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[Solved] No electricity in part of the apartment, the fuse has not blown

Labatek 38151 15
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  • #1 17551620
    Labatek
    Level 6  
    Hello
    Yesterday I connected a vacuum cleaner to one of the sockets. After a while the light started flashing and turned off. No fuse has blown, but there is no electricity in the sockets in part of the apartment, i.e. in two rooms. Nothing happened to the vacuum cleaner. What could have happened and why did the fuse not blow? I have no idea how to go about it, I have two days off and I don't know what to do :( (I am attaching a photo of the fuse box, it may be useful.
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    • No electricity in part of the apartment, the fuse has not blown IMG_20181111_105205.jpg (2.61 MB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
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  • Helpful post
    #2 17551634
    Witold5
    Level 32  
    It did not blow the fuse because there was no short circuit, only a break in the circuit. That's why the light was blinking, because there was already some slack in the wires somewhere.
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  • #3 17551642
    Labatek
    Level 6  
    Ok, and now as for blondes ... :) )) What do you do in this situation? Need to call an electrician?
  • #4 17551648
    Witold5
    Level 32  
    Look in the socket first, maybe the wires got loose there. Also check the fuse from the sockets and tighten the wires. However, if you do not have knowledge, an electrician will be better.
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  • #5 17551669
    Labatek
    Level 6  
    I unscrewed the socket and everything looks fine in it, the cables are twisted (I attach illustrative photos). How should you remove such a fuse and check in it if everything is ok? No electricity in part of the apartment, the fuse has not blown No electricity in part of the apartment, the fuse has not blown No electricity in part of the apartment, the fuse has not blown
  • #6 17551700
    ta_tar
    Level 41  
    Do you have an installation (as long as you know it and know it) directly connected to the switchgear (fuse box in your opinion) or maybe you have cans somewhere along the way. If the latter, look for a circuit break in these cans or as @ Witold5 wrote in the switchboard.
  • #7 17551703
    Witold5
    Level 32  
    From the top photo, I conclude that these are the fuses at the bottom. Depending on the room they are in. You have to remove the board cover to get to the fuses and check the connections and possibly tighten the screws, check the output voltages from these fuses.

    I see this is a new home so you have cans on top of your hand. Check the connections in the cans (as mentioned by the colleague above) between the switchboard and the sockets.
  • #8 17551741
    zworys
    Level 39  
    Friend - but it is best to call an electrician. If you do not know this installation, you have no experience, you can also hurt yourself. The defect may be in many places - distribution board, boxes. Somewhere there is a broken wire connection or a broken wire.
  • #9 17551754
    Labatek
    Level 6  
    I checked the connections at the fuse responsible for the sockets, tightened the screws, but after turning on the main switch (which I turned off for the duration of the inspection) sparked and the cables shown in the photo burned out. Is this the same as having to replace the cables? What happened? I suppose I shouldn't turn on the main switch at all? No electricity in part of the apartment, the fuse has not blown
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  • #10 17551760
    Witold5
    Level 32  
    Not necessarily replacing, but repairing for sure. So somewhere there is a short circuit and it's solid. So it's better to leave it for professionals who know the subject.
  • #11 17551764
    Robert B
    Level 43  
    You can see that the neutral wire was sloppyly screwed to the terminal block and therefore fried. Call an electrician and charge the repair costs to the installation contractor.
    Witold5 wrote:
    So somewhere there is a short circuit and it's solid

    Where do you see the "short circuit"? :lol:
  • #12 17551783
    Witold5
    Level 32  
    I did not see because I did not look, but it is important that you noticed and the situation is solved.
  • #13 17553141
    zworys
    Level 39  
    Dear electrician, as soon as possible because if other N wires are just as loose, you can have big problems throughout the house. Let it only work out, because the contractor did not put much effort into the work.
  • #14 17555084
    Labatek
    Level 6  
    Burnt zero cables, the electrician said it was a miracle that the equipment did not burn down and that there was no fire. 250 PLN / 20 minutes of work
  • #15 17555597
    zworys
    Level 39  
    It's great that the problem is solved - my friend, according to the rules, I propose to close the topic.
  • #16 17555830
    Labatek
    Level 6  
    As above resolved
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Topic summary

✨ The user experienced a power outage in part of their apartment after connecting a vacuum cleaner, with no blown fuses. Responses indicated that the issue might stem from a break in the circuit rather than a short circuit, causing the lights to flicker. Suggestions included checking the sockets for loose wires and inspecting the fuse box connections. After tightening connections, the user encountered sparking and burnt cables, leading to the conclusion that a short circuit was present. An electrician was recommended for repairs, which confirmed that loose connections had caused the issue, and the user was advised to charge repair costs to the installation contractor. The problem was ultimately resolved by the electrician.
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FAQ

TL;DR: Partial apartment power loss with no blown fuse usually means a loose neutral. Repair ran 250 PLN in 20 minutes; the electrician said it's "a miracle that the equipment did not burn down." Power off and call a pro. [Elektroda, Labatek, post #17555084]

Why it matters: For residents facing dead sockets and flickering lights, this FAQ explains quick checks, real costs, and when to call an electrician.

Quick Facts

Why didn’t my breaker trip when part of the apartment lost power?

Because nothing shorted. A break or loose connection opened the circuit, so the breaker saw no fault. Flickering before the outage points to a high-resistance joint. As one expert wrote, “there was no short circuit, only a break in the circuit.” Tighten or re-terminate that suspect connection. [Elektroda, Witold5, post #17551634]

What’s the most likely cause after a vacuum made lights flicker, then sockets died?

Most cases like this involve a loose neutral at the panel or junction box. Heat and arcing then damage the conductor. As noted, “neutral wire was sloppyly screwed to the terminal block and therefore fried.” Have a licensed electrician clean, re-terminate, and torque the neutral. [Elektroda, Robert B, post #17551764]

Is it safe to keep power on if I suspect a loose neutral?

It is unsafe. A loose neutral can cause voltage swings, equipment damage, or fire risk in other rooms. Get an electrician “as soon as possible” to prevent “big problems.” Do not keep re-energizing a damaged circuit. [Elektroda, zworys, post #17553141]

How do I safely do a quick pre-check before calling an electrician?

Do a minimal pre-check only if you know your installation.
  1. Inspect the affected outlet for loose wires.
  2. Check the breaker for the sockets and tighten its terminal screws.
  3. If anything seems unclear, stop and call an electrician. “However, if you do not have knowledge, an electrician will be better.” [Elektroda, Witold5, post #17551648]

Where should I look for the fault: breaker box or junction boxes?

Trace the run from the switchboard to the outlets. Remove the board cover, inspect and tighten connections, and verify output voltage at the socket breaker. Then check junction boxes (“cans”) between the board and the sockets. These spots often hide a bad joint. [Elektroda, Witold5, post #17551703]

What does a burned neutral look like, and what happens if I re-energize it?

A burned neutral shows darkened insulation and heat damage at the terminal. When re-energized, it may spark and fail dramatically. The poster saw a spark and burned cables immediately after restoring the main switch. Do not reapply power until a pro repairs it. [Elektroda, Labatek, post #17551754]

Do burned wires always need replacement, or can they be repaired?

Not always. Lightly damaged conductors can be trimmed and re-terminated by a professional. Severely charred sections require replacement. The expert advice here: “Not necessarily replacing, but repairing for sure.” Let a qualified electrician decide on-site. [Elektroda, Witold5, post #17551760]

How much might this repair cost and how long could it take?

Expect a quick fix once the fault is located. In this case, the repair cost 250 PLN and took 20 minutes. That aligns with a straightforward panel connection repair. Ask for a receipt and a report on the cause. [Elektroda, Labatek, post #17555084]

Can I recover repair costs from the installation contractor?

Yes, if poor workmanship caused the loose connection. The advice given: bill the installation contractor for the repair. Document the fault and keep the electrician’s note and photos. [Elektroda, Robert B, post #17551764]

Why did my lights blink before everything went out?

Blinking indicates a loose or resistive joint intermittently making contact. Heat and vibration worsen it under load, like a vacuum cleaner. The expert explained the flicker came from slack in the wires. Fix the weak joint promptly. [Elektroda, Witold5, post #17551634]

How many rooms can one bad connection knock out?

A single bad connection can drop power to all outlets on that circuit. Here, two rooms lost socket power at once. That scope helps your electrician isolate the affected branch. [Elektroda, Labatek, post #17551620]

What tool helps confirm if the breaker is supplying voltage?

Use a meter to check the breaker’s output voltage for the socket circuit. That confirms whether the fault is downstream. One expert advised to “check the output voltages from these fuses.” Only qualified people should test live circuits. [Elektroda, Witold5, post #17551703]

Who should I call to fix this?

Call a qualified electrician. If you lack experience with your installation, you can hurt yourself. Faults may sit in the board, boxes, or wiring runs. Describe the symptoms and let them investigate. [Elektroda, zworys, post #17551741]

After the fix, should the electrician inspect other neutrals in the panel?

Yes. Ask the electrician to inspect every neutral in the panel. If one was loose, others may be too. As warned, loose N conductors elsewhere can cause “big problems” across the house. [Elektroda, zworys, post #17553141]
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