One blown bulb has knocked out lights in other rooms - help!

Moll'll fix it

HI All. I switched on the light in my utility room and the blue blew. Next, switched on light in downstairs bathroom and it wouldn't work and neither would the light in the porch and my two outdoor lights. They all appear to be on the one 'loop'. I replaced the blown bulb but still none of the lights will work. I have checked the fuse box and the trip switch and the switch for the sockets fuse seem ok. Has anyone any ideas as to what the problem may be?

RoryMurphyJnr

could be the switch for the lights is half way down.
Try switching it off all the way then turning it back on.
If it's not that I'm all outta ideas sorry

Moll'll fix it

RoryMurphyJnr wrote: »

could be the switch for the lights is half way down.
Try switching it off all the way then turning it back on.
If it's not that I'm all outta ideas sorry

Thanks RMJnr, tried that already, but no joy!

Sounds like the short circuit caused when the bulb blew took out a weak (loose) joint in the lighting circuit, a job for an electrician as it will involve the fixed house wiring.

Moll'll fix it

Deleted User wrote: »

Sounds like the short circuit caused when the bulb blew took out a weak (loose) joint in the lighting circuit, a job for an electrician as it will involve the fixed house wiring.

Thanks for that. Will call an electrician tomorrow so.

meercat

check tripswitches again
pull them down firmly and then push back up
sometimes they dont go down fully so its not obvious by looking alone

Doom

sounds like a loose connection, see if you can twist open the base of the light fitting to see if anything is loose

Moll'll fix it

Doom wrote: »

sounds like a loose connection, see if you can twist open the base of the light fitting to see if anything is loose

I actually removed the light fitting altogether, reset the trip switch, still no joy!

Probably a loose connection somewhere else in the circuit!

Moll'll fix it

Deleted User wrote: »

Probably a loose connection somewhere else in the circuit!

Should I check the other light fittings in the circuit? Also, with the two outdoor lights, is it possible water could have entered the fittings and if so would that cause this problem?

More likely to be loose at the fusebox (could be the trip itself that's failed) end as all the lights on the circuit are out, best get an electrician on to it.

miller50841

Take a pic of your board and as stated above pull the switch down as far as it can go and then up. Turn off the light switch that was the problem.

Is it just a MCB that's down ?

Moll'll fix it

miller50841 wrote: »

Take a pic of your board and as stated above pull the switch down as far as it can go and then up. Turn off the light switch that was the problem.

Is it just a MCB that's down ?

I switched off the light fitting first then I removed altogether the entire light fitting in case it was the fitting that was the problem I have taken out all of the bulbs from the fittings in the other affected rooms and checked them in different fittings and they all work. Then I put back the bulbs in their original fittings. I pulled down the MCB as far as it could go, then pushed it back up i.e. I have reset the mcb several times to no avail.

THENORTHSIDER

is it a dimmer switch by any chance

miller50841

How long since house was wired?
Was anything plugged in that may have caused the problem I know its the light circuit but that would not surprise me.
Sounds like it may be a faulty neutral but would need investigating.

Just for the craic and suppose to humour me throw all MCB's off including RCD/RCBO and just try.

Moll'll fix it

THENORTHSIDER wrote: »

is it a dimmer switch by any chance

No, just a straight forward ordinary switch. Was away for a few days over Christmas, went into the utility room to get something, switched on the light and it blew. And then the lights in the rooms on the same circuit wouldnt work although the bulbs do as i have tested them separately

Moll'll fix it

miller50841 wrote: »

How long since house was wired?
Was anything plugged in that may have caused the problem I know its the light circuit but that would not surprise me.
Sounds like it may be a faulty neutral but would need investigating.

Just for the craic and suppose to humour me throw all MCB's off including RCD/RCBO and just try.

House only built in 1999. Nothing plugged in as I plugged everything out for 'safety' reasons as I was going away for Christmas! I will try throwing off all the mcbs and the rcd/rcbo in the morning - the fuse box is in the utility room where all this started so I can't see what I am at!

miller50841

Moll'll fix it wrote: »

House only built in 1999. Nothing plugged in as I plugged everything out for 'safety' reasons as I was going away for Christmas! I will try throwing off all the mcbs and the rcd/rcbo in the morning - the fuse box is in the utility room where all this started so I can't see what I am at!

Use your phone as a light.

Just flick all down then try up.

Let us know how you get on

Moll'll fix it

miller50841 wrote: »

Use your phone as a light.

Just flick all down then try up.

Let us know how you get on

Flicked all the mcbs and the main trip switch off and then flicked them back on. No joy. Used a phase tester this morning on the light fitting where the bulb blew and there is no power however have also since discovered that some lights upstairs on the same circuit are still working meaning that the mcb must be ok.

Thanks folks for all the feedback but think it is a case for the professionals i'm afraid.

THENORTHSIDER

have a look at the switch for the light and check the terminals with the phase tester. May possibly be the switch.

Moll'll fix it

THENORTHSIDER wrote: »

have a look at the switch for the light and check the terminals with the phase tester. May possibly be the switch.

Thanks for that - will test in the morning when I can see what I am doing!

Moll'll fix it

THENORTHSIDER wrote: »

have a look at the switch for the light and check the terminals with the phase tester. May possibly be the switch.

Checked the terminals at the switch with the phase tester - no joy either - - might it be a case of getting a new switch?

meercat

Moll'll fix it wrote: »

Checked the terminals at the switch with the phase tester - no joy either - - might it be a case of getting a new switch?

i think the tripswitch may be faulty at the fuseboard(assuming you havent now disconnected the neutral cables feeding the other lights)
if you have then rejoin all the blues to each other
if not then find the relevant tripswitch at the board
it will be a 10amp one possibly marked lights
push it up and down numerous times
this may free it up but most likely you will need it replaced by a qualified electrician

Moll'll fix it

meercat wrote: »

i think the tripswitch may be faulty at the fuseboard(assuming you havent now disconnected the neutral cables feeding the other lights)
if you have then rejoin all the blues to each other
if not then find the relevant tripswitch at the board
it will be a 10amp one possibly marked lights
push it up and down numerous times
this may free it up but most likely you will need it replaced by a qualified electrician

Thanks Meercat. I'm beginning to think it is the tripswitch at the fuseboard, have a call into an electrician and hopefully will get it sorted soon.

Many thanks for your reply.

meercat

Moll'll fix it wrote: »

Thanks Meercat. I'm beginning to think it is the tripswitch at the fuseboard, have a call into an electrician and hopefully will get it sorted soon.

Many thanks for your reply.

try it yourself,down and up a few times
keep some pressure on it with your thumb
sometimes this re-engages the mechanism

Moll'll fix it

meercat wrote: »

try it yourself,down and up a few times
keep some pressure on it with your thumb
sometimes this re-engages the mechanism

Just tried that there now, still no joy. Some lights on the circuit are working though which suggests that the mcb is ok and that there is a problem with the wiring possibly around the part of the circuit that's not working i.e. 5 lights

meercat

Moll'll fix it wrote: »

Just tried that there now, still no joy. Some lights on the circuit are working though which suggests that the mcb is ok and that there is a problem with the wiring possibly around the part of the circuit that's not working i.e. 5 lights

are there 2 tripswitches for lights
beside the one that you found operating correctly

when you took the light down ,did you disconnect any cables(even by accident )

Moll'll fix it

meercat wrote: »

are there 2 tripswitches for lights
beside the one that you found operating correctly

when you took the light down ,did you disconnect any cables(even by accident )

Yes, two mcbs for lights, side by side. Don't think I disconnected any cables though when I took down the light fitting

[mod]Sorry, but I am going to lock this thread as the OP needs to get an electrician in at this stage, no one should be taking any unnecessary risks with potentially live wiring. [/mod]