Plugs not working

[electrichead]

Hi,
Would appreciate some advice on this as my missus is on my back to fix it.
I have about 6 plugs around the house that have no power available. 2 of these use high power appliances, cooker and boiler. They stopped working after a short on one of the ccts, and after I tripped the consumer unit back on, just these plugs ceased working. The CU is not showing any signs of damage, and all the switches are 'on' as normal. Its a modern device with no problems in the past.
Any ideas anyone??
thanks

 

[securespark]

Plugs....you mean sockets, yes?

Has an RCD tripped?

Are ALL switches pointing in the same direction?

 

[electrichead]

Yes I mean sockets sorry,
The RCD is fine and has not tripped. All the switches are pointing to 'on' and in the same direction, so that is where I have come unstuck!
Any ideas?

 

[DESL]

They stopped working after a short on one of the ccts

So what caused this short?

This info may help in diagnosing fault

 

[bernardgreen]

Sounds like a cable fault.

The short may have burnt out a weak point before the trip went. This could be a loose screw in a terminal behind a socket.

Does not sopund like a job an in-experienced DIY person should start.

But if you must DIY it then with the power turned OFF at the CU ( all power ) look for a damaged socket, scorch marks or other signs of heat damage on the front. If there is then the terminals behind may be the fault. Then loosen the face plate and gently move it from the wall so you can see the cable behind. Any signs of melted insulation or scorching and that is a socket that needs replacing.

 

[electrichead]

The short was caused by a fan in the cooker giving out, which resulted in a bang, and then things stopped working.
The sockets are not showing any signs of scorch marks, although I have not investigated thoroughly by opening them them up, although I would have thought if there is such damage along a ring then the relevant CU switch would stay 'off', even if I tryed to move it to 'on', because it would keep tripping. But I am just an amateur so I am open to any suggestions on what it could be.

 

[DESL]

OMG I just re read original post

You have cooker on same circuit as sockets?

And unless it's an electric boiler it won't taking a high load.

Sounds like a radial has been added to cooker cct the overload of faulty fan may have burnt out a connection some where in the cct.

As you say you're an ametuer I think it may be time to call an electrician - things just add up the way you describe them.

 

[ColJack]

you say "arround the house" yet 2 mentioned are in the kitchen..

where are the rest of the non working sockets?

make sure the MCB's are working by switching them off and then back on again as the lever may be stuck and the "internal" trip may have gone..

 

[Space cat]

Could it be that the dead sockets are all on the same breaker in the CU and also that there are no working sockets at all on that breaker?

Do you remember which breaker went the first time? If you do then turn off any other breakers that could be supplying sockets, leaving only the dodgy one. Are there any working sockets left? If the answer is yes then that breaker is still working and you will have to dig deeper. If it's no then I would suggest that the breaker is fried internally.