Appliance suddenly stops working

Cause

Power cut

Repair

  • check to see if adjacent properties have also lost power; if so, the problem is with the mains supply
  • check the main fuse or circuit breaker to see if it has tripped, that is, it is in the OFF position; if not, the problem is with the main supply
  • if the main fuse has not blown or circuit breaker has not tripped and adjacent properties do have power, the problem is between the power transmission lines and the main switch board; contact the power supply company
  • if the main fuse has blown or circuit breaker has tripped, the problem is in the house. Do not reset the circuit breaker or replace the fuse at this stage:
    • check all appliances in the house and turn off as many as possible
    • if the board has circuit breakers, switch them all off; reset the main circuit breaker to ON; turn branch circuit breakers on one at a time; if one fails to reset or trips the main circuit breaker, the problem is in that circuit breaker; contact a registered electrician to identify and repair the fault
    • if the board has fuses, remove all branch fuses; replace the main fuse; replace branch fuses on one at a time until one blows again, indicating that the problem is in that circuit; contact a registered electrician to repair the fault

Cause

Circuit or main fuse has blown as a result of overloading – too many appliances were operating for the capacity of the circuit

Repair

  • disconnect the appliance that caused the circuit to blow. Remove some of the load from the circuit by switching off some appliances on the same circuit; replace the fuse or reset the circuit breaker
  • if the new fuse blows immediately or the circuit breaker does not reset, check the other operating appliances on the same circuit by plugging them one at a time into another circuit; remove the faulty appliance from the circuit and do not use it until it has been repaired
  • if the circuit does not function when there are no loads connected to it, the wiring is faulty; contact a registered electrician

Cause

One appliance on the circuit may have a fault that is causing the short circuit. (Sparking or a popping sound may accompany the malfunction or short circuiting of an appliance)

Repair

  • disconnect the appliance that caused the circuit to blow. Remove some of the load from the circuit by switching off some appliances on the same circuit; replace the fuse or reset the circuit breaker
  • if the new fuse blows immediately or the circuit breaker does not reset, check the other operating appliances on the same circuit by plugging them one at a time into another circuit; remove the faulty appliance from the circuit and do not use it until it has been repaired
  • if the circuit does not function when there are no loads connected to it, the wiring is faulty; contact a registered electrician