Hi - Question Re. Multiple Failing Appliances

[singh.simran]

Hi all,

Hope you are well. I found this forum on google and thought some of you might be good enough to advise me as to what might be going on here. The back story is that me and my housemates moved into new rental accomodation last august and since then:

2x toasters

1x kettle

1x laptop charger

and just today, 1x fairly expensive printer

have spontaneously gone from being completely normal and functional to unresponsive, dead, bricked. I've checked the fuses on all of them and in any fused sockets etc, no joy. 

Now I'm sure I am just being paranoid, and really this is all just bad luck, but is there any reason inherent to the wiring of a house/general electric supply that could make appliances more susceptible to such failure? I wouldn't want to replace expensive electrical equipment if there is any chance there is an underlying fault that could be fixed.

I ask because the landlord isn't hugely big on regular/thorough servicing and we've had to call them in a few times already to fix dodgy gas etc so I'd not be surprised if the electricals were installed on the cheap (house approx decade old) or poorly looked after.

Anyway, any advice gratefully accepted, especially anything that might stop all my things breaking!

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

There could be a problem with your supply, but its probably the cheap Chinese components in everything nowadays

 

[singh.simran]

There could be a problem with your supply, but its probably the cheap Chinese components in everything nowadays

Thanks for the quick reply - yes poor manufacture/bad luck was my strongest theory it's just that many of these things have been used in all sorts of different locations in the past without problem, were all made at different times, but failed together (i.e. within weeks, not simultaneously)... it's just got me worried. Were there a problem in the supply, would there be any "symptoms" I could look for in terms of lights dimming etc?

 

[ProDave]

What are the lights like in the property?

By that I mean do the lights flicker, vary in brightness from time to time etc?

 

[singh.simran]

What are the lights like in the property?

By that I mean do the lights flicker, vary in brightness from time to time etc?

Nope not as far as any of the 5 of us have noticed. The only thing I would say is that old style filament bulbs don't seem to last very long e.g. I put a new one in a desk lamp 2 weeks ago and it didn't last a week - a couple of larger ceiling bulbs have failed despite being replaced during our tenancy e.g. a matter of months.

But no, nothing flickers or dims while switched on AFAIK

 

[ProDave]

What's your skill level? do you have a volt meter?

I would be inclined to check what your supply voltage is. If you don't have a meter, this is something a local electrician could do and it shouldn't cost very much.

 

[binky]

Even cheap toasters and kettles are usually pretty reliable. Sounds like you may be suffering voltage spikes from the mains supply - you could try contacting your local DNO who if sufficiently persuded may install some monitoring equipment (don't expect a speedy response though). If there is building work going on in local area, then tapping into DNO cables can cause problems.

Filament lamps in desk lights tend to overheat due to inadequate ventilation if used for long periods of time. May be worth a few quid for local sparky to perform some simple circuit tests ie Ze to check incoming supply, and a fe Zs tests, although a 10 year old system should be fine????

 

[Elmer BeFuddled]

May be worth a few quid for local sparky to perform some simple circuit tests ie Ze to check incoming supply, and a fe Zs tests, although a 10 year old system should be fine????

Which your landlord should be sorting out. Duty of care n all that jazz.

 

[singh.simran]

Which your landlord should be sorting out. Duty of care n all that jazz.

 Which would be exactly my thoughts, if i had any positive evidence that things were wrong. In answer to above my "level of skill" is that I'm not stupid and can probably source a voltmeter, but am not formally electrically trained/qualified. Basically I could follow instructions but don't know much myself. There is an engineer in the house (chemical, not electrical, but fairly handy). Between us were are ok for anything that is reasonably "DIY" rather than practical.

There are people doing building down the street, though no idea what exactly they are up to...

 

[singh.simran]

Sorry - I meant professional where it says practical.

I will find out who can lend me a voltmeter, and then look up how to do some tests perhaps.

 

[KNB]

Another possible cause could be circuit polarity. Try and get hold of a socket tester with the three neons on it. Using is self explanetary. Plug in, all three lights light up, all's ok. Any combination of two lamps lit  will be listed as a particuler fault eg reversed polarity or earth or neutral missing.

Whilst not a definitive test it will give you an idea the basics are ok without dismantling or removing covers

 

[revjames]

transient voltages on the supply are more likely to fry electronics than things like toasters. I should know - just had fridge, washing machine and boiler repaired coutesy of Scottish Power.