Fault on ring main

[telectrix]

fault appears to be in kitchen... cupboards fitted... kitchen fitters..... 4" screws directly above socket?????

 

[dutchy]

How can you be sure its not the spur leg if you have not tested it?

Does it trip with another appliance plugged in say a kettle!

I would start from the beginning once you get your gear and fully dead test the final ring and see what results are found for starters!!!

I completely disconnected the spur leg, so I just had the supply connected to the spur, and thats where I was testing live/earth and the MCB was tripping...

 

[i=p/u]

and when load applied bang, legs up, lights out

 

[trev]

I remember a guy they filmed on watchdog installing a few new sockets in a kitchen, his testing procedure was plugging in a kettle

 

[dutchy]

and when load applied bang, legs up, lights out

nope!...the ring is already under load with dishwasher/tumble dryer etc.... but as soon as you add the washing machine...pop!... but the machine works fine went plugged in to another part of the ring.

 

[tony mc]

And if it wont work it must be a dodgy kettle!!

 

[malcolmsanford]

Sounds like an overload issue ....................dodgy or old MCB?

But why testing LINE/EARTH does it trip

 

[tony mc]

nope!...the ring is already under load with dishwasher/tumble dryer etc.... but as soon as you add the washing machine...pop!... but the machine works fine went plugged in to another part of the ring.

As mentioned you will just have to go back and test from scrach as its just a guessing game at the moment.

 

[dutchy]

The board is less than a year old (fitted by another contractor)... don't think its an overload issue as its all currently running... and why its tripping line/earth at the spur is anyones guess!... just to add, replaced spur also...so its not that.

 

[dutchy]

I'll post what I find on monday evening....

 

[1shortcircuit]

Had the work been tested on completion or is it still "on going" and been energised without doing so?

Have you stripped out the connections and re-terminated yourself?

I understand the issue about collecting your test gear but I personally would have refused to visit without it because now it just gives the impression you don't know what you are doing.

Good Luck, please post back to let us know what the fault was :thumbsup

 

[dutchy]

I spoke to the other sparks who done the work on the ring main, and he assures me he tested it fully on completion of that circuit (I've known him for 30 years so I trust what he says) so I cn only assume it has had damage inflicted on it during the on going works.. watch this space, I don't like to be beaten!

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Dont understand how voltage testing L-E can take out an MCB....but that aside it sounds like the spur cable has been drilled dead centre,breaking the earth and damaging the L and N cores,when a load is on the cable it then surges L-N and trips the breaker.....As it's not tripping the RCD we must assume the earth is broken.

 

[Baker1988]

I would do a insulation resistance test on the leg it sounds like there is a screw or something in the cable. Insulation test or just change the cable to that socket

 

[dutchy]

I would do a insulation resistance test on the leg it sounds like there is a screw or something in the cable. Insulation test or just change the cable to that socket

I've taken the leg to the socket completely out of the equation, the L-E fault occurs when I test across these at the spur.... I don't think this can be answered until I strip it down on monday. i'll keep you posted.