Main switch trips when switching the lights on

[Fuma]

So my tenants just told me that every time they try to switch any light on, the main switch trips. They said the switchboard makes some noise every time they try to switch it back on.

What could be the problem?

 

[Fudzy]

Get an electrician out to check the condition of the breakers.

 

[atomcrusher]

One of the lights, or the wiring to the lights, has a short to earth. That will trip the switch. Call an electrician

 

[Batista]

Maybe water damage?Does the earth leakage trip?

 

[Fuma]

I will get an electrician. Hopefully he doesn't charge me an arm and a leg.

Maybe water damage?Does the earth leakage trip?

I'm going there tomorrow to have it checked.

 

[Jab]

Maybe water damage?Does the earth leakage trip?

Unless the main switch is an earth leakage, light circuits should not be wired from one.

 

[Franna]

They did not maybe bypass the pre-paid electricity meter and connected it wrong. Get an electrician to inspect the problem.

 

[FNfal]

A visual inspection of the switches and light sockets may reveal wires touching earth/ shorting , failing that call a electrician if you are not confident/competent faulting electricity.

 

[Sinbad]

Water probably got into a light fitting.

 

[The_Ogre]

Do they use drugs?

 

[Sinbad]

Do they use drugs?

The switch trips, not the tenants.

 

[Fuma]

They did not maybe bypass the pre-paid electricity meter and connected it wrong. Get an electrician to inspect the problem.

I changed to prepaid 2 years back and this is only happening now (since yesterday in fact)

 

[AstroTurf]

I would unplug all the light bulbs and then check what flipping a switch does.
Only way I can see flipping a switch tripping the mains is if it shorts live to live and the only way I can really see that happening only when you flip a switch is if the wiring was messed with somehow.