Fault on socket circuit

[Grant McLaren]

I am puzzling over an intermittent fault on a ground floor/kitchen socket circuit. Initially it seemed as soon as the oven switched on the RCD would trip. However, after unplugging the oven, I used a socket tester on other sockets, which would sometimes trip the RCD. It's pretty random, sometimes it will trip as soon as you plug something in, other times not. Zs reading were fine. The ring main has been broken, although the earths are still continuous. From what I saw, the socket circuit has not been done well.

When I left the property yesterday everything was on, but I'm waiting for a call from tenant to say it's tripped again.

Any thoughts on what it could be and why it has suddenly started now?

Regards.

 

[Gareth Brookes]

You say you have continuity beteeen E-N, that may not trip if the current still finds a return path on the neutral which wouldn’t trip the RCD


Why do you assume that? Testing the circuit correctly will verify wether it’s good for continued use, not guess work on your part.

Electricians don't guess only plumbers

 

[Gareth Brookes]

You say you have continuity beteeen E-N, that may not trip if the current still finds a return path on the neutral which wouldn’t trip the RCD


Why do you assume that? Testing the circuit correctly will verify wether it’s good for continued use, not guess work on your part.

Electricians don't guess only plumbers

 

[pirate]

I measure! No guesswork!
I measure twice, cut once...
and still fek it up!
But with my plumbing, no-one dies...
My electrics..so far so good!

 

[elsparko]

english barry

 

[Pete999]

Why is it ridiculous? How is safer not to assume a broken ring?

My Dad once said to me "never assume anything" He was an astute Man, funnily enough I assumed that I had won the lottery Yesterday.

 

[Pete999]

So if you do a RFC and the readings are acceptable, do you assume the ring is not broken and that someone hasn't spurred off the ring?

I do know what ring final circuit is, I just haven't heard it referred to as RFC.

I didn't know that ring mains weren't used anymore, although I independently stopped using rings ages ago. Whenever, I encounter an old ring, I assume it is broken and downgrade to 20amp.

Wouldn't Ring Final Circuit, given you an itsy bitsy teeny weeny clue as to what RFC meant?

 

[Risteard]

In fairness both ring final circuits and radial final circuits could be abbreviated to RFC.

 

[sparksburnout]

Because it is safer to assume the ring is broken and downgrade. It's rare that someone needs 32 amps anymore.

I can think of someone.

 

[Toneyz]

Gareth,
What was your ring continuity readings? What were your L-E & N-E insulation resistance test results you have given no indication that any proper fault finding has been carried out all you say is that the earth is continuous? And I still don't understand why you would go into a clients house and just change the protective device to 20A for an RFC just because it COULD have a spur off a spur or not have continuity without any testing'well that's the impression you have given me. Be upfront and give us some facts and you may get some very good advice from members drawing on their own past experiences. From what you have told us so far it may be a cable that has been drilled screwed.

 

[Fitzy]

Sooooo, based on the op’s original post and subsequent assumptions and answers a ring final circuit is BROKEN because it has a spur or spurs on it and yet he doesn’t test at every socket to confirm any spurs etc.....

 

[Toneyz]

Sooooo, based on the op’s original post and subsequent assumptions and answers a ring final circuit is BROKEN because it has a spur or spurs on it and yet he doesn’t test at every socket to confirm any spurs etc.....

No proper facts or test readings other than things being unplugged. I am sure that members would be more than willing to give possible causes if the OP has drawn a blank but basic testing needs to be carried out first.

 

[DPG]

It's got to be a wind-up this one hasn't it? I'm 80% certain it is.

 

[Pete999]

Sooooo, based on the op’s original post and subsequent assumptions and answers a ring final circuit is BROKEN because it has a spur or spurs on it and yet he doesn’t test at every socket to confirm any spurs etc.....

That's about it Fitzy

 

[Pete999]

It's got to be a wind-up this one hasn't it? I'm 80% certain it is.

1oo% me

 

[pirate]

Bugr! I fell for it!
Clearly, I am not an electrician...