Faulty Circuit While Replacing Light Bulb

[Ae82mad]

Hello folks.I have a 5 tier light installed in the living room.One bulb fused so i decided to change it with the mains on Silly i know.When i did,the light shorted out and went off.I assumed the MCB tripped and that there was nothing to worry about.I then replaced all the bulbs with new ones,reset the MCB (lever type) and turned the switch on.Light wont come on.Thought maybe light was dud.Checked for power through the wires,nothing.What could possibly be wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated.Merry christmas and a happy new year.Regards Sam

 

[breezer]

loose or burnt out wire.

do the rest of the lights on this mcb work?

 

[Ae82mad]

Thanks for the speedy reply Yes all the other lights work.

 

[JohnD]

If all the other lights works then it could be (in order of accessibility) the light switch in that room (especially if it is a dimmer); the lamp fitting (is 5-tier a sort of chandelier?) especially the lampholder you had the problem with, or the ceiling rose.

If you haven't already got one, splash out £8 on a simple multimeter.

 

[Ae82mad]

Yes its a chandelier type.There is a dimmer installed and a two way switch,one for the kitchen.The lampholder and chandelier are fine as i connected a working light in its place,but still no luck..What do you mean by ceiling rose? Thanks for your reply.

 

[JohnD]

Fastened to the ceiling.


But as you have a dimmer switch I expect it's buggereded. Swap it for an ordinary switch before you spend time on anything else.

 

[Ae82mad]

Yes,will check the dimmer.By the way,i dont have a ceiling rose.

 

[JohnD]

You probably have something equivalent hidden under a bell-shaped brass cover.

 

[Ae82mad]

Hooray !! Faulty dimmer switch was the culprit.Changed it with new switch and all is well.Upon inspection of the faulty dimmer.the pcb has a broken track where it blew.So might solder a link wire and got meself a working dimmer. P.s It isnt a cheap one.Polished silver. Thanks to all that replied.happy new year,and this site deffo helps.keep up the good work.One happy,satisfied customer

 

[JohnD]

If it can be done safely, an inline 1A fuse (or lowest possible for the lamp load) might help next time. Some dimmers have one as standard.

 

[Steve]

polished CHROME dimmers can still have cheapo gubbins. Its the faceplate that's expensive on these.

And out of interest, @ the sparks here, is it possible to create a short in a BC fitting while inserting the lamp?

 

[breezer]

is it possible to create a short in a BC fitting while inserting the lamp?

yes, as the op proved

 

[Softus]

Er, I don't see how that's possible.

 

[securespark]

The failure of the lamp caused the dimmer to toast...

 

[RF Lighting]

I have had one short while removing a lamp, but this was a DIY install on which the wires in the lampholder had been left protruding from the terminals by about 15mm, causing a short between one of the lampholder pins and one of the wires.

The short took out two 32A type B breakers (no discrimination) while leaving a 13A BS1361 intact.