Hello,

I recently bought my first home and I have fixed the majority of problems. However I awoke this morning with an odd puzzle.

Now, I went to switch the boiler on and noticed that the light on the fused switch was lit whilst the switch was in the off position. I switched it to the on position and the light went out. Also non of the sockets in my kitchen work.

I checked the fuses, and they were all intact. Now I can't understand whats going on.

Advice please.


- Mr Dan.

as for the neon on the sfcu, it is simply that they wired it the wrong way round. they have the live in the "Load" side instead of the "Supply" side.

as for the sockets, i am sorry but that is too vague to even consider a helpful reply

Thanks for the response and welcome.

I'm a little naive with electrics so thanks for the advice. The switched has worked fine (light on when on, off when off) for the last six months so I'm puzzled that now it seems to be wired wrong - is this a common thing?

ahh, when you ask questions then, you need to give all of the info you have. my answer is now not correct as you have provided more info on the subject.

the sockets you mention that do not work, are they switched by this sfcu? or something completely different

Sorry, a little new to this.

The sockets are not switched on by the sfcu, the sfcu switches the boiler on. The sockets (to the best of my knowledge) are through the fuse board.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Did the kitchen sockets stop working at the same time as you noticing the boiler problem

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

Yes.

Is there a problem with the boiler.

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thanks lads for helping out, i keep disappearing to do things.

Mr Dan, if you can literally write down every little step you can think of in describing what has happened, in which order and what you noticed etc. as insignificant as they may sound, they may help us to help you.

Been watching the F1 on bbc...and applying Ice packs to toe..


Mr Dan..if you're still about, londg and painful process...

1 Boiler isolated

2 Lecky off

3 Remove each socket one at a time and check for loose/ broken/burnt connections

4 If none found un-plug alll appliances..including fridge/freezer

5 turn lecky back on

6 re-introduce one appliance preferably a hair dryer or similar that wasn't in use at the time

7 lecky back on... does hair-dryer work??

8 if so re-introduce other appliances..if one of them trips the consumer board then there's the problem...

9 if not switch the boiler back on..

10 if this causes the sockets to go off again..yhe prob. is with the boiler...

11 post back to let us know how you're getting on..

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

Sorry guys been out and about. Wine-o as soon as I get the time I'll run through the list you've kindly provided.

Here's whats happened so far.

I got up at 10am. Before that my other half had been up and about. The dishwasher and washing machine were both running and I used the kettle to make a brew. About 20 minutes later the dishwasher shut off, but the washing machine continued to run (I was unaware at this point that the dishwasher had only been on for 5 minutes).

I then went to switch the boiler (which is about 25 years old) by the fused switch on when I noticed the light was on when the switch was in the 'off' position. I switched it to the 'on' position and the light went off and the boiler did not start. I asked my other half if she had noticed a problem she said no and asked if I'd switched the dishwasher off. I checked a few other sockets and they were all down. I checked the fuses (it's an old fuse board) they're all fine. I checked the fuse in the switch that was fine too.

Later this afternoon, when we returned from the weekly shop I noticed the standby light was on on the radio in the kitchen. Now this is on the opposite side of the kitchen and is working just fine.

It appears that anything on the right side isn't working (with the execption of the oven which is electric) whilst the left side is fine.

It's bizarre, Wine-o your suggestion is on the lines I was thinking. So I am keen to tyr it - when the kids are out that is.

Thanks for your help.

Dan.

-- Sun Aug 01, 2010 4:17 pm --



Potentially, it is about 25 years old.

Ignore the oven...that'll be on a separate circuit...

most likely a fault with the dishwasher as that was first to go..(or connection to it....) so that's the first socket I would check

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

Yeah, unfortunately the numpty who put the kitchen in has put the socket behind all the pipework for the sink and then put a cupboard in front of that.

I'll post progress as soon as there is any. Thanks again.

-- Sun Aug 01, 2010 7:37 pm --

ok, so I switched off the electric and checked every socket in the kitchen I could find (which included demolishing part of it). I also found some curious looking junction boxes and checked them to. No loose/burnt/broken connections or anything like that. I turned the electric and still nothing works on the right side. The sockets don't work and niether does the boiler.

It also seems that there are two feeds coming into the kitchen. Also a number of sockets have only one connection not the 'loop' like the rest.

Apologies if I'm not using correct terminology.

Thanks for all your help so far.

-- Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:25 am --

Further development: When I plug an appliance into a socket which is not working and switch it on, the neon in the fused switch comes on (the appliance doesn't work either).

-- Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:32 pm --

Sorry to keep coming back, but any ideas?

I imagine what I mistook as two feeds to be the original mains ring, which I believe at some point has been made into 2 radial circuits, the cabling is a bit of mess hence the loss of power to certain sockets. I can't find any loose or broken/burnt connections when I remove the sockets and I am completely flummoxed by all the spurs and junction boxes I've found also no circuit breaker for the kitchen anywhere.

I think it's time to call a professional.

-- Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:33 pm --

Sorry to keep coming back, but any ideas?

I imagine what I mistook as two feeds to be the original mains ring, which I believe at some point has been made into 2 radial circuits, the cabling is a bit of mess hence the loss of power to certain sockets. I can't find any loose or broken/burnt connections when I remove the sockets and I am completely flummoxed by all the spurs and junction boxes I've found also no circuit breaker for the kitchen anywhere.

I think it's time to call a professional.

If this is a broken main scenario, I wonder if you've overloaded/burned out a j/box or cable somewhere. The fault appeared when you had three high-load appliances going at the same time, what MCB/Fuse is supplying the circuit? If it's only one supply but there doesn't appear to be continuation around a ring then derate the circuit by putting a (usually blue) 20AMP MCB in until the fault is fixed, running a broken ring with a (usually red) 32 AMP MCB is risking a fire, unless of course it's all 4mm cable. I suspect it's standard 2.5mm T&E.

It's easy to test if there's a ring or whether it's broken or not, turn off the power, pull the MCB out then take one of the loop in/outs out the back of a socket and separate the wires, simply test continuity from line to line and neutral to neutral. An open circuit on either spells trouble. If this is the case get a sparkie in, I'm all for DIYing (I'm a DIYer) by your own admission you're not that hot with electrics and this could be a serious fault.

Sorry didn't realise you had posted back...

yes I think you.vr done everything you can as a DIYer..time to call an electrician...

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....