No downstair lights and can find No consumer unit!

[DIYDame]

Last night I turned on the kitchen light and it went 'pop' and now none of the downstairs lights work ( all other electric in the house works!).
I thought the curcuit breaker must have 'flipped' but I can't find a consumer unit in my house! I have checked near the electicity meter but can only find 3 swithes. I can't find any fuses or curcuit breakers either.
Any Ideas?? PLEASE!

 

[breezer]

i would guess its the 3 switches, better description or even a pic would help.

consumers unit is usually within 2m of lecy meter

 

[Lectrician]

Describe the switches in greater detail?? Cable size into and out of them?? Size??

 

[DIYDame]

Thank you, that means i don't have a consumer unit then!
I have 3 switches - 1 'big one' that turns off all the electric!
the other 2 are smaller but are still 'on'. would they not turn off if they are over loaded? how do I get my power back without a curcuit breaker to 'flip' back on?
An electrian was stumped when i spoke to him!
I don't know the cable size, I am just stumped that I can't fix what seems to be a simple problem of a flipped switch ( which i haven't got!) I'm sorry maybe this forum if to technical for me and maybe I shouldn't have joined in!

 

[securespark]

No, that does not mean you have no CU. Don't be ungrateful.

My guess is that you have the very old style of unit which just looks like a metal rectangular box with a big switch on, but inside there are seperate fuses for the various circuits.

If this is the case:


Care is needed when removing the cover and handling the fuses.

Switch off first. There should be a screw on the front which will retain the lid - sometimes you need a driver, and sometimes it is possible to undo by hand.

Take care once inside not to touch any wiring or there may be a shock risk.

You should find ceramic fuses of differing sizes: the lighting should be a smaller fuse carrier using 5A fuse wire.

 

[Lectrician]

What size are the smaller boxes? How old is your property and wiring?

Could be really old school switch fuses (brown in color, about 4 by 4 inch??)

 

[breezer]

£1.00 says its an old MEM consumers unit

 

[securespark]

Whatever it is, mate, the fuses are concealed from view. £2.00 it's metalclad....


DIYDAME can you post a piccy?

 

[DIYDame]

I have a piccy but can't figure out how to post it! MEM is written on the smaller switch!

 

[breezer]

£3.00 says it is metal clad

 

[DIYDame]

How do I put a photo up for you all to see?? a photo of the electric meter- before you lot get any ideas!!!
I am really touched by your response.

 

[DIYDame]

I meant a photo of the electric meter- before you lot get any ideas!!!

 

[breezer]

see here

or you can use webbucket (but instructions are the same)

p.s. have you a fridge magnet? if so see will it "stick" to the big box, this is to determine if i win £3.00, then put it back on fridge. also does it have any writing, letters?

 

[DIYDame]

Let's hope that works!
The fridge magnet did not stick to any of the boxes, but they do have MEM written on them!!

 

[breezer]

you are right, you havent got a consumers unit, you have got 3 consumers units.

i should say the bottom one is for shower, top one cooker?

middle one is the one you want (probably) you need to switch it off then there is probably a little screw at the bottom hoding on the lid, undo this, remove lid, and look for a 5 amp fuse carrier (probably white) the one that has gone will have no wire on it when you take it out. you need to replace the wire with 5 amp fuse wire. NO BIGGER
then reverse process to put it all back.

if you like can you open it and post pic?