Film, Media & TV2 mins ago
Circuit Breaker
7 Answers
My microwave malfunctioned last night and the circuit breaker duly tripped and turned off everything lights and plugs , downstairs and upstairs. On looking I saw the big switch has gone down. I turned it back up, checked which plug had caused it and everything duly went off when the microwave was plugged in BUT not the kitchen light. Is it on a different circuit if so how does the big switch not kill the power to the kitchen light and if so what does, should the light in the kitchen be faulty? Thanks for any help.
Answers
One of two possibilitie s, Grizzly. You may have a "split load" consumer unit. i.e. TWO RCDs (one for each bank.) Some circuits on one bank, and the rest on the other. These RCDs will act independentl y. OR... your system may be a few years old. Today, everything is protected by RCD (except for certain situations which I don't need to go into.) A few years ago, it...
13:23 Tue 08th Dec 2020
One of two possibilities, Grizzly.
You may have a "split load" consumer unit. i.e. TWO RCDs (one for each bank.)
Some circuits on one bank, and the rest on the other. These RCDs will act independently.
OR... your system may be a few years old. Today, everything is protected by RCD (except for certain situations which I don't need to go into.)
A few years ago, it was common to put sockets for instance on an RCD protected bank with a "split load" arrangement, but have lighting circuits on the other (unprotected) bank.
The idea was that most "mishaps" occur with sockets, thus tripping the RCD. In that event, the lights stayed on to avoid having to scratch around in the dark.
The modern set-up is far safer.
You may have a "split load" consumer unit. i.e. TWO RCDs (one for each bank.)
Some circuits on one bank, and the rest on the other. These RCDs will act independently.
OR... your system may be a few years old. Today, everything is protected by RCD (except for certain situations which I don't need to go into.)
A few years ago, it was common to put sockets for instance on an RCD protected bank with a "split load" arrangement, but have lighting circuits on the other (unprotected) bank.
The idea was that most "mishaps" occur with sockets, thus tripping the RCD. In that event, the lights stayed on to avoid having to scratch around in the dark.
The modern set-up is far safer.