random sockets stopped working

[andyc209]

Please can someone help me solve a problem in my house - basically random sockets around the house have stopped working - all in garage, one upstairs and three in the kitchen. This happened a few weeks back then two days later they all worked again. Now they have gone again although a surge protect adaptor is showing power when plugged in (green light is on) but when i turn a lamp on that i plug in it does not work. Then strangely the gas cooker ignition started working again for about 15 minutes then stopped again. I have a small fuse box with a pull out fuse for sockets, lights, cooker and heating so i assume it cannot be the fuse as all the other sockets work. Has anyone any ideas? I bought a digital multimeter from B&Q which says it can test up to 600 volts AC/DC - will this help me test each socket?
thanks for any help.

 

[telectrix]

forget the multimeter. they can prove to be dangerous if used incorrectly and i wouldn't trust the insulation on the leads as far as i could throw a sumo wrestler.

there are several possible causes for your problem, sounds like a poor connection , coud be the fuse board, and, without appearing to be an alarmist, you are in serious danger of a fire. ffs get a qualified spark in to fix it. saving a few quid is not worth the risk.

 

[Marvo]

I agree with TEL, don't start dismantling anything and using a B&Q tester, for your purposes it would be much safer to test your sockets with a known good appliance such as a small lamp or hairdryer.

Could possibly be a phase down or faulty neutral but if the fuses and circuit breakers are all okay then you're going to need an electrician to check your installation.

 

[telectrix]

could be almost anything , even a bad tail connection or suppliers fuse connection breaking down under load. whatever it is, it needs a spark with the right test gear to investigate the problem

 

[andyc209]

thanks for the replies - if i pull the fuse out on the fuse box and kill the entire socket circuit can i at least look for any loose wires on the 'dead' sockets?

 

[telectrix]

if you want to do that, then switch the lot off with the main switch in the fuse board. you never know if some lemon in the past has connected a socket onto the lighting , cooker or any other circuit. or got the polarity wrong so that by pulling the fuse, you have cut the neutral and not the live.

 

[i=p/u]

you could look for loose connections but if they aint been touched before , very unlikely, this is the cause, you need to be dam sure the circuit is isolated because tricity can be very unforgiven

 

[andyc209]

just out of interest then, how can i get a loose connection all of a sudden?

 

[Marvo]

It does happen and it can cause burning when the contact becomes poor. It's really not something you want to be repairing yourself, if it is a simple problem the cost of an electrician should be minimal.

 

[mickys86]

Is it really a bad idea to get someone in? Sounds like your out of your depth and you do not have the correct test equipment.

 

[telectrix]

corrosion caused by damp,old cable stressed and snapped, nail or screw through cable in floors or walls, tired old fuse carriers.

 

[andyc209]

oh deffo looking at getting someone in now - thanks for the help.

 

[telectrix]

what's your location. a forumm member may be near to you and you won't get robbed

 

[andyc209]

live in Biddulph - stoke-on-trent - ST8 if anyone is nearby? As with many these days not awash with cash so would need an idea of a price if poss

 

[telectrix]

about 20 miles from me. i'd be happy to call and have a look. £35 covers up to 1 hour. should either have it fixed in an hour unless it's something serious.

 

[andyc209]

sounds fair to me - but are you sure coming all that way - will pm you details, cheers

 

[Liamsparks]

Top banana doododododod! Case closed

 

[Cj24]

How did u Get on tel?

 

[telectrix]

have to wait and see whatr the fault is. don't wait up.

 

[spatz]

I also have to agree with tel, you deffinateley have a loose phase connection and yes if it happens to be within range of any thing flamable you have a serious risk of fire so take the multi meter back and put the money inyo hiring a sparks for the day to sort it.