Electricity question

Mickey666

Interesting that the ‘fallen switch’ is on an MCB.  This is an over-current device and is probably a 32A rating for a ring main, might be 20A if not.  Either way, this is a very high current and would suggest a serious short-circuit somewhere.
RCDs can cause ‘nuisance tripping’ if things get wet for example, but they trip out at very low currents, typically 30mA.

Did the electrician say how he got the other circuits working again?  Perhaps the tripped MCB also caused an RCD to trip, taking out the other circuits even though they may not have been faulty?  In which case, he could have reset the RCD, thus restoring the other circuits, leaving just the MCB for the faulty circuit tripped out.

Whatever the eventual outcome it sounds like the OP has done all they can for now (unplugging everything etc) and must await the electrician’s investigation.  The problem with these sorts of things is that the eventual fix will likely be very simple, it’s finding the fault that can be disruptive and take some time.

AskAsk

OP - your problems seem to be severe so i would get an electrician round.  the guy that does the kitchen for your neighbour may know about electrics but he is not qualified and he won't know as much as an electrician, and this problem will need NICEIC registered electrician.  look for one and ask them to come round to look.

Ectophile

and this problem will need NICEIC registered electrician

Or NAPIT.  The NICEIC would like everybody to think that they are the only competent electician scheme, but they are not.

AskAsk

Ectophile said:

and this problem will need NICEIC registered electrician

Or NAPIT.  The NICEIC would like everybody to think that they are the only competent electician scheme, but they are not.

yes, or NAPIT, but i think they are a smaller organisation than NICEIC?  in any case, i think the OP needs a qualified eletrician and not a kitchen fitter for this job as it involves investigative work, and an electrician will be better placed to resolve it.  it may be why the kitchen fitter hasn't come back as he doesn't know how to resolve the problem.

EssexExile

Robin9 seems to have mistaken me for the OP but he/she raises a good point. I know it's the upstairs that has a problem but I'd unplug everything in the house and see if the problem persists. When I moved in to this old house everything upstairs was on the same circuit - except one socket in the small bedroom which was on the kitchen circuit. You never know what previous owners have done.

Risteard

Mickey666 said:

Not really enough information.
Do you know if the ‘fallen switches’ are MCBs, RCDs, RCCDs?
Have you unplugged everything from all the upstairs sockets?
A photo of the consumer unit might help.

No such thing as an "RCCD". RCD is a generic term which covers a number of devices, including RCCBs and RCBOs, as well as SRCDs etc. MCBs have not been called that - but merely circuit breakers - since 2008.

Mickey666

They might be called ‘merely circuit breakers’ but they are labelled ‘MCB’ and that’s what the OP identified them as.

DiddyDavies

Risteard said:

No such thing as an "RCCD". RCD is a generic term which covers a number of devices, including RCCBs and RCBOs, as well as SRCDs etc. MCBs have not been called that - but merely circuit breakers - since 2008.

The terms "RCCD" and "MCB's" are ones that is in common usage and whilst they might not be technically correct, this isn't a technical forum and as long as the posters giving advice know what is being referred to, what's the problem?

For something that hasn't been called an MCB  since 2008, there are an awful lot of places advertising and selling them.
Here's just a few:
MCB (Miniature Circuit Breakers) Guide - Types, Sizes and Uses | RS Components (rs-online.com)
Mini Circuit Breaker | MCB | Schneider Electric, Wylex & More (toolstation.com)
MCB Types – Miniature Circuit Breakers - Techna - UK
MCB Selection Guide | TLC Electrical (tlc-direct.co.uk)

Risteard

DiddyDavies said:

Risteard said:

No such thing as an "RCCD". RCD is a generic term which covers a number of devices, including RCCBs and RCBOs, as well as SRCDs etc. MCBs have not been called that - but merely circuit breakers - since 2008.

The terms "RCCD" and "MCB's" are ones that is in common usage and whilst they might not be technically correct, this isn't a technical forum and as long as the posters giving advice know what is being referred to, what's the problem?

For something that hasn't been called an MCB  since 2008, there are an awful lot of places advertising and selling them.
Here's just a few:
MCB (Miniature Circuit Breakers) Guide - Types, Sizes and Uses | RS Components (rs-online.com)
Mini Circuit Breaker | MCB | Schneider Electric, Wylex & More (toolstation.com)
MCB Types – Miniature Circuit Breakers - Techna - UK
MCB Selection Guide | TLC Electrical (tlc-direct.co.uk)

"RCCD" is not in common usage. It doesn't mean anything, and has never been a recognised term. As I pointed out RCD and RCCB are actual terms - RCCD is not.

And as for MCBs - this term has not been recognised since the 16th Edition was withdrawn. It is used in other national standards (e.g. ET101/I.S. 10101), but BS7671 recognises no such term. They are now simply circuit breakers.

DiddyDavies

Risteard said:

"RCCD" is not in common usage. It doesn't mean anything, and has never been a recognised term. As I pointed out RCD and RCCB are actual terms - RCCD is not.

And as for MCBs - this term has not been recognised since the 16th Edition was withdrawn. It is used in other national standards (e.g. ET101/I.S. 10101), but BS7671 recognises no such term. They are now simply circuit breakers.

So RCCD is not in common usage? Many posters on this forum would disagree:
Search — MoneySavingExpert Forum

 It doesn't matter to me that BS7671 doesn't recognise the term MCB, it won't matter to the OP or to a great many other people either. All that matters is that it's a term that is still in general use amongst those not as pedantic as you and as as I've already shown, it's a term still used by a great many retailers of electrical supplies.
If I went into any shop selling such items and asked for an MCB, they would know exactly what I meant and wouldn't try to act all knowledgeable and superior as you are trying to do.