Electrical problem :(

[FlamingParrot]

I was wondering whether someone had a similar experience: the microwave keeps tripping up the mains switch and leaving me in the dark! Happened for the first time yesterday, once more today. Usually only the circuit breaker for the relevant ring main gets tripped, in which case the lights, etc. wouldn't go out, however, in this case, it's tripping up the mains switch for the whole box.

It doesn't happen all the time, last night I managed to use the microwave and it was working fine this morning, then it tripped the switch AFTER I'd finished heating something up! :rant:

Does this mean its time to buy a new microwave? Or could it be a fault with the electrical system? I think I bought the oven in 2008, so it's old but not ancient like other people's.

[wales01man]

Re: Electrical problem

Our microwave had the same problem when we used it with a plastic butter dish it used to spaark and trip the MCB happened several times then stopped still using the butter dish still using the same microwave
a mystery?

[Celestine]

Re: Electrical problem

I had a toaster that did this. I decided that if whatever fault could trip out whole house, (simultaneously crashing OH's PC with loads of unsaved code pages) that I'd better buy a new toaster.......

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Electrical problem

How bizarre! Can't remember if I used the same dish last night and tonight, this morning I just put water in a mug and nothing happened. Will try again tomorrow when I don't want to watch telly as it takes ages for the Sky box to come back to life after a power cut.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Electrical problem

I had a toaster that did this. I decided that if whatever fault could trip out whole house, (simultaneously crashing OH's PC with loads of unsaved code pages) that I'd better buy a new toaster.......

No such problem here these days, laptop and iPad are the only survivors during a power cut. But I wonder whether the repeated power cuts could damage something else :tinysmile_cry_t:

[ostell]

Re: Electrical problem

Could damage any desktop computer.

[Inca]

Re: Electrical problem

Any electrical item that is causing that problem really needs to be binned FP..not a risk worth taking.

[Eloise01]

Re: Electrical problem

Could damage any desktop computer.

Unlikely these days - they are much more robust that they used to be, and whilst surges are the bigger risk a surge protector solves that. We had a general power cut the other day - the whole area went out, helpfully just after dark, and the computer was not only fine but it had saved the e-mail that I was in the middle of typing to the last word I had typed! Memo to self - I meant to place a torch upstairs because I had never realised just how dark upstairs is without any power at night!!! Must do that.

[ostell]

Re: Electrical problem

Unlikely these days

Seen some where the only explanation has to be the computer still writing to the disk drive as power is dropped and it continues to write as the head crashes to park position. Corrupts sectors as it travels.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Electrical problem

Could damage any desktop computer.

I no longer have one, just a laptop and i-gadgets. :nerd::typing:

Unlikely these days - they are much more robust that they used to be, and whilst surges are the bigger risk a surge protector solves that. We had a general power cut the other day - the whole area went out, helpfully just after dark, and the computer was not only fine but it had saved the e-mail that I was in the middle of typing to the last word I had typed! Memo to self - I meant to place a torch upstairs because I had never realised just how dark upstairs is without any power at night!!! Must do that.

Many email clients automatically save a draft. :typing: Computers are funny beasts, I once had a power cut caused by a power supply blowing up, quite literally, I wasn't in the room but there was a loud bang, everything went dark, and there was smoke and bits floating around in the computer room. I bought a new power supply and the computer was as good as new, all data intact, etc. Could have been different if I had actually been using the computer (I was watching TV) and writing to the HD at the time. This happened in ancient times (2001), but it was the power supply causing the power cut, not the other way round.

Any electrical item that is causing that problem really needs to be binned FP..not a risk worth taking.

Thanks for the responses, I guess it's true, microwaves are cheaper than most of the gadgets I've been buying. :nerd: :nerd: :nerd:

[Eloise01]

Re: Electrical problem

I do recall back in the day there being a power surge followed by a cut and someone I know having their computer ruined - but that was because it was hit by the lightening that caused the (a) surge and (b) cut! Don't think surge protectors are cut out for a direct strike! The lightening hit the roof of their house (with an attic study) straight through the computer, blew out the electrics and grounded safely without anyone being hurt.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Electrical problem

Lightning strikes are very unusual in this country so I doubt any equipment would be built to withstand such force! I've always heard you are supposed to switch of the computer during a thunderstorm to be on the safe side, that's one reason not to leave them switched on when you go away (I often do but there's hardly any thunderstorms where I live). I was under the impression the telephone cable plugging into the modem could conduct the energy through to the computer which is why you had to unplug it. This is going back to pre-broadband days of course. No idea whether lighting could also damage the router.

[ostell]

Re: Electrical problem

Doesn't have to be a direct hit, or even any strikes at all. All it needs is a thunderstorm passing overhead. Sufficient to induce a high voltage in telephone lines and then into modems and computers. I used to buy a few internal modems after a thunderstorm as replacements for the many calls I would invariably receive. Not so bad now as the increased use of modem/routers puts another box in the way.

[Eloise01]

Re: Electrical problem

Ah yes, the particular incident was an act of God - or whoever - just bad luck. The chances of anything / anyone being hit by lightening is remote. Which is perhaps just as well given the stupidity some people exhibit. I recall whilst abroad last year that the resort I was staying in was hit by a tornado which (I am told - I was on the other side of the island at the time and only got the torrential rain) came in across the sea, ripped across the beach (tearing up shacks and the beach bars). ripped through the hotel, depositing the beach bars etc on the dual carriageway about half a mile the other side of the hotal. What were the British tourists doing? Standing on the unprotected balconies of their apartments, ignoring the severe/dangerous weather warnings to stay inside and/or relocate to the reinforced areas of the hotel, attempting to take photos with their mobile phones!!!! Similarly I read that half the people on the US East Coast who were killed during the hurricane last year were out trying to take photographs!

[CleverClogs]

Re: Electrical problem

What were the British tourists doing? Standing on the unprotected balconies of their apartments, ignoring the severe/dangerous weather warnings to stay inside and/or relocate to the reinforced areas of the hotel, attempting to take photos with their mobile phones!!!! Similarly I read that half the people on the US East Coast who were killed during the hurricane last year were out trying to take photographs!

Are you sure they weren't competing for a Darwin Award? (link 1, link 2) :grin: