Oh help a light bulb just exploded and now there's now lights downstairs - is it dangerous? Waht do I do?

[MarieCeleste]

Sorry to be pathetic - cant even see to type, have become Cod

all our downstairs sockets and lights are on the same ring and it trips every time a light blows, so annoying, but it only takes switiching the fuse back on.

Sounds like your fuse is faulty or is it possible all the bulbs have gone?

I'm really sorry spider you are being so helpful but I am too upset to cope at all tonight. I will have to leave it and go to bed. am v worried re doc's tomorrow.

Our fuse box just has buttons to press - they go, top-bottom:

(white) upstairs lights
(white) downstairs lights
(white) dunno
(red) upstairs sockets
(red) downstairs sockets
(red) cooker circuit

the button pops out when a fuse goes (eg when a bulb blows) and you just push it back in

PS FWIW our hall light is on the upstairs circuit (so you still get one light downstairs even when the downstairs circuit has gone)

HTH

well at least you have some light. presumably the fuse has not just tripped, but burst? that must be possible, mustn't it? [not an electrician]

Aitch - I think it depends on the age of the system

If it is an old system it may be a traditional fuse with traditional wire which as burnt out. She will either have to replace the fuse with a spare one (of the correct amp rating) or replace the wire in it (which I am sure is simple - but I have never done it).

If it is a modern system it should be trip switches - I don't think anything much can go terminally worng with them. They just trip. There may be one or more serial fuses for a given system though. For example our cooker recently blew and took out both the cooker/shower fuse (shared as it is bigger amp) and the downstairs sockets. She may have 2 switches to flip - which might be why it is not working yet. She will be able to see better in the morning hopefully.

The newer boxes also need reseting sometimes, look inside and see what it says. Ours you have to push the main on/off switch up then down and then flip the fuse back on. In our old house we had to change the fuse a couple of times too, either way is easy.

Do you have a torch? Get it out if so and have a look. We have a couple of torches just in case.

THank you so much everyone - am feeling much better this AM. Will leave general chaos and blimmin fuses for dh to sort out, brain just too fogged atm to bother. Just had to ring dad, then chase the hospital; and saw lovely doctor with dd first thing re delicate problem. Told her women have to get used to that sort of stuff, doctors, delicate areas, etc.

In the middle of the fusebox business, dd came downstairs and said there was a huge spider in her room. I had to say go and sleep in my bed - I am TOTALLY freaked by spiders and would've stood in her room and screamed without cease most likely. Still have not looked in her room Ds managed to get to school without crippling himself on broken glass.

Thanks again,everyone.