Am I liable to pay

[jean1289]

I rent a property in the UK. All of the sockets in my house were tripping, even when all sockets were switched off. An electrician came out, sent by the estate agent who manages the property. They determined it was an appliance of mine that tripped the power. He said something about why the socket was receiving power when the switch was off, but I'm not sure what it was he said as I am no electrician. Something to do with a neutral wire. I have received an invoice, from the estate agents, for me to pay the electrician as the fault was my appliance. I agree this would be my invoice to pay, however, I could have diagnosed the appliance as the fault myself had the landlords socket not been supplying power when switched off? Please could somebody advise me as to where I stand. Of course I am happy to pay if it is my responsibility. Thanks, Jean.

 

[Tony Reidy]

I rent a property in the UK. All of the sockets in my house were tripping, even when all sockets were switched off. An electrician came out, sent by the estate agent who manages the property. They determined it was an appliance of mine that tripped the power. He said something about why the socket was receiving power when the switch was off, but I'm not sure what it was he said as I am no electrician. Something to do with a neutral wire. I have received an invoice, from the estate agents, for me to pay the electrician as the fault was my appliance. I agree this would be my invoice to pay, however, I could have diagnosed the appliance as the fault myself had the landlords socket not been supplying power when switched off? Please could somebody advise me as to where I stand. Of course I am happy to pay if it is my responsibility. Thanks, Jean.

It could have been the faulty socket that damaged your appliance

 

[andyb]

It looks like the sockets in your rented property are single pole, so if the switch is off the neutral is still connected. The only way to be sure that the appliances in this instance are disconnected is to unplug everything.

What was it that was causing the problem?

 

[jean1289]

It could have been the faulty socket that damaged your appliance

I thought that as it's a toaster about a month old, and the last one was binned as the electricity was tripping. The only difference is the last one was only tripping the power when pushed down.

 

[jean1289]

It looks like the sockets in your rented property are single pole, so if the switch is off the neutral is still connected. The only way to be sure that the appliances in this instance are disconnected is to unplug everything.

What was it that was causing the problem?

The toaster. Is that a problem with the socket or an acceptable way for them to be?

 

[James]

Unfortunately,
most uk sockets only switch the live, the neutral remains connected to the appliance regardless of the switch position (on or off)
this might be a tough lesson to learn but if you are trying to diagnose if a fault is with the fixed wiring or an appliance then unplug evertyhing.
a short between neutral and earth will normally trip an rcd type breaker without any bang or flash.

 

[westward10]

Unusual for a toaster to give rise to nuisance tripping

 

[James]

so everything is now fine?
if you switch off the socket and plug the toaster in, I presume the electrics still trip off?

 

[andyb]

Sounds suspicious to me Jean, although unless the toaster is tested it's hard to be sure.

Has the tripping now stopped? If so, try the toaster again, if it still trips then it's the toaster so take it back. If it doesn't then it obviously wasn't the toaster.

 

[jean1289]

Unfortunately,
most uk sockets only switch the live, the neutral remains connected to the appliance regardless of the switch position (on or off)
this might be a tough lesson to learn but if you are trying to diagnose if a fault is with the fixed wiring or an appliance then unplug evertyhing.
a short between neutral and earth will normally trip an rcd type breaker without any bang or flash.

Oops, I think I have an invoice to pay.

 

[andyb]

Unusual for a toaster to give rise to nuisance tripping

Agree, especially a new one. I do pat testing for landlords and as far I can remember I've never had one fail.

 

[James]

Oops, I think I have an invoice to pay.

its still a little suspicious.
I agree with andy,

 

[westward10]

Agree, especially a new one. I do pat testing for landlords and as far I can remember I've never had one fail.

Same here I really can't see how it has caused an issue, never say never but it would be highly unusual.

 

[jean1289]

Sounds suspicious to me Jean, although unless the toaster is tested it's hard to be sure.

Has the tripping now stopped? If so, try the toaster again, if it still trips then it's the toaster so take it back. If it doesn't then it obviously wasn't the toaster.

It is definitely the toaster. I thought the fact that it was tripping meant there was still power in the socket when switched off (which I would say is at the fault of the landlord). Another poster has pointed out that UK sockets tend to only switch the live and if there is a fault between neutral and earth then the RCD will trip. Looks like i'm at fault for my own incompetence

 

[James]

if you turn off that socket and plug the toaster in, does the electric trip off?