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Switch tripped - Downstairs lights/smoke alarms

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  • 23-04-2014 1:50am
    #1
    sopretty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭


    Hi.

    As above, none of the downstairs lights work, but upstairs do, as do all the plug sockets. Looked at the box thing with all the switches, and one, labelled as 'downstairs lights & smoke alarms' is the one that has tripped. The thing is, it won't go back up again? I'll try to put it up, but it doesn't stay.

    Any ideas? Or is it a job for an electrician?

    Ps - unless it's something as simple as changing a light-bulb that is required, I would be as useful as a chocolate teapot in matters electrical, so don't bother giving me complex instructions as I probably won't be able to follow them. :o


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    #2
    liveandnetural
    Registered Users Posts: 270 ✭✭liveandnetural


    go around and turn of any lights that you have on before the trip triped ...........then go and see will the trip reset .then turn on each light one by one to see if any off them are causing the fault


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    #3
    sopretty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭sopretty


    liveandnetural wrote: »
    go around and turn of any lights that you have on before the trip triped ...........then go and see will the trip reset .then turn on each light one by one to see if any off them are causing the fault

    Right, I've tried that, but the switch still won't stay up.


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    #4
    sopretty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭sopretty


    A couple of months ago, the light-bulb in the kitchen light exploded - I wonder would that have anything to do with it? (That light wasn't on tonight though when the switch tripped).


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    #5
    Sir Arthur Daley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,720 ✭✭✭Sir Arthur Daley


    You might have the mcb type that you need to push down and then reset by pushing up, worth a try.


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    #6
    sopretty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭sopretty


    Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »
    You might have the mcb type that you need to push down and then reset by pushing up, worth a try.

    I actually tried that - might give it another go.


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    #7
    sopretty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭sopretty


    Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »
    You might have the mcb type that you need to push down and then reset by pushing up, worth a try.

    Hah! You're a genius!! I pushed it down until it clicked this time (was afraid to force it earlier) and switched it back up and I'm illuminated again! Cheers! :)


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    #8
    Sir Arthur Daley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,720 ✭✭✭Sir Arthur Daley


    You might have a bulb blown somewhere now, would be a normal occurance for when a bulb would blow to trip the mcb.


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    #9
    sopretty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭sopretty


    You're right actually. The light on the landing blew earlier this evening. Never made a connection as the light is upstairs, but there is a switch for it downstairs as well as upstairs!


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    #10
    Sir Arthur Daley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,720 ✭✭✭Sir Arthur Daley


    Its being fed from the downstairs circuit, many the callouts i have made to discover them mcbs in houses and people not knowing how to reset them, a new bulb and you are back at full health.


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    #11
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »
    ...many the callouts i have made to discover them mcbs in houses and people not knowing how to reset them...

    ....nice gig! :cool:


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    #12
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    If you have GU10 spots when they go they can trip the mcb and fry the dimmer switch too (if there on a dimmer).

    If you've no GU10's, do you have any outside lights? possibly water has got in some where, although we haven't had much of that lately. I once had a slug causing a lighting MCB to trip, had crawled into a junction box for an outside light and was shorting across the L-N terminals, >> 10A's flowing through him. the best bit was it didn't even kill him, off he went on this way!


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    #13
    sopretty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭sopretty


    DublinDilbert wrote: »
    If you have GU10 spots when they go they can trip the mcb and fry the dimmer switch too (if there on a dimmer).

    If you've no GU10's, do you have any outside lights? possibly water has got in some where, although we haven't had much of that lately. I once had a slug causing a lighting MCB to trip, had crawled into a junction box for an outside light and was shorting across the L-N terminals, >> 10A's flowing through him. the best bit was it didn't even kill him, off he went on this way!

    Don't have a dimmer.

    What are GU10 spots? Are they similar to g-spots? :D

    I have an outside light which was not on. The one that blew, was the upstairs landing light, which also has a switch downstairs.

    I don't know what junction boxes or L-N terminals are. That said, I ain't going searching for slugs!!!! :cool:


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    #14
    sopretty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭sopretty


    Sir Liamalot wrote: »
    ....nice gig! :cool:

    He has paid his debt to society by helping me out! :)


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