Loss of circuit

[davecooper]

Seems a strange one this but someone might have an explanation. Got a text from Son in Law this morning saying he had lost all of the sockets on a downstairs circuit. He said the breaker for the circuit was still showing ON. He lives 200 miles away so no way I can pop round to have a look so I suggested in the first instance that he unplug everything on that circuit then switch the breaker off and on again. This he did but all sockets remained dead. It looks like there are two downstairs circuits fed from a common RCD. The RCD had not tripped and the other circuit was working fine. I suggested that until the problem could be looked at he should switch off the breaker and run his router (he needs this for work) from an extension lead from the other circuit. This he did.
Got a message about an hour later saying he had tried switching the breaker back on and hey presto, power was back to all sockets! Added a picture of the breakers and RCD. Any ideas appreciated.

 

[Wayners]

The one switch is not fully on. I can clearly see that in picture.
You need to turn fully off then lift to the on position to switch power back on. Reset it...

Id turn every breaker I could find to off position. Including main breaker.
Turn all the switches on leaving the main breaker to last...

 

[CountryFan]

The one switch is not fully on. I can clearly see that in picture.

Looks fully on to me, but not sat correctly in the mini consumer unit - this is what I think needs investigating

 

[JohnW2]

Looks fully on to me, but not sat correctly in the mini consumer unit - this is what I think needs investigating

I'm not so sure, since I'm quite inclined to think that Wayners could well be right.

 

[davecooper]

The left hand breaker was actually on the good circuit, it was the right hand breaker circuit which had the problems I believe. Anyway, as you have advised, I will suggest he looks at seating the LH breaker correctly and resetting it. i will also suggest a complete reset of the supplies as you have advised. Thanks.

 

[CountryFan]

I'm not so sure, since I'm quite inclined to think that Wayners could well be right.

Ok, I am wrong, as I hadn’t looked at the circuit name (downstairs). However, zoom in and tell me if an mcb is supposed to stick out further than another? Another thing could be a loose connection or a failing mcb.

 

[davecooper]

He isn't too keen on touching anything (not his thing!). We are visiting next week so I will have a look then. Might order a new breaker just in case.

 

[Murdochcat]

That make is rubbish

 

[pete01]

Faulty breaker, maybe?

 

[SUNRAY]

That make is rubbish

What makes you say that? They are commonly used commercially and that generally means the opposite.

 

[JohnW2]

.... However, zoom in and tell me if an mcb is supposed to stick out further than another?

It obviously is not 'supposed to' be like that, but I very much doubt that that would could any functionalproblems. In particular, the bottom of the MCB is not sticking out, suggesting that ity is correctly connected to the bus bar, whilst lack of alignment at the top is really of no consequence, since the top connection(s) are via 'flying conductor(s).

Another thing could be a loose connection or a failing mcb.

That is obviously possible, but there's no way that we can tell.

 

[Murdochcat]

What makes you say that? They are commonly used commercially and that generally means the opposite.

Experience of seeing failed units

 

[JohnW2]

Experience of seeing failed units

What 'fails' - the MCBs?

Foe what it's worth, whilst my experience is obviously much less than yours, I have daily experience of seeing a number of those which have been in service for very many years without problems.