Electrics

[cymrococh]

Anyone got any idea why one of the circuits in our house could have tripped?

[Stevie H]

power surge? too many appliances all switched on at once? lightning strike? you been rubbing balloons on your hair again?

 

like the good old days of FAO fyds/kmd this.

[cymrococh]

I'm baffled, could have been the weather.

 

I just want to check that it isn't something as straightforward as one of the bulbs going. It's a circuit of lights at the front of the house, so probably about 6 bulbs.

[Hus]

I'm baffled, could have been the weather.

 

I just want to check that it isn't something as straightforward as one of the bulbs going. It's a circuit of lights at the front of the house, so probably about 6 bulbs.

 

Could be a number of things - but are all the outside lights running off a single switch?

 

Most switches have a cap as to how many watts they can handle, you can buy more capable ones so maybe worth checking.

 

Also, a bulb fusing will most likely trip the breaker, happened in my old place all the time, especially with halogen spot lights.

[Stevie H]

Also, a bulb fusing will most likely trip the breaker, happened in my old place all the time, especially with halogen spot lights.

 

yeah i get that quite a lot.

[cymrococh]

Could be a number of things - but are all the outside lights running off a single switch?

They're not outside, it's the 2 front bedrooms, the lounge, dining room and landing.

[D.Boon]

I'm baffled, could have been the weather.

 

I just want to check that it isn't something as straightforward as one of the bulbs going. It's a circuit of lights at the front of the house, so probably about 6 bulbs.

 

Various bulbs such as halogen capsules will throw an RCD breaker when they pop.

[Swan Red]

They're not outside, it's the 2 front bedrooms, the lounge, dining room and landing.

 

You shouldn't be close to tripping it, any non standard lights anywhere LED Halogen etc?

[cymrococh]

They're all low energy bulbs, probably halogen.

 

So I'll replace the bulbs and see if that works.

[D.Boon]

People need to be aware of the difference between an RCD trip and an MCB trip. The former is for earth faults. The latter protects against circuit overload.

 

They're all low energy bulbs, probably halogen.

 

So I'll replace the bulbs and see if that works.

 

Just change the ones that have popped

[cymrococh]

What is the difference?

[D.Boon]

The ones that have popped will in all likelihood have caused a current imbalance when they popped and caused the RCD to trip. Perfectly safe to continue to use with new bulbs

[cymrococh]

Nice one.

[Falconhoof]

Used to get this problem a lot with halogen bulbs. Replaced the lot with LED spotlights and not had a single problem since.

They are so good I wish I could get LED bulbs literally everywhere.

[magic melia]

Usually that's the first sign of a Poltergeist but i might be wrong.

[Gerry]

They're all low energy bulbs, probably halogen.

 

So I'll replace the bulbs and see if that works.

 

Halogen bulbs aren't exactly low-energy.

 

Unless you're comparing them to the bulbs they use in lighthouses.

[cymrococh]

They're low energy, not halogen.

 

I don't know much about bulbs tbh.

[DanielS]

Usually that's the first sign of a Poltergeist but i might be wrong.

 

My first thought was that Sean would now have to move house. Not sure what all this talk about replacing bulbs is for when he clearly needs to hire a vertically challenged medium with a squeaky voice immediately.

[cymrococh]

My first thought was that Sean would now have to move house. Not sure what all this talk about replacing bulbs is for when he clearly needs to hire a vertically challenged medium with a squeaky voice immediately.

The wife is more of a large, but she might do the trick

[SilverSong]

Have you tried turning it off and then on again. Failing that, who ya gonna call.

[sean]

power surge? too many appliances all switched on at once? lightning strike? you been rubbing balloons on your hair again?

 

like the good old days of FAO fyds/kmd this.

 

 

I'm actually still unsure if I can use normal paint on radiators or not. That FAO fyds/kmd thread ultimately failed to deliver on so many promises.

[cymrococh]

Wasn't the bulbs, got an electrician coming tomorrow.

 

Thanks for nothing.

[Mike]

Now you've got electricians in the house.

Make some noise!

[charlie clown]

I'm actually still unsure if I can use normal paint on radiators or not. That FAO fyds/kmd thread ultimately failed to deliver on so many promises.

 

Depends what you call 'normal paint' - if you mean emulsion or egg shell or gloss, the answer to all three is 'yes' as long as you have given the bare metal radiator a coat of metal primer before you start. And with your final colour coat, it is wise to give several thin coats (not one thick one) with a light sanding between coats. Paint the radiators when they are cold and do not switch them back on until all the coats are properly dry.

 

Radiator paint is not necessary. The only real reason to use it is that it is designed not to change colour as easily as ordinary paint which can yellow more quickly with the constant changes of temperature. If you're not fussed about that, then non-radiator paint will do.