Garden light fault

[Nigel Evans]

I have a set of double insulated LED garden brick lights that I installed about 5 years ago, Recently they tripped the RCBO and would not reset. The fault is L&N to earth, about 0.2 mega ohms. The install is SWA terminated into galvanized conduit boxes filled with magic jell.Thinking the jell may have become absorbent after time I split the circuit and opened some of the boxes removing the jell as I went. the test result was the same. I then started cutting out the push fit connectors and testing each leg, these were all clear. When I tested a line conductor of one of the disconnected fittings to the metal of the conduit box it was down to earth, I removed the flex from ythe light for closer inspection and it looked fine. I had the same issue a couple of years ago with another set of garden lights which I just changed and they worked fine afterwards but now I want to know how this is possible or what I am over looking, any sensible suggestions?

 

[Pete999]

Did you remove the lamps when you tested IR L to N? daft question but sometimes even the simplest things are overlooked

 

[Silly Sausage]

It's a Line-Earth fault Pete.

If I'm reading this right, all your cables are fine, the fault's in the luminaires?
Sounds like the usual moisture ingress, get better quality lights.

 

[freddo]

I had a garden light insulation fault last month, the large base of one of the lanterns on a wall was filled with an ants nest!
Damp seems to get in and can cause tracking in all sorts of places. What was the lights cable type?

 

[mattg4321]

On the basis that Ive never been able to find brick lights with a 'better' rating than IP65, I'm going to assume you couldn't either. I don't fit any brick lights anymore because of this reason.

IP67 or preferably IP68 for me if its going to be 'buried' in a wall/the ground - had enough of going back for the same reasons you have.

 

[Pete999]

It's a Line-Earth fault Pete.

If I'm reading this right, all your cables are fine, the fault's in the luminaires?
Sounds like the usual moisture ingress, get better quality lights.

My mistake Archy

 

[Midwest]

This is one installation, with a earth fault. Obviously the installer thought the plastic bags might help.

 

[Barry White]

This is one installation, with a earth fault. Obviously the installer thought the plastic bags might help.
View attachment 33678View attachment 33679

Ah the ip rated plastic bag whatever next margerine tubs??

 

[Taylortwocities]

No, a plastic bottle



Picture courtesey of
@R G

 

[Midwest]

At least any moisture can drain out

 

[Taylortwocities]

They may have left the cap on!

 

[Midwest]

Doooohh!

 

[Nigel Evans]

The lights Are IP67 Aurora sealed fittings with two core rubber flex that went through a stuffing gland into a box filled with jell. In rights there should be no way moisture can get in however it sounds like the only logical explanation

 

[Midwest]

Those pics I posted were full green jel, just didn't use the right receptacle,