Electrickery question

[Rach*]

I moved into a house share last week, it's a bit shabby but will do for now.

In the week so far a brand new Ipod dock stopped working and my hair-dryer just died.

Is it coincidence or could there be some wiring issue?
The main light in the room doesn't work after the landlady tried to fit a dimmer switch and now if you put a bulb in it, the light flickers whether it's on or off.

I don't want all my electrical things dying before I move into my own pad


Thanks

[Mars]

Difficult to tell without something to measure the voltage and the wave to see if it's disturbed in any way.

[cptsideways]

I'd be fitting some smoke alarms first!

[M400 NBL]

Hi Rach,

It could be a coincidence.

Are you sure that the dimmer is turned off fully when it is flickering?

Energy saving bulbs don't like dimmers... which is a pain because my energy provider gave me loads of those bulbs but I have all dimmers except in the bathroom and kitchen.

Ask you neighbours if they have problems with spikes in electricity.

[Rach*]

Thanks for the speedy replies. I'll mention it the next time I catch her sober!


Hi Gary, yep it's definately turned off and still flickering, I just use 2 lamps and no main light. Just really annoying to have 2 things go in a few days, Ipod station was swapped at the shop today but need a hairdryer for my crazy mop.

I might store my valuables at work from now on

[normalbloke]

You'll need tinfoil underpants...

[jeebus]

Sounds like you could have a bad neutral connection in the consumer unit, or a badly wired ceiling rose/dimmer switch.

[Simpo Two]

You mean you can drive across the world in a go-kart but can't fix a hair-dryer?

[GTIR]

What sort of hairdrier is it?

[Rach*]

Heehee, i tried changing the fuse but its still dead. Its a babyliss 2000w elegance, best hairdryer i've ever had. Really annoyed now i'm going to work looking like russel brand

[M400 NBL]

Rach* said:

Heehee, i tried changing the fuse but its still dead. Its a babyliss 2000w elegance, best hairdryer i've ever had. Really annoyed now i'm going to work looking like russel brand

Take a baseball bat with you to fight off the girls

A silly suggestion (can't help it as an engineer, sorry) but are you sure the new fuse is not a dud? Try a fuse from an appliance that IS working.... and if you haven't already, try your hairdryer in a socket that you know works.

How did hairdryer go from working to not working? Was there any obvious signs that it's blown, like a bang or pop?

[Rach*]

I tried the fuse from the DVD player, nada. No pop or anything it just stopped, so I thought'd I'd pulled the plug out slightly, but it was fine. There's a plug in on the same extension and thats still working too.

Same with the Ipod dock, it just stopped.

I brought my GHD's to work, I'd be very annoyed if they died

[finlo]

Rach* said:

I tried the fuse from the DVD player, nada. No pop or anything it just stopped, so I thought'd I'd pulled the plug out slightly, but it was fine. There's a plug in on the same extension and thats still working too.

Same with the Ipod dock, it just stopped.

I brought my GHD's to work, I'd be very annoyed if they died

Fuse in dvd players prob only a 3amp.

[P924]

finlo said:

Rach* said:

I tried the fuse from the DVD player, nada. No pop or anything it just stopped, so I thought'd I'd pulled the plug out slightly, but it was fine. There's a plug in on the same extension and thats still working too.

Same with the Ipod dock, it just stopped.

I brought my GHD's to work, I'd be very annoyed if they died

Fuse in dvd players prob only a 3amp.

I bet the dvd player doesn't work now

[Rach*]

actually it doenst very well, but it's quite antiquated and not mine so not too fussed about that



Someone mentioned today that it could be the dimmer because they multiply the voltage and it will blow smaller items (or something?)

I think a proper man needs to come in rather than the pissed landlady tinkering, I'm not ready to practise CPR!

[freecar]

Rach* said:

I think a proper man needs to come in

you posted this over an hour ago and it's still quiet??

Things have changed since the P&P!!

can't help with your problem though!