Really baffled.

[sectionq]

Hi everyone,

I hope someone can shed some light on this. I tripped the lights in 1 half of the flat today when installing a ceiling light. When I'd put it back to how it was before I flicked the main power switch back on but no power. A little later my wife tried to use the oven (which is on a different trip switch), the oven doesn't work now, 3 (I think?) rings on the hob work, while the other one doesn't work but when you switch it on all of the power comes back on in the flat. When you turn it off so does all the power in the flat. Any ideas? I hope that makes sense...

 

[derek preece]

Any ideas? I think you'd be wise to get an electrician in.

 

[Adam W]

When you call the electrician in and he asks if you've had any work done or done any work, it would be a good idea to tell him (or her) about the ceiling light you've just installed, and not just turn your mouth up and shake your head. The reason they ask is so they know where to look for clues, not so they can tell you off. They'll find out that the electrics have been altered, but if you tell them straight away they might be able to find and rectify the fault £50 quicker.

 

[sectionq]

Haha, yes of course, as soon as anyone calls us back but it seems they like their weekends too much here. Anyway, just curious, I wonder how it's possible that tripping the power in one part of the flat could effect something else which I thought shouldn't be linked, especially like this in such an odd fashion.

 

[derek preece]

Do you mean that you isolated the circuit you were working on via the circuit breaker and when you went to switch on the circuit you found this fault had developed?

 

[sectionq]

Yeh, that makes sense. Cheers.

 

[micknew]

Job for a sparks as advised.

 

[sectionq]

I think so, I basically disconnected it and left it how it was before I started trying to install it (just dangling wires capped off as it's a brand new flat). Then I flicked the main switch back on and that is when the fault appeared.

 

[derek preece]

If it is a brand new flat should it not meet the Swiss electrical standards? I assume that they would require installation certificates for the owner of the building? Perhaps the work is still under guarantee assuming you have not done anything to damage it. It would require testing to properly ascertain the cause of the fault.

 

[sectionq]

No, you're right. There shouldn't be any problems with that, all I've done is installed a few lights around the place as these places just come with dangling wires, although I will at least check them all. Definitely something not right with the main box though, the self test doesn't shut off on that particular switch, although I can't be sure if it was like that before or after today.

 

[derek preece]

Do you mean the self test button on the RCD?

 

[thekingiam]

if no power at all on any circuit could be
1 you have blown main fuse
2 rcd failure
3 rcd needs reseting
in any case i recomend ringing your local sparky to check what you have done.
we don't usually charge that much honestly:whatchutalkingabout

 

[thekingiam]

just noticed location, maybe in switzerland they do?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

sounds like swiss cheese to me....

View attachment untitled.bmp

 

[CrazyScozzese]

"3 (I think?) rings on the hob work, while the other one doesn't work but when you switch it on all of the power comes back on in the flat. When you turn it off so does all the power in the flat."

This is a joke, surely? Or is it a ring problem ...

 

[electric will]

Wonder if its a three phase supply? Fault on one phase and turning the ring on that don't work is allowing power to flow through that and back feed to the board?

 

[sectionq]

I wish it was a joke but I had to have a sandwich for dinner tonight.

 

[sectionq]

I don't know what that means Will but it sounds wonderfully logical.

 

[electric will]

It's just a thought, I'm hoping tony or en54 follow it a but further as their they guys for this, no offence to anyone else.

 

[electric will]

Wonder if its a three phase supply? Fault on one phase and turning the ring on that don't work is allowing power to flow through that and back feed to the board?

What's anyone else think about this?