Ask for an electrician to help. Be safe
Many electrical breakdowns in the home are caused by only a few common faults.
These include:
• overloading of circuits, causing the circuit fuse to blow or the MCB to trip
• short circuits, where the current bypasses its proper route because of failed insulation or contact between cable or flex cores; the resulting high current flow creates heat and blows the plug fuse (if fitted) and circuit fuse
• earthing faults, where insulation breaks down and allows the metal body of an appliance to become live, causing a shock to the user if the appliance is not properly earthed and blowing a fuse or causing the ELCB to trip otherwise
• poor connections causing overheating that can lead to a fire and to short circuits and earthing faults.
TIP: TESTING FUSES
You can test suspect cartridge fuses (both circuit and plug types) by holding them across the open end of a
• switched-on metalcased torch, with one end on the I casing and the other on the battery. A sound fuse will light the torch.