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Socket fault

Former Community Member
Former Community Member

Trying to find a fault 



Hello I put in a new fuseboard and the ring circuit kept tripping-  2 circuits on rcd 16amp with one wire and ring with 32amp 



Isolated each breaker to see which was making rcd trip turned out to be sockets 



I checked continuity between each leg after unplugging everything and came cables came back clear 



 



After powering up again and replugging 



I isolated which was faulty (turned out to be the chest freezer) as I checked the wire was showing continuity 



 



After 10 minutes or so it tripped again in kitchen, so unplugged fridge and it was working fine for a good 45 minutes 



 



But when tried to turn on kettle in kitchen or any appliance it kept tripping straight away 



 



Bearing in mind there’s only one circuit for the whole house was wondering if anyone come across this as my fault finding it’s as good still learning 



Only one rcd tripping 



 



No neutrals are sharing 



 



Other rcd is just cooker and lights 



 



Thank you Trying to find a fault 



Hello I put in a new fuseboard and the ring circuit kept tripping-  2 circuits on rcd 16amp with one wire and ring with 32amp 



Isolated each breaker to see which was making rcd trip 



 



Unplugged everything and isolated which was faulty (turned out to be the chest freezer) as I checked the wire was showing continuity 



 



After 10 minutes or so it tripped again in kitchen, so unplugged fridge and it was working fine for a good 45 minutes 



 



But when tried to turn on kettle in kitchen or any appliance it kept tripping straight away 



 



Bearing in mind there’s only one socket circuit for the whole house (one per bedroom and downstairs) wondering if anyone come across this as my fault finding it’s as good still learning 



Only one rcd tripping 



 



No neutrals are sharing 



 



Other rcd is just cooker and lights 



Thank you 



 


Parents
  • 0
    MCBs only interrupt the live - that may not correctly isolate the faulty circuit, if the fault is NE.

    You may have more than one fault - especially if it seems any load trips the RCD, rather than one specific one. A partial NE fault (not quite a short) often gives a load dependant trip. When the neutral current is split so some small fraction returns via the earth path.  If for example there is say 1% of the neutral current leaking to earth, then the L-N balance will reach the  30mA RCD trip level when the total load exceeds 3A - giving the very odd symptom that any high current device trips the RCD, but then some loads only cause a trip if others are also on.


    Do you have a clamp meter that can measure ten mA or less - if so a careful look at L-N current may help.

    Also consider it may be a fault to earth not via the earth wiring, but via the building fabric - concrete and bricks are not very conductive, and can give odd weather (humidity ) dependant symptoms.


Reply
  • 0
    MCBs only interrupt the live - that may not correctly isolate the faulty circuit, if the fault is NE.

    You may have more than one fault - especially if it seems any load trips the RCD, rather than one specific one. A partial NE fault (not quite a short) often gives a load dependant trip. When the neutral current is split so some small fraction returns via the earth path.  If for example there is say 1% of the neutral current leaking to earth, then the L-N balance will reach the  30mA RCD trip level when the total load exceeds 3A - giving the very odd symptom that any high current device trips the RCD, but then some loads only cause a trip if others are also on.


    Do you have a clamp meter that can measure ten mA or less - if so a careful look at L-N current may help.

    Also consider it may be a fault to earth not via the earth wiring, but via the building fabric - concrete and bricks are not very conductive, and can give odd weather (humidity ) dependant symptoms.


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