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!

 

[telectrix]

seems a bit of a mix& match there. 2 RCDs, but what the hell is that huge hole on the left? that should be blanked off.

 

[rocker]

That is a fairly shoddy install, did an electrician put that in? Someone has pinched the actual main switch out of that, as has been said at the moment having the two RCDs is currently worthless, and that big gap needs to be blanked off PRONTO it should NEVER have been left like that. There are bits in that hole which are very, VERY live and could easily kill if touched. I'd get an electrician round who is registered with one of the part P schemes such as ELECSA or NICEIC to get that looked at, it has definitely not been put in by somebody competent.

Amazon's return policy is generally pretty good.

 

[steamboatwilly]

That is a fairly shoddy install, did an electrician put that in? Someone has pinched the actual main switch out of that, as has been said at the moment having the two RCDs is currently worthless, and that big gap needs to be blanked off PRONTO it should NEVER have been left like that. There are bits in that hole which are very, VERY live and could easily kill if touched. I'd get an electrician round who is registered with one of the part P schemes such as ELECSA or NICEIC to get that looked at, it has definitely not been put in by somebody competent..

Absolutely....this is GOOD advice 123 and it does need attending to before someone gets hurt. It shouldn't be expensive to do assuming that the rest of the installation is up to scratch. Please don't leave it like that.

 

[fireball123]

Hello again, I see what you mean by 'Mix & Match', the RCD 2 does look a bit old but the electrician discussed with us that we'll want 2, 1 for lighting, one for mains. If that makes sense, I hope that helps, I will blank the holes you've pointed out. Either the electrician was a bit lazy or he wanted to get a bit more money out of us. I will probably contact him and see what he has to say for himself... Yes rocker, an apparently 'competent' electrician did put that in, he showed us his qualifications but I can see what you mean by shoddy... I'm glad I came here, it would have been left like that otherwise. Thanks everyone for doing all you can and taking up your time for giving a hand. Tomorrow I will try to get the electrician who did it and then if that fails get another electrician in. I will seal it up somehow meanwhile...

 

[steamboatwilly]

Yup, that sounds right fireball....it's the right thing to do.

By the way, it's not about qualifications so much as registration with a governing body like NICEIC or NAPIT. He must be registered under Part P of the Building Regs to do this work. You can check his name on their various web sites and he should have left you with thorough documentation and a certificate of installation. If you haven't got one of those then I'd be suspicious. If you smell a rat, go to someone else.

Yes, cover up the hole in the meantime but please be careful with those fingers!

 

[fireball123]

i sure will be careful! Thanks for all of the advice everybody, you don't know how much I want to thank you. I'll do some research then, better get cracking...

 

[james hanley]

i can t really make it out mate but from what i can it looks like its ok ,is everything ok when you don t use the iron,try isolating the iron by switching off all other circuits and then plug in the iron see if still does it ,i have shopped on amazon myself and you can get on to them about it if it is faulty ,get back to me on this and let me know how it goes ok mate

 

[Crosswire]

Try it without the extension lead

 

[fireball123]

Good idea Crosswire and thanks for your idea James.

 

[james hanley]

no problem thats what were here for good luck

 

[Spudnik]

That second RCD looks very much like a Contactum with a Proteus label on it.

Mr Fireball,

as many have already suggested, you need to get those holes filled with the correct Crabtree blanks.

Secondly, the CU does look like he has made it up from stock he has had lying around and just bought an enclosure to put it all in.

There should be a red MAIN SWITCH as per the previous pic in addition to the two RCD's.

From these pics there are few things that do not comply with the current regulations at all.

You should have been issued with an Electrical Installation Certificate with a full set of test results and other readings etc.

Also, your electrician should belong to a scheme such as the NICEIC, ELECSA NAPIT etc.

Good luck

 

[SirKit Breaker]

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.

Get a gas soldering Iron, mine has never tripped my RCD.........My daughters hair straightner thingy did though, but thats another tale.