Consumer unit trip

[fireball123]

OK, I'm new here, I'm not an electrician but I like working like one. This is my first post so please tell me if i've put it in the wrong place.
Right, I have got a consumer unit and in the late afternoon, I plugged in my soldering iron (30W, 230V) into my extension lead, not expecting my whole house to plunge into darkness. I grabbed a torch and explored my consumer unit finding that the main switch had tripped, I flicked it back and everything returned to normal. I tried again (plugging the soldering iron back in) and the same thing happened. I decided I'd had enough but I still don't know why? Nothing else tripped. Excuse me if I'm using wrong terms... Anyway, I don't know much about this other than I don't know If I want to plug my soldering iron back in. Something else is that the day before, I used the iron without a problem, which confused me even more. The only reason I can think of is maybe a short circuit or a power overload. I came here to ask people that actually know what they're talking about, if I could get somebodies opinion or ask any necessary question so I can get some help... Thanks for your time!

 

[rocker]

Hi there, you will probably find that the main switch is what's called an RCD (as opposed to the MCB 'trip switches' that act like fuses). This RCD doesn't necessarily trip due to an overload or short-circuit, it trips when the power going up the live wire and coming down the neutral wire are not balanced (suggesting the power is going elsewhere - down the earth wire or through you).

I would say it is very likely your soldering iron has an internal fault, probably the live conductor is in contact with the metal (which will be earthed). If it's not a moulded plug, you can check the plug is wired OK - if it is, throw the soldering iron away, it is potentially dangerous, and you can pick one up for about a fiver on ebay.

 

[james hanley]

i would agree with that a faulty soldering iron or a loose wire in the plug check the plug if thats fine get a new iron.

 

[steamboatwilly]

Hi there, you will probably find that the main switch is what's called an RCD (as opposed to the MCB 'trip switches' that act like fuses). ...it is potentially dangerous, and you can pick one up for about a fiver on ebay.

Absolutely.....and you can usually check if it's an RCD tripping if it has a small 'Test' button on it. Check the plug...if it looks OK then get a new soldering iron.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Couldnt have put it any better.
One additional thing is that now it is considered bad practice to have the entire installation on a single RCD,for the reason you have just discovered.One fault will take out the whole place.....you may want to consider a CU upgrade to minimise disruption in a similar situation in the future.

 

[fireball123]

Thanks for all your fast responses, I really appreciate it. Thanks 'Rocker' fore correcting me. I don't really want to get a new soldering iron since it's actually just a week old, I will try checking the plug and try everything else you suggested. The consumer unit isn't that old (regarded 'wirepuller's post) so I hope it was installed up to date. I can see what I understand as an RCD, MCB and an RCCB (Main Switch it says?) on the consumer unit. MCB's for lighting, upstairs and downstairs, the cooker and the shower, none of them have tripped. I'll let you know what happens, knowing me, I'll need more help...

 

[oldtimer]

Fireball the typical set up of a DB is like this with a red double pole switch isolator then 2 RCDs each protecting 5 circuit breakers Also to not the RCD protects you from earth leakage only the circuit breakers protect you from overcurrent protection if in doubt stick a picture on and we will get back to you

 

[james hanley]

hey fireball,you don t really want to get a new soldering iron it is easier to get a new soldering iron mate than it is to get a new life it could be very dangerous if that iron is faulty mate

 

[rocker]

Hi again, your RCCB is an RCD, just another name for it (usually from when they were using them as main switches). If you've had that consumer unit put in since 2008, it shouldn't really have an RCCB main switch on it, and really should have the 'split load' board with two RCDs as said above, although this isn't really a legal requirement, and having some form of RCD protection makes your installation safer than a hell of a lot of people in this country.....

If your iron is a week old take it back to the shop. Just tell them what happened and make something up about having an electrician PAT test it who said it's faulty if they get shirty. They will probably just replace it straight up, most places are good like that nowadays, in fact they are legally obliged to do so.

 

[fireball123]

I know James, I will have to replace the iron if it's dangerous but I just want to make sure before paying out, I'm that kind of person... I thought it might help if I show a couple of pictures as 'oldtimer' suggested. Mine looks different to the photo in previous comments... Rocker, I bought the iron off amazon but I'll see what I can do, It wasn't much so I should really stop moaning... (very sorry about the image quality, it was done with my 3.2 MP mobile, if you can make out what it says that's good!)

 

[oldtimer]

Fireball first thing first forget the soldering iron and get blanking pieces fitted in the spaces on your DB it looks the biz with the warning notices but for a couple of pounds you need to seal the big hole

 

[steamboatwilly]

Er......a few things need fixing here. First and foremost, there is a large hole to the left of the MCBs and just below that (if anyone were to put their finger in) is a very nasty electric shock. You must get some blanking plates fitted ASAP...cheap and quick but very very important.

 

[oldtimer]

Also noticed you have an Hager mcb fitted to a Crabtree DB ??? I dont want to worry you but who put this DB together ???

 

[Deleted member 9648]

It looks like you have 2 30ma RCD's but one is a main switch which totally defeats the object of having more than one,as the main switch will trip with an earth fault on any of the circuits....there are also a couple of blanks missing.
Not really possible to advise further without a look at the type of earthing system and how the CU is configured inside.

 

[oldtimer]

Also noticed you have an Hager mcb fitted to a Crabtree DB ??? I dont want to worry you but who put this DB together ???

Dont want to shoot you down completely but RCD 2 does not look like a Crabtree infact it looks a bit older than the new type Crabtree My advice would be get another crabtree RCD and replace the Hager mcb then fit a Crabtree mainswitch because you have the space for it.