No lights

[in the dark]

Hi all

I switched on the kitchen light this evening and there was a bit of a bang and all the lights went off.

I have checked all the fuses in the CU and they were fine. Checked all the lights and found a loose connection which is now fixed but still not working.

I am therefore going to get an electrician in, but what is the possibility that the CU is the problem and will need replacing?

the reason I ask is that whoever designed the house had the bright idea of locating the CU in the Kitchen behind the units, and there is just enough room to squeeze in one of the cupboards and change the fuses.

is it worth me dismantling the kitchen before he visits so he will have better access to the CU?

thanks in advance

 

[securespark]

Chances are the fuses are not fine.

Often, a fusewire can just melt at one end, giving the impression it is intact.

Get a continuity tester & test all fuses to make sure they are continuous between the contacts.

 

[in the dark]

thanks for the answer, the fuses are cartridge fuses, and I had a couple of new ones (unopened pack) which i put in. There are six in total so i swapped them in pairs for the new ones but that didn't help.

 

[securespark]

It still makes sense to eliminate duff fuses. Check them with a continuity meter or tester to make sure.

You'd be surprised how many people have given me lots of duff fuses and lamps thinking they are in good working order.

You sure these work?

They're brand new.



Failing that, are any lights on the circuit working at all? If not, that suggests the possibility that the short/break is at the first fitting on the run from the CU.

Have you altered any lighting points at all?

 

[in the dark]

The fuses were brand new, in an unopened pack.

I don't have a continuity tester in the house, I will pick one up from work in the morning and test them before calling in the professionals.

The light in the Kitchen had not been changed, but a wire had come loose causing a short, which i fixed and then double checked. I assume this is the first light in the circuit been nearest the fuse box. All the lights in the house are out. Having to make do with table lamps for lighting.

Thanks again, any help is much appreciated.

 

[cheesepuff]

maybe the boom was a main lighting cable shorting out and thus not giving ANY light to ANYWHERE
just a randome thought

 

[ColJack]

that's what he just said..

he thinks that the cable is stuffed because the light that went bang is the nearest to the fuse board..

you say you fixed the loose connection?

dod you remove the wires and re-connect them or just tighten a loose screw?

often whan a wire shorts it damages the terminal it was in.. so does a loose wire that has been arcing for a while..

might be worth investigating the terminals at the suspect light..

if it was a partiularly large bang then it very likely vapourised the end of the wire.. which may look like it's under the screw but there's nothing there..

 

[tim west]

I'd strongly recommend waiting for the electrician to arrive, stay well clear till then.