It started yesterday lights fizzed and went out- pressing the button back on the fuse in the fuse box- and the fuse kept sparking; switched them all off and pressed button again- no spark - tried one by one with the lights and they stay on for five minutes and then fizz and it goes again- does it with different lights on - what should I do?
2006-12-25 23:09:10 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Firstly, you do have a fire hazard.
You have either a short after one of the switches or you have too many lights with too high a power rating.
You didn't mention if you're in North America or in Europe.
In America, a circuit breaker should be rated for 15 amps on a light circuit. It would take a lot of 60W bulbs to trigger a break, and unless you did some home wiring, it would be nearly impossible. Perhaps you have replaced all your bulbs with 100W bulbs. 18 of those would trip the breaker. You should never use 100W bulbs except in very specific places where the socket is rated for them.
The circuit could have some wall sockets in the branch. Make sure you turn everything else in the whole house off when you do your test (remember that each test is another possiblity that you'll burn down your house). Personal heaters, microwave ovens, toasters, and other appliances draw a lot of current.
Failing all the above, you have a short in the wiring on the far side of one of the switches. You need an electrician.
2006-12-26 00:11:31 · answer #1 · answered by patrioticjock 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lights Keep Blowing Fuse
2017-01-20 20:38:23 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to get an qualified electrician out as soon as possible, because he will have to do an insulation resistance test on the light circuit to find the problem. I had a problem like that at a clients house and found that rats chewed through the wiring. It caused a joist to catch fire, but lucky for the client the wires burnt off before causing big damage.
I don't know why rats like to chew electric cables, but they seem to like doing it.
If the electrician can find the problem it should not cost to much, to repair, because he can cut the bad or damaged section of the cable out and use junction boxes to join a new part of cable. Just make sure to get a Part P registered electrician to do the work, because it's illegal to do any electrical work without being registered. Get a receipt when he did the work.
2006-12-27 04:06:28 · answer #3 · answered by BJC 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've had trouble with those push-button type fuses. They simply get weak and don't hold anymore. Get a regular fuse of the right size and put that in. I bet the surface of the push button fuse is warm or hot, isn't it!
The fact that the fuse "sparked" is a big clue. They should NEVER spark...that says "bad connection"...that the fuse itself is not tight in the socket, or is otherwise defective.
If the fuse isn't making good contact, the over-current problem is starting right there at the fusebox.
2006-12-26 02:05:57 · answer #4 · answered by roadlessgraveled 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you did not do any new wiring there are only a couple of things that it can be. I would try a different fuse, the type you talkabout is an old one and they do get weak over time. If the probelm is still there check switches, recepticles, and fixtures for a bad or lose conection. If you have an attic it is possible for a squirrel to chew thru the wire. Identify the bad circuit and go thru the connection one at a time. Good luck
2006-12-26 01:08:02 · answer #5 · answered by skinnyrich_99 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure it's your lights?
The fact they stay on for 5 minutes, and different lights are tripping out, suggests it's not. Have you boiled a kettle, turned on the TV or anything after switching the lights back on? Vacuum cleaner? Microwave?
I honestly think it's not the lights, its an implement in the home. Again put the lights back on one at a time, makes sure everything else electrical is switched off - even the Christmas tree lights and the fridge. Wait 5 minutes and if the lights are still on start switching things on one at a time to see what blows the circuit.
2006-12-26 00:13:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you may have a short on a ring main circuit.....
Turn the mains off,,,
Check all the connections of all lights see if
a wire is loose both in light switches or in the fuse box..
If you cannot find a fault where the connections are made
try a few lights at a time
to try and isolate a particular light or switch
causing the problem
.
2006-12-25 23:16:47 · answer #7 · answered by farshadowman 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
trouble shooting is the key.
You could have a weak breaker. If you can do it, turn the power off and switch the wire to a different breaker of the same size. If the problem goes away, the breaker is bad. If the problem goes to the other breaker, you have a problem with lights. Did you change or replace a light fixture recently?
2006-12-26 01:04:50 · answer #8 · answered by T C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you say pressing the button back on the fuse, is this a screw in fuse that has a reset button? If so I would start right there those devices are pretty old.
2006-12-26 00:32:47 · answer #9 · answered by beaver b 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't reset the breaker beyond the second time. You have a short, and could set fire to your house.
Call in an electrician. Electricity is NOT for the amateur. I worked in industrial maintenence for over thirty years, and have seen some deadly mistakes made by amateurs.
2006-12-26 09:03:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋