25. March 2026
No Power in Bloxham! Lost Neutral Fault Explained
Sudden Power Loss and Strange Electrical Behaviour!
A complete loss of power with strange voltage readings is often caused by a lost or loose neutral connection.
A recent call-out in Bloxham where a complete loss of power and tripping RCDs was traced to a burnt neutral connection in the meter box. The customer had noticed for a few days beforehand that lights were intermittently dimming and electrical appliances and circuits were behaving erratically.
This type of fault isn’t always obvious, but it can cause serious issues if left unchecked.
What Is a Lost Neutral Fault?
A lost or loose neutral connection can cause unstable voltage across your electrical system.
Instead of a steady 230V supply, voltages can fluctuate, leading to partial power loss and potential damage to appliances.
Common Signs of a Neutral Fault
• No power or only partial power in the property
• Lights flickering or unusually dim
• RCDs tripping for no obvious reason
• Unusual voltage readings (often around 100–150V)
Real Example from a Recent Call-Out in Bloxham
I was recently called out early one morning to a property with no power and all RCDs in the consumer unit had tripped.
Over the phone, I went through the usual checks with the customer, getting them to unplug everything and try resetting the RCDs, but it wouldn’t come back on.
On testing, I measured around 120V between live and neutral at the incoming side of the main switch in the consumer unit. This should normally be around 230V, so this was a strong indication of a lost neutral.
What I Found
The fault was traced to a burnt-out neutral connection in the meter box switched fuse.
Over time, a loose connection had caused overheating, eventually burning out the terminal and interrupting the supply.
Why This is Dangerous
A fault like this can:
• Cause unstable voltage throughout the property
• Damage electrical appliances
• Lead to overheating and potential fire risk
• Cause metal parts such as pipework or appliance casings to become live and dangerous to touch
This is why RCD protection and adequate bonding are so important.
It’s not something that should be ignored.
How It Was Resolved
The electricity supplier was contacted to:
• Replace the incoming tails
• Connect the supply into their own isolator
After a few hours, they attended site. In the meantime, I went to carry on with the job I was originally booked in for until everything was ready.
Fortunately, the customer was very understanding when I had to leave to deal with the issue.
The supplier had replaced the incoming mains cables (tails) and repositioned their isolator to make it easier for me to connect. I then installed a new switched fuse to protect the outgoing tails.
Final Checks
After the repair, full testing was carried out to ensure the installation was safe and operating correctly.
This included checking supply polarity and verifying the resistance of the main earthing system.
Power was restored and the system returned to normal operation.
⚡ The Importance of Earthing, Bonding and RCD Protection
Situations like this highlight how important proper earthing and bonding are.
If a neutral fault occurs, metal parts in the home (such as pipework, radiators or appliance casings) can rise to a dangerous voltage and potentially become live.
Main bonding (to gas and water services) helps keep all metalwork at a similar electrical potential, reducing the risk of electric shock.
RCD protection also plays an important role, disconnecting the supply quickly if a fault is detected.
In this case, the RCDs tripping helped indicate that something wasn’t right with the supply.
Without proper earthing, bonding and RCD protection, faults like a lost neutral can present a much greater risk.
What the customer said on Google:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Customer Review
“Richard responded very quickly to my worried phone call after erratic electrical surges, and the RCDs to the house tripping and wouldn't reset, so no power!
He quickly diagnosed a neutral fault due to a burnt neutral connection in the meter box, helped me with the phone call to the supplier to get them to repair it, and then came back later on to complete the electrical work and test everything. Power fully restored! Highly recommended.”
Got an Electrical Fault or Power Issue?
If something’s not quite right — whether it’s tripping circuits, power loss or anything unusual — it’s always best to get it checked properly.
I carry out fault finding and electrical work across Bloxham, Banbury and the surrounding areas, helping to quickly identify and safely resolve problems.
📞 Call Richard on 07740 100378 or 01295 533378
📍 Covering Banbury, Adderbury and nearby towns and villages