Troubleshoot
Guide
Loss of Electricity, Electrical Wiring Fault,
Light Switch Problem, Power Socket Problem, Changing a Light Bulb
Loss
of Electricity
• When working on an appliance or light fitting, unplug it first from
the mains supply.
• Check that your electrical meter is turned on and functional. If
you have a credit meter, make sure
• the money hasn't run out. If it's late
in the evening and this happens, most electric keys have an
• emergency allowance to tide you over until
the next day when you can top-up your credit.
• Check whether the fuse box trip switch has tripped - this sometimes
happens automatically when
• there's a power surge.
Electrical Wiring Fault
Since electrical wiring, such as problems with your circuitry,
can be dangerous to tackle, it's best to call in a professional
for these types of repairs.
Light
Switch Problem
• Before you start any repairs, switch off the power at the mains supply.
• A cracked light switch could allow damp to reach the conductors -
this will cause more serious
• problems so replace it as soon as possible.
• Check for loose connections - these cause most light switch problems.
Make sure wires are
• securely attached to the switch by tightening
the screws.
• Bare wires touching the electrical box will trip the circuit breaker
or blow a fuse -check the wires
• have enough plastic sheathing to protect
them.
Power Socket Problem
• To check for faulty sockets throughout your house, plug an appliance
into each of them to see if
• it has power.
• Before you start any repairs, switch off the power at the mains supply.
• Remove plugs from the socket outlet carefully. Pulling out a plug
by the cable could damage the
• contact between the plug and socket outlet.
This would result in the plug overheating, its wires
• becoming loose or even an electric shock
(if the earth wire is disconnected).
• Check the plug and socket outlet for burn marks, buzzing or crackling
or excessive heat - if any of
• these things happen we advise you to call
in an electrician as soon as possible.
• Use plugs with the British Standard Safety Stamp - they're guaranteed
to have live and neutral
• pins with insulating sleeves that enable
safer insertion and withdrawal.
• Check the shutter mechanism in the socket outlet closes when removing
a plug. This is an
• important safety precaution if you have
young children who like to poke their fingers where they
••shouldn't!
Changing a Light Bulb
• First, make sure the electricity is turned off at the light switch.
The safest way is to switch it off at
• the mains supply.
• Allow the bulb you're replacing to cool before touching it.
• Check the wattage on the used bulb and make sure the new bulb matches
it.
• Safely remove the old bulb and fit the new one by using a stepladder.
• If the bulb is a Bayonet Mount (most common in the UK), hold it lightly
but firmly and turn counter
• clockwise until it's released from the
socket. To fit a new one, turn clockwise.
• If the bulb is a Screw Fitting (common in Europe), keep gently twisting
counter clockwise till th
• bulb comes loose from the socket. To fit
a new one, keep gently twisting clockwise till it won't go
• any further.
• Once the bulb is in, turn the power and light switch back on.
• Use the packaging of the new bulb to dispose of the old one as a
safety precaution - the glass
• is fragile and can cause harm to children
and pets. |
