NO LIGHTSLight switch stuck in middle pos'n; fuse-box trip-switch permanently tripped

adaadat

Hi,

I just switched a light on and the bulb blew. I replaced the bulb, switched it on and it appeared to blow again.

However, I now can't move the wall light switch back to the 'off' position; it's stuck in the middle and the trip switch for the light continually flicks back (together with some internal sparks) to the 'tripped' position when I try to switch it back.

Has the wall light switch shorted causing the fuse to be permanently 'tripped'?

Does the wall switch need replacing and is it an easy job?

Can anyone help?

copier_guy

can you describe your fuse box? hopefully you have circuit breakers (little switches) on it

adaadat

Yes, I think they're circuit breakers and they're all General Electric.

The circuit breakers are grouped in two lots.
On the left:
A large '100A' 'double' switch/circuit breaker, followed by 4 smaller, single switches (labelled as up lights, down lights, etc.)

On the right:
5 single circuit breakers/switches (labelled up sockets, down sockets, etc.) and a larger switch (but still a single switch) with a mention of 80A.

Only one of the circuit breakers is permanently tripped and it corresponds to an on/off wall light switch which is stuck in the middle position. None of the lights corresponding to that circuit breaker will come on.

copier_guy

hopefully just need to change the light switch then, job for tommorow.

is it one witch for one light or two switche for one light, ie is it a landing light.

adaadat

It's the only switch for one room light i.e. the light is controlled by just this one switch.

prowla

Changing the switch should be easy (with the electric off!), but if you don't know what you are doing then call a sparky - better to blow £50 than zap yourself with 240V AC.

Ephemera

I'll second that... if you are asking if replacing a wall switch is an easy job then you do need someone with some experience - do you have a family member or friend who has done this job before? Or get a tame sparky in...Better that than crispy.

adaadat

Thanks.

The thing is, I'd love to change it myself as I'm competent with DIY basics, know how to switch off the leccy and would love to save some money, but there seems to be a greater problem.

Even with the fused/melted wall light switched off and all of the others lights, corresponding to the tripped circuit breaker, turned off, the circuit breaker won't flip back on. It seems to be permanently 'tripped'.

Maybe it's simply the faulty light switch causing this, but I can't afford to take a chance.

We'll see tomorrow.

ic

If the switch is faulty, then you've no guarantee that the light is off - even though the switch may be set to off. Hence the fuse box refuses to switch back on. Its likely leaking to earth. How old are your switches? Are they metal? Things like this rarely just go wrong - perhaps a cable was never screwed down properly and has slipped lose touching earth / the metal casing.

Kiran

Have you got an RCD? It sounds like your fuse board is configured to current part p regs. The RCD will not allow the circuit to be turned back on if the fault that tripped the circuit breaker is still present.

If its a fault get a spark to check it!

adaadat

The switch is a bog-standard white plastic one found in most homes.

The problem occurred when I switched the light back on after replacing the bulb and the new bulb appeared to blow also, although I can't see any evidence of that. Whatever happened, there is now some sort of permanent short in the switch and the fuse board won't allow me to reset the circuit breaker.

The bulb is from Asda and is probably of really bad quality as I've noticed the quality of Asda's stuff, in general, has really worsened in the past 2 or 3 years. I've had a couple of bulbs blow after just a few weeks of use.

Anyway, got a sparky coming, but not till Mon.