Electric
tripping, loss of power, burning smells, flickering lights, and shocks are all
signs of a fault that should be attended to urgently. Symptoms like these are
potentially dangerous and may cause an electric shock to occupants or fire damage to
property.
What You Can Do
If any shocks
are encountered, however small, the main electrical switch should immediately be turned off until the
fault is fully rectified.
Where a main
large RCD circuit breaker is ‘tripping’ in or near your consumer unit, try
switching each smaller MCB circuit breaker off individually then resetting
the RCD each time in case remaining circuits can be switched back on.
If the
problematic circuit is a socket circuit, try removing the plugs from all
your appliances, then trying the circuit breaker again.
Should you still
be unable to reset all of your circuit breakers the fault is most likely
to be a circuit defect which will require the services of a professional
electrician.
Under some circumstances
it may be possible to use an extension lead to connect fridges and
freezers to an unaffected circuit. This can be helpful to avoid spoiled
food until the faulty circuit can be repaired.
Faults I Have Encountered
Damaged
cable - fixing nail through loft boarding - fixing nail in wall for hanging a picture - rodent damage above ceiling (most common).
Liquids-
cat or dog urine in socket outlet - leaking shower/bath into junction box or ceiling light -water droplets from leaking roof affecting bathroom bull cord switch.
Wiring
accessory damage - broken socket or light fitting.
Burning - socket front due to excessive high current - consumer unit due to loose connection.
Loose
connection - junction box or accessory.
Damp ingress - from wall - affecting sockets and light switches - exterior junction box buried in soil.
Non-compliant installation - 16a radial circuit for kitchen appliance - electric hob connected to ring main.
Non-compliant installation multiple appliances connected to a spur - incorrect type and installation of cable.
Low insulation readings cables unserviceable due to age - exterior light cable cut and rendered over.
In
view of the wide range of possible causes for an electrical fault it is
important that the problem is approached using a systematic method.
Badly corroded socket box
Stages of Investigation
Firstly
the customer will be asked details regarding the fault encountered. For
example, when was fault encountered, what were the symptoms, what appliances
were in use at the time.
Where
appropriate all appliances are disconnected and/or light switches turned off.
The consumer unit circuits will be individually tested for insulation
resistance in order to establish the circuit at fault.
If
each circuit tested has an acceptable insulation reading at this stage, and the
circuit can be re-set it is often more appropriate to check likely
causes and arrange to re-test the consumer unit again at a later date.
Where
a low insulation reading is found, the circuit causing the problem is then
disassembled and each section tested in order to understand the area of the
fault. This is normally done by disconnecting sockets and/or light fittings. In
the event of older wiring where junction boxes are likely to be hidden under
the floor, it may be required to lift flooring to isolate the faulty section of
the circuit.
Remedial Repair
Following
the investigation work, a no-obligation quote for the cost of any remedial work required to
repair the defect will be provided.
The
repair may consist of replacement of one or more wiring accessories or a
partial rewiring.
This
repair or replacement work will be arranged to be carried out at the earliest
opportunity to avoid continued disruption or further danger.
What is the Cost?
Where the defect causing the issue can be readily identified
and replaced e.g. broken wall socket, the duration of work can be within an hour.
Complex faults do however take a longer duration to define, especially
where circuits are poorly labelled, the installation is in a generally poor
condition, access is difficult or the issue is intermittent.
Alan Davies Electrical will discuss the likely costs prior to any work being
carried out. He will work in an efficient and systematic way to complete the
work as soon as is possible.
Please note that I do not provide a 24hr emergency service.
