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Puzzling Electrical issue
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MortgageMamma
Posts: 6,686 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
Any qualified electricians here?
There is a high pitched whining noise in the basement area of my house. I use it as an office. Its been going on for hours and its driving me mad.
I asked my husband what it could be, so he switched power off at the fuse box one by one. The noise stopped when he switched the ground floor plug sockets off, then came back when we switched it on. We unplugged everything, switched the fuse back on then start plugging everything in one by one. The noise came back just after they were all plugged back in.
Am I right to be concerned enough to call an electrician? After googling I'm thinking it sounds like some sort of overloading or an arc issue with one of the plug sockets. We can't hear any buzzing and none of them are hot though.
We do have an issue occassionally where if we use the microwave and kettle simultaneously that a fuse trips. I don't know if its related and it just seems to happen when there is a lot of stuff switched on in kitchen,
Any help will be appreciated before I saddle myself with a large bill!
There is a high pitched whining noise in the basement area of my house. I use it as an office. Its been going on for hours and its driving me mad.
I asked my husband what it could be, so he switched power off at the fuse box one by one. The noise stopped when he switched the ground floor plug sockets off, then came back when we switched it on. We unplugged everything, switched the fuse back on then start plugging everything in one by one. The noise came back just after they were all plugged back in.
Am I right to be concerned enough to call an electrician? After googling I'm thinking it sounds like some sort of overloading or an arc issue with one of the plug sockets. We can't hear any buzzing and none of them are hot though.
We do have an issue occassionally where if we use the microwave and kettle simultaneously that a fuse trips. I don't know if its related and it just seems to happen when there is a lot of stuff switched on in kitchen,
Any help will be appreciated before I saddle myself with a large bill!
I am a Mortgage Adviser
You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.
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Comments
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What was the last thing plugged in? If you unplug that does the noise stop? Or does it stop if you unplug anything?
A high pitched whine is often caused by a DC power adaptor (or other device with a mains transformer) on its way out - the whine is often the coil winding or magnetic core plates being slightly loose and vibrating.0 -
Ah thanks for the tip. I will go round later tonight when there is less household noise and look for a DC power adaptor. The thing is the noise can only be heard from the basement but the cause is on the next floor so its taking two of us on mobile phones to solve it!I am a Mortgage Adviser
You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.0 -
Yes, you need to find the fault and either fix it or at least turn off the breaker supplying the circuit. It could be a loose connection or damaged wire, and could start a fire.
The tripping of the kitchen sockets when the kettle and microwave are used is probably just overloading. A kettle and microwave can draw 13A, and the circuit may be limited to 20A, so if you have a washing machine, dishwasher and fridge on the same circuit you could well pull 20A if every appliance is drawing power. If the breaker is tripping then it is doing its job of preventing the cable getting too warm and damaging the insulation.The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.0 -
Yes, you need to find the fault and either fix it or at least turn off the breaker supplying the circuit. It could be a loose connection or damaged wire, and could start a fire.
The tripping of the kitchen sockets when the kettle and microwave are used is probably just overloading. A kettle and microwave can draw 13A, and the circuit may be limited to 20A, so if you have a washing machine, dishwasher and fridge on the same circuit you could well pull 20A if every appliance is drawing power. If the breaker is tripping then it is doing its job of preventing the cable getting too warm and damaging the insulation.
Thanks for help, we are on it today. The thought of an electrical fire is scary!I am a Mortgage Adviser
You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.0
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