Ticking from fuse box!

[spike66k]

Hi all.
I have ticking coming from one of the trip switches in my fuse box !
I have just finished an extension where the sparky "tagged on" a few led lights to the upstairs lighting circuit.
By a process of elimination (turning everything on and off) I have isolated the ticking in the fuse trip switch to three led wall lights.
Electrician has just gone abroad for two weeks....!! Any advice on the safety of my fuse box please????
Spike

 

[securespark]

Another holidaying spark. I am well jealous.

 

[Echo the husky]

I know! I haven't had a day off in months!

 

[securespark]

Did the spark leave you with a cert?

 

[Lectrician]

I'm just back from my week away . Still got Monday too, although working tomoz.

 

[spike66k]

He hasn't finished the job yet to leave a cert. I've used him on many jobs before.
Any idea of the ticking noise in the fuse box please?

 

[Echo the husky]

Does it only do it when all the lights and the new ones are on, or does it still do it if the new lights are the only ones on?

 

[spike66k]

It just does it for the three wall lights that are wired together.
Can turn on everything else, but no ticking in the fuse box, until I turn on wall lights. They are connected to a two gang two way switch in one room (dimmer which doesn't work well) and a single switch at the other end.
The dimmer flickers badly as if it's not led compatible.
Thanks

 

[flameport]

Replace the dimmer with a normal switch.

Using the dimmer isn't dangerous, but continued use will damage the dimmer, the lights, or both.

 

[spike66k]

Thanks for the advice.
Can the dimmer switch be making the fuse box tick?

 

[Iggifer]

There was in my flat a dimmer that made the consumer unit buzz because it was dimming compact flourescent lamps - somewhat like the buzz of a cheap dimmer, but much louder. Swapped the lamps for standard ones and it went away.

What lamps have you got in this dimmed fittings?

 

[spike66k]

They are led lamps

 

[Iggifer]

If you have some, try normal lamps, see if the noise goes away

 

[bernardgreen]

Can the dimmer switch be making the fuse box tick?

It is possible. Some LED dimmers have a two stage switch mode power supply between mains and the LED elements. The first stage takes power from the mains in a series of high current pulses and this power is then stored in a capacitor. The second stage is the actual LED current driver which takes power from the capacitor to light the LED.

The high current pulses could be high enough to "rattle" but not trip the magnetic trip mechanism in the MCB and hence the "ticking" sound.