New single light circuit tripping RCCB on socket circuit.

[Colin McLachlan]

I'm not an electrician, but have been successfully doing DIY electrical work for 50 years, including complete house rewiring before the days of RCCBs.

I've just moved to a house built in 2000, and one cupboard (ironically the one with the consumer unit in it) does not have a light. I installed a simple circuit direct from the lighting MCB to a pull cord and a pendant fitting. There is no RCCB covering the lighting circuits. Everything is fine till I switch on the light, then the RCCB for the socket circuits trips. It doesn't trip the MCB. If I use a tungsten bulb, the filament flashes briefly, then goes out, but if I use an LCD bulb, the bulb stays on after the RCCB trips (remember, the RCCB that is tripping only covers the sockets).

I've carefully checked all my wiring, and can't see any problem. I've swapped the bulb holder with another new one, to no effect. The wiring in the ceiling rose clearly looks OK. The pull cord is single pole, and I've connected the earth, and used a strip connector for the neutral. All the cabling is new.

Any ideas, please?

 

[westward10]

Have you connected the neutral conductor to the correct neutral bar at the consumer unit.

 

[Johnv26]

 

[casperLennon]

Surely with your 50 years of successful electrical experience this should be a breeze to fix

 

[DPG]

Do you have the appropriate test equipment?

 

[Colin McLachlan]

Thanks Westward 10, I didn't think it would matter, so just connected to the nearest one. I'll go back and check, and try that.

I'm afraid my experience doesn't include RCCBs, and the only testing equipment I have is an electrician's screwdriver and one of those plugs that checks the wiring of a socket .

 

[Colin McLachlan]

Wow, thanks Westward . Such a simple solution, that would never have occurred to me. So far that's sorted it - if it recurs I'll let you know.

Many thanks,

Colin.

 

[Andy78]

Do you have the appropriate test equipment?

Fingers crossed when energising should suffice.

 

[littlespark]

You learn something new everyday, even after 50 years of diy experience.

 

[Toneyz]

Must buy one of those bang test meters!

 

[Andrew Hunter]

Must buy one of those bang test meters!

Theres one there in the botom of your tool bag somewhere every one gets one on day one of their "How to breath training". Look very close i am sure you will find it still in its brand new state unwrapped.

 

[ackbarthestar]

It seems that someone wants to keep this thread operational. I can see the relavence in the fact that the opening poster would benefit from reading up about RCCBs, RCDs, RCBOs and the like to have some appreciation about the level of protection and reasons they are now obligatory in domestic installations.