Fuse Constantly Tripping

Beth Langstreth · Feb 25, 2019

Please help!

A fuse keeps tripping over and over again. I have 100% narrowed it down to being on the "kitchen sockets" circuit and definitely not to do with overloading or any particular appliance being used.

Believe me, I have unplugged everything in the entire house and it still goes, had one thing plugged in at a time and it still goes, etc. It is not down to one particular socket or thing that's plugged in.

It started randomly in the middle of the night, we discovered it when we woke up. We have not done anything differently recently, nothing new plugged in, no new screws or nails put in walls.

What else could it be please and is it something I can fix myself / if not, will it be a quick/cheap job for an electrician to figure out and complete. I've already wasted £140 today on an electrician who did absolutely nothing.

SparkyChick · Feb 25, 2019

Welcome to the forums, hopefully a local member will be able to help you out.

And I hate to say it, but if the "electrician" wasn't able to help you, then it wasn't an electrician. Any spark worth their salts should be able to find a fault that keeps blowing a fuse.

To help members, maybe post a pic of your consumer unit.

And please don't keep energising the circuit. Doing so could result in the earth being destroyed for example which could lead to a dangerous situation.

GBDamo · Feb 25, 2019

Beth Langstreth said:
Please help!

A fuse keeps tripping over and over again. I have 100% narrowed it down to being on the "kitchen sockets" circuit and definitely not to do with overloading or any particular appliance being used.

Believe me, I have unplugged everything in the entire house and it still goes, had one thing plugged in at a time and it still goes, etc. It is not down to one particular socket or thing that's plugged in.

It started randomly in the middle of the night, we discovered it when we woke up. We have not done anything differently recently, nothing new plugged in, no new screws or nails put in walls.

What else could it be please and is it something I can fix myself / if not, will it be a quick/cheap job for an electrician to figure out and complete. I've already wasted £140 today on an electrician who did absolutely nothing.

Also there may be a number off appliances connected via fused connection units(FCUs). Things like dish washers, fridges etc.. could be causing the fault.

Failing that it's down to testing, testing and a bit more testing.

Rpa07 · Feb 25, 2019

. . . . and £140 when they didn’t find and fix anything! I’m sorry that happened to you, seriously.

Baddegg · Feb 25, 2019

I’d be embarrassed to charge if I couldn’t find it!

123 · Feb 25, 2019

Is it the fuse that is blowing, or is it that circuit that is causing the RCD to trip?

A picture of your consumer unit will help.
Don't see how an Electrician couldn't find the fault or narrow the issue down to know where the problem is.

Baddegg · Feb 25, 2019

Specially as it seems the op has done most of the leg work! As per SC sorry op that wasn’t an electrician m...

telectrix · Feb 25, 2019

£140????? bolton is 40 miles away from me and i'd have charged less than that to remedy the fault. FFS.

Deleted member 9648 · Feb 25, 2019

telectrix said:
£140????? bolton is 40 miles away from me and i'd have charged less than that to remedy the fault. FFS.

Without knowing the cause of the fault you cannot possibly guarantee remedying the issue for less than £140.

telectrix · Feb 25, 2019

would have to be a serious fault to take more than half a day and £20 parts.

Deleted member 9648 · Feb 25, 2019

You are probably right, but it's misleading to the OP to suggest that it's an easy fix when it may or may not be, we don't know. And you have 2 hrs travel time to come out of your 140 quid allowance.

telectrix · Feb 25, 2019

2 gallons of diesel, 2 hours drive. that's £50 extra as opposed to a local call. so plenty beer tokens left out of £140.

Beth Langstreth · Feb 25, 2019

123 said:
Is it the fuse that is blowing, or is it that circuit that is causing the RCD to trip?

A picture of your consumer unit will help.
Don't see how an Electrician couldn't find the fault or narrow the issue down to know where the problem is.

Most of the time it's the RCD, sometimes it's the specific kitchen sockets fuse. When I leave that fuse off the RCD does not trip.

I've uploaded a pic of the unit with RCD and fuse pointed out.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Fuse Constantly Tripping

Toneyz · Feb 25, 2019

Can you still use the downstairs sockets and upstairs lights when the RCD is on and the way No.6 is in the off position as the photo? this would give an indication that there is an L- earth fault on that circuit.

GBDamo · Feb 25, 2019

Obvious question not yet asked but you've not been, or paid someone, to drill any hole recently?

Also check that absolutely everything is off, you've unplugged all sockets but switching off FCUs will narrow it down further.