Fixing faults
RCD tripped, a room without power, flickering lights. Explained step by step, including what you may do yourself and where it stops.
10 articlesWritten by Kevin Hermans
Articles
Freezer or fridge gone off without you noticing
A freezer that goes off while you are away is only discovered when you get home. A dedicated circuit and a simple alarm prevent that.
Drilled through a cable: what now
If you drill into a cable, the first second is the most dangerous and the repair is usually simple. Leave the circuit off and do not touch the drill bit.
Burning smell or a warm socket: what now
Heat does not belong in electrics. A warm socket or a scorching smell is a developing fault, not an inconvenience.
The washing machine or dishwasher trips the circuit
White goods with a heating element are the most common cause of a tripping RCD. With a simple test you can pinpoint it.
Lights flickering or dimming: what it tells you
Flickering in one light is usually the bulb or the dimmer. Flickering throughout the house is a reason to measure.
Power cut: is it my house or the street
Look at the neighbours and at your main switch. Two minutes of looking decides whether you call the grid operator or an installer.
The circuit breaker trips: overload or short circuit
A breaker that only trips after a while points to overload. If it trips straight away, it is a short circuit.
A socket is not working: how to work it out
If one socket does not work and the rest do, it is usually in a loop-through or in a terminal, not in the meter cupboard.
Power out in one room: the step-by-step plan
One room without power is almost always one circuit. In four steps you know which one, and what to do if nothing seems to have tripped.
RCD keeps tripping: how to find the cause yourself
Usually it is one appliance and not your installation. In four steps you find out yourself which one, and you read exactly where it stops and you need to call.
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Choose a topic. Every article starts with a short answer.
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