Fused lights

[lankeela]

This morning when I turned on my living room light (dimmer switch, three bulbs in one fitting) there was a ping and the lights went off. When I went into the kitchen that light would not work either, nor the hallway. However the landing light was still on, and all the upstairs lights were ok, and all the plugged in items were working.

When I got home this afternoon I thought I'd check the trip switch, and expected to find a row of switches with one of them the wrong way, indicating that that fuse had blown and I thought I would be able to reset it by flicking the switch. However, there are no switches, there are two fuse boxes with covers on, one is numbered one to four and the other is numbered one to six. You have to undo each one with a screwdriver and they have different coloured fuses in them. My question is, how the hell do I know which is which, and which one has blown?

[dasherman]

The fuse/s for the lighting circuits will be coloured white,so you will have to change one of those.

[burnhal]

A lighting circuit will be on one of the lower value fuse circuits. There is no guarantee though as people tend to replace fuses with whatever they have to hand. Have you got a multimeter and know how to use it? If not do you know anyone who has?
If the fuses are not labelled with the circuit they feed then the only way is to pull the fuses one by one and measure them. You can eliminate good fuses as generally circuits that are good stop working when you pull the fuse.
If you havent access to a meter, get a selection of the right sized fuses (B and Q or similar) and swap each fuse with a new one - if your circuit doesnt come to life you know its not that fuse!!
Alternatively you can get circuit breaker devices that fit in place of the fuses- will dave the problem next time around!

If in any doubt at all get someone who knows what they are doing to have a look!!

[burnhal]

save- not dave!!

[burnhal]

pulling on the fuse wire depends on whether it is fuse wire or fuses!!

[lankeela]

Thanks folks, think I'm following this (at least up until the multimeter reference lol). Now for a really stupid question, should I replace all three bulbs in the fitting, in case when I have replaced the fuse it blows again. Actually I think I have just answered my own question, and yes, I will change all three bulbs.

[lankeela]

When I looked earlier, I had to undo a screw on a black casing that was in two parts. How easy is it to remove the fuse - do I pull outwards or up/down? I didn't try to remove any as I didn't know how to get them out or which one to remove. Is it like the ones you get in a plug - where they are held in place by two metal clips which you just pull them out of?

[burnhal]

as knobby says- there are umpteen varieties- the fuses are designed to be changed so an inspection of the holder SHOULD reveal how it comes out. You may well have to undo screws to take the holder apart and access the fuse. Finding the right fuse may be a problem- people like B and Q keep a limited stock and generally to fit the fuseboxes they sell. You might strike it lucky and find the right size/shape fuse with no bother but you may have to hunt. If you can take the fuse and holder with you it will help- you might well find a suitable trip breaker with the right size and spacing legs on it that will replace your fuse and holder. Best of luck!

[lankeela]

The house is only about fifteen - twenty years old. Presumably built on the cheap!

Will have a look during daylight tomorrow, but will probably need to take your advice and call someone in.

[Disco Fever]

If in doubt get a qualified electrician to do it, once he/she has repaired it they will then show you what to do in future so you can never get it wrong, DIY is a good thing if you have an idea what your doing.

As most people say with gas you can smell it, with water you can see it and feel it but with electric you don't know til it's got you, just a thought while your on the kitchen floor shaking after a shock.....

[markja]

you only need to change the bulb that doesn't light up when you've solved your fuse problem.

[lankeela]

Ok thanks.