Is there an electrician in the house?

[swee'pea99]

Friday night and the downstairs has gone.

I've checked the fuse box and the middle RCD switch won't stay up. The other one rests at the top, as it should, but this one just sags down to the middle. The testing instructions say to see which of the MCB switches trips it when you turn it on, but you can't, because even with all six of the MCB switches off, it still won't stay on, to be tripped. It just stays off.

We think mice have nibbled through something major. Does that sound likely, or is there something else we can try? We've tried calling our friendly electrician but he's not answering (it is Friday night after all), and we can't even cook or anything.

Any help much appreciated.

 

[classic33]

Unplug what you're able, and see if that helps. Then work through what has been unplugged.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Check for water in extention leads, bulbs blown, other plugged in items

Turn all switches off in consumer box
Turn on one by one, then check that ring main for above faults when you find the culprit

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Have you unplugged or disconnected everything on the circuit which was tripped? If not, then do so and reconnect each one by one until it trips again. My money is on your kettle having sprung a leak. I think it unlikely to be mice.

 

[vickster]

@subaqua ?

In the meantime...go out for dinner

 

[Levo-Lon]

@subaqua ?

In the meantime...go out for dinner

I like that idea, maybe a hotel

 

[vickster]

I like that idea, maybe a hotel

Yep, nookie is a traditional way of seeing through a powercut...

 

[Cycleops]

Not mice but rats! I've that problem before, they chew on anything .

 

[swee'pea99]

Yep, nookie is a traditional way of seeing through a powercut...

 

[swee'pea99]

Thanks for all suggestions. We've tried unplugging /turning off everything we can think of that's on that circuit - no difference.

 

[Pale Rider]

View attachment 452571

You can still get your leg over - unless that happened this morning.

 

[swee'pea99]

All the diagnostics I've found basically seems to come down to Everything off, turn mother switch on, see which 'kid' switch trips it off. But we just can't get the mother switch to stay on at all.

 

[Cycleops]

View attachment 452571

Ah, so that's why it's called a screw.

 

[swee'pea99]

Ah, so that's why it's called a screw.

Give that man a big hand. Right round the earole.

 

[vickster]

Give that man a big hand. Right round the earole.

Looks like the necessary is there, just ask her (or him) to be extra gentle