomorrow

 

[Amp David]

I reckon voltage is well high. Newish build, substation in the back garden.

Who has there voltage tester calibrated anyhow

 

[MDJ]

I reckon voltage is well high. Newish build, substation in the back garden.

Who has there voltage tester calibrated anyhow

I do, it's called a MFT and is very accurate

 

[Amp David]

I have my MFT calibrated, but not my voltage tester.

 

[Octopus]

So are they 240v or 12v? That is the question.

 

[Amp David]

So are they 240v or 12v? That is the question.

Good point.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I have my MFT calibrated, but not my voltage tester.

and you wouldn`t either...would you as an AVI only measures approx. voltage....using an LED signature..

 

[Amp David]

Even the ones with a read out on them.

Just thought op would have something that would show an super high voltage other than his MFT which is away for calibration.