Figure out what is tripping fuse.

thenightman

Fuse for my ma's sitting room tripped last night (nothing was being turned on or plugged in/out at the time) and it won't reset even with nothing being plugged in at all. I've opened each socket to see if anything is obviously bad (scorch marks, burning smell etc) and I can't see anything wrong, though my electrical knowledge is limited to wiring a plug!


Is my next port of call an electrician? and how much ballpark would I be looking at to fix the problem? house is a 1980's semi d, no bother with any of the wiring previously.


Thanks.

Maewyn Succat

thenightman wrote: »

Fuse for my ma's sitting room tripped last night (nothing was being turned on or plugged in/out at the time) and it won't reset even with nothing being plugged in at all. I've opened each socket to see if anything is obviously bad (scorch marks, burning smell etc) and I can't see anything wrong, though my electrical knowledge is limited to wiring a plug!


Is my next port of call an electrician? and how much ballpark would I be looking at to fix the problem? house is a 1980's semi d, no bother with any of the wiring previously.


Thanks.

Mcb or rcd?

thenightman

Sorry, MCB!

Maewyn Succat

thenightman wrote: »

Sorry, MCB!

Did you check the sockets in other rooms? It's unlikely that the sitting room is on its own circuit.

thenightman

Yeah, all upstairs sockets & kitchen sockets are working fine. Just the one socket in hall and all sitting room sockets which I presume are on their own circuit. Socket in hall isn't used often and wasn't in use when this trip happened originally.

adrian92

Maewyn Succat wrote: »

Mcb or rcd?

Have you tried unplugging everything from the affected power outlet sockets and then see if you can get the MCB to close?

meercat

Maewyn Succat wrote: »

Mcb or rcd?

Pull the mcb down fully and then try pushing it back up to reset

Also check if there’s an outside socket

Atlantic Dawn

Was the heating on?

adrian92

thenightman wrote: »

Sorry, MCB!

Did you push the MCB very firmly up ?

(a tentative movement to close it may not result in a successful closing )

thenightman

Apologies for the late, thanks for all the responses. Yes, I've tried pushing it up firmly. It just trips again straight away. The heating wasn't on either, and is on the kitchen circuit which has no problems anyway. I've rigged up the below extension reel to a socket in the kitchen until we can get a spark out (as an aside an recs for one in West Dublin would be appreciated!) All that's plugged into it is TV, UPC Box, modem and a lamp.

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/masterplug-ldct2513bq-4-xd-13a-4-gang-25m-cable-reel-240v/54615?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5efw8qqd6AIVjLTtCh2ORAeZEAQYASABEgLr5_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Bruthal

thenightman wrote: »

Apologies for the late, thanks for all the responses. Yes, I've tried pushing it up firmly. It just trips again straight away. The heating wasn't on either, and is on the kitchen circuit which has no problems anyway. I've rigged up the below extension reel to a socket in the kitchen until we can get a spark out (as an aside an recs for one in West Dublin would be appreciated!) All that's plugged into it is TV, UPC Box, modem and a lamp.

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/masterplug-ldct2513bq-4-xd-13a-4-gang-25m-cable-reel-240v/54615?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5efw8qqd6AIVjLTtCh2ORAeZEAQYASABEgLr5_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Make sure the extension reel is completely uncoiled for using as temp sockets.

whizbang

Hall circuit would make me think Outside light, doorbell, Alarm control panel, Phone base, Modem, etc. Understairs circuits?
Hallway sockets tended to get damaged easier.

Switch off the Main switch, and reset the offending circuit. If it doesnt feel good, then its probably the Mcb

thenightman

Will give that a go tomorrow. Cheers.

Bruthal

If it wont reset with the main power off, and it is an MCB, the MCB is likely faulty.

If it does reset, but trips when you turn the main power back on, its likely you have a L to N short.

adrian92

whizbang wrote: »

Hall circuit would make me think Outside light, doorbell, Alarm control panel, Phone base, Modem, etc. Understairs circuits?
Hallway sockets tended to get damaged easier.

Switch off the Main switch, and reset the offending circuit. If it doesnt feel good, then its probably the Mcb

This is a very good suggestion . I concur