Downstairs light fuse tripping out

chrissiesurfergirl123

I live in a house which was rewired in 1991. Have had no problems at all with electricity until this week when the trip switch for the downstairs lights has flicked off about 6 times.

This has happened mostly in the morning between 8am and 8.30am but a couple of times in the evening between 5pm and 5.30. The switch can be reset within a minute or so of going off and no other fuses are affected. The upstairs lights and sockets throughout the house are fine. Downstairs lights work perfectly normally at all other times

I haven't used any different amount of electricity than usual and do not have an excess of xmas lights! In fact these have been off most of the times this has happened.

Some one said this may due to power surges? Have no idea how to see if this is the case

Any advice appreciated

meadowcat

Not an electrician or anything but the only thing I can think of is do you have an outside light that could be defective and letting in moisture? Does it only happen when it rains? :xmassign:

elvis_bloggs

The electrics in a house are all wired up in different circuits, downstairs lights, upstairs lights, downstairs sockets, upstairs sockets, seperate circuits for appliances that have a bigger usage than normal such as electric cooker and shower, if only your downstairs lights are affected then it is in that circuit, a quick check to all the bulbs and connections would be my first step to problem solving.

mandi

the answer to your problem is simple.. look at everything you have switching on at the times youve mentioned.. sounds to me like your central heating....???

Xbigman

Check all you lightbulbs are ok, a blown one can cause a trip to go out.

If its not bulbs then turn everything on that circuit off and turn them on again one at a time. If you find the switch which is tripping check the wiring in the light socket (loose, crossed or melted plastic covering) if you still can't find it check the wiring in all the switch too.

If it continually trips with everything off then check the wiring in all the switches as above as they could be faulty and permanently on.
Regards



X

Cardew

To find an intermittent fault is very difficult.

It could be a fault on the circuit, as described above, or it could be the circuit breaker(trip/RCB) itself. It is not difficult for a handyman to change these(depending on type). Or even swop 2 over and see if the 'fault' causes another light to go out.

A house rewired in 1991 will probably have RCBs that are easily interchangeable.

tomstickland

I'd go for the elimination method. ie: turn all downstairs lights off and see if it still trips each day.

robnye

i suspect it is a dodgy light bulb, i have had a similar problem only when i checked all of the bulbs (by removing them, was i able to find a bulb that almost gone but not quite..... you know what i mean, the glass bit was lose from the metal retainer.

otherwise, buy some candles and save some money on not using the electricity.......:D

losgiganteskid

Chrissiesurfergirl - why are you asking non electricians a technical question, if you go to https://www.diynot.com then click forums, and select "electrics uk" - there will be lots of bum cleveage guys ready and willing to assist you, and most will be proper cosha electricians. Good Luck