Random socket tripping

[fuzdrum]

Hi,

Our breaker box is located in the cellar. We experience random socket trips throughout the year. Summertime seems to be the best when we can go months without an issue.

Autumn/winter time is awful. We have had 3 trips within the last 24 hours. No new appliance has been switched on when the trips occur.

Could it be a faulty RCD? Is it the location of the breaker box? Please help.

 

[SparkyChick]

Amazed by some of the diagnoses on here today, dehumidifiers and outside sockets. If the outside socket is spured off the ring main then what makes you automatically be certain it’s that?

Opening the backs of sockets and taking a peak instead of just testing the circuit. Amazing.

I think thus far the advice provided to the OP (who isn't a spark and therefore doesn't have appropriate gear to carry out the kind of testing you're suggesting) has been pretty good and quite well reasoned given the information available.

The outside socket, if it has been fully waterproofed is a reasonably good suggestions and I don't think anyone has stated categorically it's anything in particular, they have all offered advice to the OP as to how to progress finding the fault.

So, if you've got nothing constructive to add to the thread, walk on by, go find another thread to read.

 

[DefyG]

From what you describe it does sound 'weather related', and not a faulty RCD or accumulation of earth leakage currents.
If nothing plugged into the RCD external socket which is also further protected by a RCD on the CU and no other external cables/dst'n ccts (Shed/Garage) maybe a junction box/faulty joint that is getting damp/wet during the colder autumn months? but the external socket is most vulnerable to moisture ingress so check there first.

 

[DefyG]

From what you describe it does sound 'weather related', and not a faulty RCD or accumulation of earth leakage currents.
If nothing plugged into the RCD external socket which is also further protected by a RCD on the CU and no other external cables/dst'n ccts (Shed/Garage) maybe a junction box/faulty joint that is getting damp/wet during the colder autumn months? but the external socket is most vulnerable to moisture ingress so check there first.