Calling an Electrician in Spain
Dealing with a tripped switch, a sparking socket and an old flat's wiring.
Older Spanish flats often have tired wiring and a low contracted power limit, so switching on the oven and washing machine together can trip everything. The first stop is the cuadro eléctrico, the fuse box by the front door; after that you call an electrician, and raising the power limit is done with the electricity company. The cards follow two flatmates from a power cut to the electrician's visit.
- 1
Se ha ido la luz solo en el salón.
The power's gone in just the living room.
- 2
Creo que ha saltado el diferencial.
I think the trip switch has gone.
- 3
¿Dónde está el cuadro eléctrico?
Where's the fuse box?
- 4
Lo subo, pero vuelve a saltar.
I flick it back up, but it trips again.
- 5
Este enchufe hace chispas.
This socket's sparking.
- 6
Huele a quemado.
There's a burning smell.
- 7
No toque nada hasta que yo llegue.
Don't touch anything until I get there.
- 8
Salta cada vez que pongo el horno y la lavadora a la vez.
It trips every time I put the oven and the washing machine on together.
- 9
Necesita subir la potencia contratada.
You need to increase your contracted power.
- 10
¿Y eso con quién lo tengo que hablar?
And who do I need to talk to about that?
- 11
La instalación de este piso es antiquísima.
The wiring in this flat is ancient.
- 12
¿Me puede poner otro enchufe aquí?
Could you put another socket in here?
- 13
La luz del pasillo parpadea.
The hallway light keeps flickering.
- 14
Es un cable suelto.
It's a loose wire.
- 15
¿Es peligroso?
Is it dangerous?
- 16
¿Puedo seguir usándolo mientras tanto?
Can I keep using it in the meantime?
- 17
Mejor no lo use hasta que lo cambie.
Best not to use it until I change it.
- 18
Se me va a estropear todo lo de la nevera.
Everything in the fridge is going to go off.
- 19
¿Trabaja los sábados?
Do you work on Saturdays?
- 20
¿Le daría tiempo a venir hoy?
Would you have time to come today?