Lights not working but fuse not tripped

[Defcon5]

As title really, none of my downstairs lights work, but the RCD/fuse etc are all normal.

Sometimes they flicker when you first flick the switch, and they randomly started working again for a short period last night.

Is this going to be a dodgy connection somewhere?

[Mr Pointy]

Do none of them work? Lights are usually wired as a radial not a ring so yes, a loose connection could stop the lights downstream of the break working. Try tapping the switches & cieling roses to see if you can trigger the flicker & maybe tap on the fusebox or consumer unit to see if that's where the issue is. Use something insulated like wood or the plastic handle of a screwdriver.

[Defcon5]

No none work, there’s 4 normal lights, 8 gu10s and 3 led under cupboard lights.

I’ve done some bashing to no avail

Is it time to get an electrician with a multimeter?

[thepritch]

I assume all in same room? Are you comfortable turning off the RCD and opening up behind all the light switches and roses involved? If you find a loose wire may save you an electrician.

If not, yes, an electrician

[smifffymoto]

I would go and check all connections and nip them up before anything else.

[Rough101]

Looped in live at the rose nearest the consumer unit probably has a loose or snapped conductor.

[Belle427]

MCB may be knackered or a loose connection on it.

[Defcon5]

Randomly there was a loud electrical crackle and they now work.

Hopefully my house won’t burn down in the night.

I assume getting an electrician to come check for faults is a good idea?

[Chumley.mouse]

Sounds like a loose / bad connection somewhere

[Defcon5]

Can it be found when the lights are actually working? Or do I need to wait for them to stop again.

[thepritch]

Defcon5 said:

Can it be found when the lights are actually working? Or do I need to wait for them to stop again.

It’s preferable for them to be off, that way you can see the sparks light up in the dark to see where the loose connection is.

[dlks151]

As lighting is usually a loop in / loop out circuit and all lights were out I’d start with checking connections in the ceiling rose / fitting nearest the board and work away from there. Saying that, if you’re competent I’d switch off the main switch, take cover off the board and check the terminal screw on the top side of the breaker for the lighting.

I had to look at an issue my neighbour had during the holidays. Turned out the main switch had burnt out (annoyingly with no visual indication from the front) but what I couldn't believe was the number of loose connections, some seriously loose.

Edited by dlks151 on Saturday 25th January 20:39

[skeeterm5]

We had a similar sounding issue in our last house, it turned out that there was a dead (electrocuted) mouse in the light switch box, it had partly chewed the live wire.

[DorsetSparky]

Defcon5 said:

Is it time to get an electrician with a multimeter?

Ideally you want an electrician with a multifunction tester, if he turns up with just a multimeter I'd suggest you tell him to Foxtrot Oscar!

[andy43]

dlks151 said:

I had to look at an issue my neighbour had during the holidays. Turned out the main switch had burnt out (annoyingly with no visual indication from the front) but what I couldn't believe was the number of loose connections, some seriously loose.

Edited by dlks151 on Saturday 25th January 20:39

Checking terminal screws should be a regular maintenance thing, the same as servicing a boiler. It’s probably as likely to burn your house down than a dodgy boiler too.
Same goes for smart meter installs - checking all the meter tail connections a few months after the installation would be well worth doing.. but they’re covered and tagged.

[Mr Pointy]

Defcon5 said:

Randomly there was a loud electrical crackle and they now work.

Hopefully my house won’t burn down in the night.

I assume getting an electrician to come check for faults is a good idea?

Where was the crackle from? That an good indicator where the proble might be.

And yes, your house could burn down. Electrical crackles are pretty high up on the bad things can happen scale.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Mr Pointy said:

And yes, your house could burn down. Electrical crackles are pretty high up on the bad things can happen scale.

And if there’s a “fishy” smell - literally the smell of putrefying fish - that is a warning sign that needs urgent action. Certain plastics often used in electrical fittings and insulation (particularly older stuff) give off this smell when they start getting hot and scorching. If you smell bad fish, turn the power off before your house burns down!

[Regbuser]

Loose neutral back at the board is a favourite for this.

Better to get an electrian in to isolate then ring through the circuits.

[andy43]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Mr Pointy said:

And yes, your house could burn down. Electrical crackles are pretty high up on the bad things can happen scale.

And if there’s a “fishy” smell - literally the smell of putrefying fish - that is a warning sign that needs urgent action. Certain plastics often used in electrical fittings and insulation (particularly older stuff) give off this smell when they start getting hot and scorching. If you smell bad fish, turn the power off before your house burns down!

<watches as Grimsby goes dark>

[spikeyhead]

and I always thought that there were only two things that smelt like fish