UK How to repair switch with no circuit breaker?

[Tim345]

Hi, I live in a house that has been converted into three flats. Each flat has a circuit breaker box, but there doesn't appear to be one for the communal lights. We have an issue with the communal lights being permanently on (because of a faulty timer switch). Is it normal for there to be no circuit breaker for it? Any idea how we're supposed to repair the lights? (There also doesn't appear to be an overall electricity switch for the property, just the circuit breakers for each flat).

 

[davesparks]

It is not normal and extremely dangerous for a lighting circuit to be installed without any fuse or circuit breaker protection.
It is also incredibly unusual, almost unbelievable that anyone would have installed it in such a way.

It is far more likely that there is a circuit breaker but you just haven't found where it is yet.

Have you contacted the landlord, owner of the building, management company or whoever has responsibility for the communal areas?

 

[David Prosser]

You say each flat has a circuit breaker box where are the meters? In a communal area cupboard perhaps, I think it likely there is another circuit breaker box in there.

 

[Tim345]

You say each flat has a circuit breaker box where are the meters? In a communal area cupboard perhaps, I think it likely there is another circuit breaker box in there.

There is a cupboard with the three circuit breaker boxes (one for each flat) and four meters (one for each flat and the communal areas) ... that's the problem, there's just no sign of anything resembling a circuit breaker or switch for the communal area.
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It is not normal and extremely dangerous for a lighting circuit to be installed without any fuse or circuit breaker protection.
It is also incredibly unusual, almost unbelievable that anyone would have installed it in such a way.

It is far more likely that there is a circuit breaker but you just haven't found where it is yet.

Have you contacted the landlord, owner of the building, management company or whoever has responsibility for the communal areas?

I'm one of the owners, alongside those in the other two flats. There's no sign of a circuit breaker for the communal area, just one each for the three flats (alongside four meters - one for each flat, and one for the communal areas).

 

[westward10]

Can you show a picture of the set-up.

 

[Tim345]

Can you show a picture of the set-up.

The first picture is the overall setup. The second is a close up of the communal meter (on the left in the picture). Thanks.

 

[westward10]

Have you shone a torch in the cavity to the left and above the communal meter.

 

[Tim345]

Have you shone a torch in the cavity to the left and above the communal meter.

Yes, nothing there resembling a circuit breaker or switch.

 

[ipf]

Follow the outgoing tails from the left hand meter.

 

[David Prosser]

4 meters 3 flats. The meter on the left must feed something.

 

[ipf]

4 meters 3 flats. The meter on the left must feed something.

Read the post above, mate. Obviously

 

[Tim345]

Follow the outgoing tails from the left hand meter.

Thanks. They just lead to the grey box in the top left of the attached image.

 

[David Prosser]

Read the post above, mate. Obviously

I have read all the post thanks.

 

[ipf]

Thanks. They just lead to the grey box in the top left of the attached image.

There's your answer....looks like a Wylex 2 way Consumer unit.
Unscrew that small cover for the fuse(s).
BUT SWITCH IT OFF FIRST.

 

[David Prosser]

Thanks. They just lead to the grey box in the top left of the attached image.

Good chance the lights will be fed from a fuse or breaker under that cover on the grey box. From what I can see it looks similar to this.

 

[littlespark]

The little grey box to the left of the flat A consumer unit.
Im sure it has FUSES written on it.
And the white box above flat A? could be a timeclock or something?

It looks to me like the cabinet was built to allow access to the flat CU's but no thought to the DNO fuses or the communal fuseboard.

Who pays the communal charges?

 

[Tim345]

There's your answer....looks like a Wylex 2 way Consumer unit.
Unscrew that small cover for the fuse(s).
BUT SWITCH IT OFF FIRST.

Perfect - thanks for your help!
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The little grey box to the left of the flat A consumer unit.
Im sure it has FUSES written on it.
And the white box above flat A? could be a timeclock or something?

It looks to me like the cabinet was built to allow access to the flat CU's but no thought to the DNO fuses or the communal fuseboard.

Who pays the communal charges?

Thanks - think I've got this sorted now.

 

[Vortigern]

Why is the LL not sorting it. Are you sure you should be poking about on communal lighting?

 

[littlespark]

Why is the LL not sorting it. Are you sure you should be poking about on communal lighting?

See #4, there is no LL.

 

[Baddegg]

As above @ipf has called it, but you’ll still need to prove dead is that something you can do?