Upstairs Lighting Blowing

[Willie]

I'm having a problem with the upstairs blowing at least monthly. I had a so called spark in looking at the problem a few months back but it has happened again- aaaggghhhhh!!

I have checked the mains box for loose connections, fuses, and rcd- everything is fine- anyone have any suggestions?

 

[andy]

whats blowin? MCB or RCD?

 

[Willie]

All lights except for landing.

 

[andy]

whats actually blowin? try telling us then we may be able to help

 

[Willie]

Lighting Upstairs except for landing- to be exact bedrooms and bathroom. (see subject)

 

[breezer]

but you still have not said what blows, we may be good but we are not mind readers

 

[andy]

Lighting Upstairs except for landing- to be exact bedrooms and bathroom. (see subject)

in my expert opinion: you need a full re-wire IMMEDIATLY

either that, or actually tell us the exact problem, then we can help

 

[SwindonSpark]

Willie,

we understand the lights don't work.

We need you to explain in more detail because you keep repeating yourself. Your inability to tell us precisely what is wrong is significant. That tells us that you may not understand what you are doing.

We're not asking where the lights don't work - the location is not what we are asking here.

We want to know what it actually (physically) blowing?

Blowing could mean anything
It could be any of these options: -

1. Are all the lightbulbs exploding showering you with broken glass (unlikely)?
2. Is a fuse in your consumer unit (fusebox) melting?
3. If you haven't got wire fuses, is a circuit breaker tripping in your consumer unit
4. Is any other protective device operating.

Have you done any DIY work lately?

 

[Willie]

Ok Guys,

Rather than being showered with glass or anything so catastrophic as that, nothing melts it's as simple as the lights go out and cannot be turned back on. The trip switch remains on but the lights go out- so any ideas?

Regarding the question have I done any DIY work lately- does building an extension of two rooms count? If so yes I think I may have!

 

[securespark]

Regarding the question have I done any DIY work lately- does building an extension of two rooms count? If so yes I think I may have!

In that case, have you attached any new extension lighting wiring to the existing upstairs lighting circuit? Regardless of whether you have or haven't, if your lights are going out without tripping anything back at the board, then I strongly suspect a loose connection at a JB or rose, if you have a 3 plate system, or even at the CU.

If ALL your lights are going out, this suggests there may be a break at the start of the circuit.

You need to trace the feed from the fusebox to the first light upstairs and check that there is 240V there. Look out for loose terminal screws or badly made connections (a favourite is a conductor that is seemingly screwed down tight, but the insulation has been trapped.

Get hold of a multimeter before you start - don't use a neon driver, they are very good liars!

Finally, if this sounds daunting, or if you are in any doubt whatsoever, call a pro.

 

[Willie]

Thanks for the advice securespark I think I'll call in a pro, but tell me this- as this happened twice before should the spark I previously had in have not noticed what was causing this?

 

[securespark]

A fault on a lighting circuit is like looking for a needle in a haystack - you just don't know where to begin. Depending on how much time he spent fault-finding, I would say don't be surprised he failed to pinpoint the problem.

 

[Willie]

Grand stuff securespark- thanks for the advice- I think I'll be changing my spark though better safe than sorry- I don't want work coming back on me.