Electricity Keeps Blowing

[DEN53]

Over the past 2 weeks the electricity keeps blowing - the main switch on the fuse box flicks up. It normally happens around 3ish in the afternoon. We had a similar problem about 5 years ago when we moved into our bungalow, then it was about 6ish in the evening - at the time we were having an extension built and blamed the cold weather and the fact that the back of the bungalow was exposed.

Now its started happening again.

Here is a photo of the fuse box (it might be of help). Any advice will be appreciated.

http://tinypic.com/m/dxbfph/4

[wolf63]

Does something happen at that time of day? Heating switch on? Put kettle on?

It used to happen to me, but not very often, and we discovered that it was the iron that was blowing the circuit. I don't do much ironing so it took us a while to realise the link.

Hope you get it sorted.

I actually looked at the picture - it's nice. That is as technical as I get.

[DEN53]

wolfy - its funny you should say that about the iron - it has happened both times when I was ironing.

[wilkesneil]

newer types of fuse boxes will blow if a faulty appliance is switched on, we had the a council flat before and they were updating everything, and we found the fuses kept tripping, we rang council who said turn everything on 1 at a time, whatever blows is faulty, we replaced the kettle and was fine after

[wolf63]

You ironed more than once in a 2 week period? I think that it has been more than 5 years since I ironed something.

If it has creases then I hang it up in the bathroom and put the shower on.

Get rid of the iron - problem solved. ;-)

Susan

[DEN53]

wilkes - normally only one of the switches flicks up e.g. if a light bulb blows or if a fuse in a plug goes - it just seems unusual for the main switch to flick up.

I'll get Mr. Den to check the iron.

[wilkesneil]

i think ours used to trip 1 fuse but the main switch would also go down

[DEN53]

Susan - I am chained to the ironing board - Mr. Den has to wear shirts for work and despite saying 'non iron' - they look like bits of rag when they come out of the wash.

[The Builder]

Hi Den .......... it looks from your pic that you have an RCD for a main switch. Also called a "trip". It's a safety thing that operates when it detects any leakage to earth.

Anyway ........... several types of appliances (fridges, freezers, cookers etc) do have a bit of earth leakage as normal .............. nothing wrong with them. Unless you actually do have an earth fault somewhere, I guess that's what's happening.
You won't know until an electrician tests the RCD. I did this for someone recently. Their RCD was over-sensitive. A new one solved the problem.
Worth having it checked out :o)

[DEN53]

Afternoon Builder - thanks for the information - it does seem that something does trip this main switch. As I said it happened 5 years ago when we moved into this bungalow. We never found what caused it, but it went on for about 4 weeks then suddenly stopped.

I'll get it checked out. Thanks once again.