Fuse Box

[malix74]

Hi I'm new to the forum. Yesterday I changed a socket in my house and things have gone wrong. Although I have done this before but this time it was unsuccessful. I first isolated the sockets from the mains and took the old socket off and proceeded to screw in the wires. Once I finished I turned the mains on but it sparked and now none of the sockets on the ground floor are working. I reopened the socket to check and realised that the neutral (black) wires had come lose and we're out of the terminal. I screwed them back hoping that would have fixed the problem but the main's switch for the sockets still sparked and turned off. I have called out an electrician who will come by the weekend but what I need to know is that would this be an easy fix like just changing the fuse or a major job as the electrician is charging me by the hour. Apologies in advance if I was ambiguous in any way any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Iggifer]

Take the socket back off again, and check you haven't trapped/damaged any cables screwing the socket back.

The actual circuit breaker for the circuit sparked? as in you could see sparks? Or it just made a loud noise? Is it the MCB (just for the sockets) or RCD (more than one circuit goes off).

If you can't solve it, can you not find an electrician that can come out before the weekend? It should be a nice quick job. It's very likely it's just still a fault in the socket you've changed

 

[malix74]

Hi thank you for the reply. I checked the cables thoroughly and they are not damaged. The one in the consumer unit would be the MCB (Just for the sockets) and I did see the sparks once I tried to turn the mains back on.

 

[JohnW2]

Would it be possible for you to provide a photo of your connections to the back of the socket?

Kind Regards, John

 

[malix74]

Hi John thanks for your kind reply. I have uploaded some pics. The Green earth wire which is showing loose was screwed in while the spark happened. I have included the pic of consumer unit too. Thanks again for your help.

 

[malix74]

@Iggifer thanks for your reply. I have included some pics of the socket. I have called around and I have someone now coming tomorrow. I really wanted to know, given what happened, if this will be an easy fix. As being a novice the electrician can charge me anything without my knowledge. Perhaps a bit like a cab driver who'd drive you around town just to make more money outhan of you (...not the best analogy I know ). Thanks again for your input guys greatly appreciated. I normally don't take on DIY but changing a socket, I thought would be ok.

 

[davelx]

A shot showing the positions of both CPCs (earths) would be helpful. Can only really see one that is not currently connected - where is the other one and is either of them connected to the back box earth teminal?

 

[deadshort]

Hi, you're wiring needs tidying up you have too much exposed copper on the L.

I would switch off the main switch and check that you are engaging the mcb correctly, some older boards require the breaker to be pushed fully Down then back up until it 'clicks' then switch the main switch back on. If you're wiring has caused a short i would expect to see evidence of that in the socket?

Regards,

DS

 

[malix74]

@deadshort thanks for you help you've raised a good point. I'll keep that in mind once the electrician arrives. If it's just a fault with the CU I guess it should be easy enough to fix. I for one will not touch it though Thanks again.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I cannot believe that its a fault with the CU that magically happened when you did some work elsewhere in the house!
I would hope that its not a fault with the MCB, I don't even think that the Science Museum has any of those.

Will be interested to find out what your electrician finds.

 

[cpjvej2014]

That CU looks like its 30 days older than God! May want replacing anyway ?

 

[malix74]

@Taylortwocities you're right it's very old but seem to do the job but I will ask the guy if it needs replacing

 

[JohnW2]

That CU looks like its 30 days older than God! May want replacing anyway ?

Are you sure it's not a preview of a 2016 model - it looks like metal

Kind Regards, John

 

[cpjvej2014]

That CU looks like its 30 days older than God! May want replacing anyway ?

Are you sure it's not a preview of a 2016 model - it looks like metal

Kind Regards, John

If it is A 2016 preview..... its a 2016 BC!

 

[malix74]

This is very embarrassing, but seriously do you guys think I've done a major damage and how much should I expect to pay the electrician. I will definately have this CU changed.