Looking For The Obvious - Electrical Problems

This web page details what is often called the ‘obvious’ when investigating domestic electrical problems.

Always check the following if applicable:

· Is the electrical appliance turned on?

· Has the fuse blown?

· Has the RCD tripped?

· Has the bulb blown?

· Try turning the electrical appliance on and off.

· is the power cable damaged?

· Try plugging the appliance in another electrical socket in another part of the house.

· Is the fuse the correct rating?

· Does the bulb holder need cleaning?

· is the bulb the correct wattage?

· If an electrical socket is not working is it just the one socket not working or are no electrical sockets working?

· Are all ceiling lights not working or just one?

· RCD won’t reset – unplug all electrical appliances, for instance TVs and kettles – does the RCD reset now?

· Is the light switch OK?

· Wiggle the power cable, does the electrical appliance work now?

Links

What Causes An RCD To Trip – RCD trips – possible causes.

What RCDs Are – a description of RCDs – purpose and how they work.

How To Turn An RCD On And Off – how to turn a domestic electrical RCD on and off to connect, or isolate, a supply to a circuit.

Looking For The Obvious