RCD in consumer unit keeps popping, replaced with new one, still same issue

[Darkwood]

As it stands we can help you by suggesting what could be the cause and because you are DIYer we can only advise on possible appliances that you can unplug and try to eliminate but lets make it clear that you are playing with very dangerous voltages here and you have taken the cover off and exposed live busbar rails given the position of the main switch is ON.
The advice to you is try unplugging various items for say a week at a time overnight and see if you can clear the issue, if this fails then you need to get a competent person in with the correct meters to check your circuits.
Just remember at domestic voltages it can easily kill you even with one small shock so ensure all covers are back on and see if you can resolve this without the need to expose live parts.

I would also check to see what the weather is when it has tripped, is it windy, is it or has it been raining, these would possibly lead to possible causes like exterior lighting, garage/shed power etc etc I would also list everything that is on when it trips, are you running the washing machine overnight?.. it may trip on a particular part of the cycle, these are easier issues to verify of what can be a lengthy issue to diagnose and trace given it is intermittent.

 

[johnduffell]

those live busbars are missing some basic protection, there must be some form of plastic cover over them unless isolated. (turn off the power, put the lid back on)
you could easily rule a lot of things out with an insulation resistance tester and the knowledge to use it properly. Any decent electrician could do that for you. And also sort out the busbar and the shrouds for it.
If you want to save the cost get unplugging things and use trial an error to work it out.

 

[telectrix]

h

4 words describe it well "Hell of a mess"

corrected that for you.

 

[littlespark]

I just want to add - It doesn't matter if the appliances are turned on or not... the RCD can detect faults to earth from live or neutral.
Appliances plugged in but not switched on at the socket can cause trips.
Permanently connected equipment such as cookers or showers can trip RCD's off if the fault is on the supply side of their isolator switches.

As mentioned, intermittent faults like these are a pain for the best of us to find.

Buying anything electrical off ebay is hit and miss. Go to a local wholesaler / big orange shed, at least you'd get a guarantee.
Or employ the services of a spark.

 

[Cupa]

Thanks for the suggestions and advice guys. I will trial and error test by taking sockets out / switching off appliance and report back. Will also fix the busbar.

 

[Octopus]

Thanks for the suggestions and advice guys. I will trial and error test by taking sockets out / switching off appliance and report back. Will also fix the busbar.

Bad idea IMHO

Get it fixed by all means but fiddling around inside fuseboards is not a sensible idea.

I would suggest when you can't find the cause of the tripping, then ask the spark you get involved to sort it for you....

 

[MJPD29]

Replacing the rcd will do nothing but waste your money if there is a fault which is most likely

 

[static zap]

Get another rcd socket / extension and put everyones phones/chargers in quarantine zone--on over night charge !
( -Electrician will have gear and experience-)
Any signs of rodents (they do night-shift)- could spell danger.

 

[telectrix]

????

 

[westward10]

????

Buzz's cousin.

 

[static zap]

Buzz's cousin.

Buzzing noises at night , usually a problem !
--No simple explanations--

 

[123]

Better to bring in a good spark. A huge false economy changing parts randomly just to find out all you needed was a new kettle.

Was at a job a few months ago, the so called Heating Engineer on a heating fault replaced the boiler, 3 channel programmer and a few other bits to the tune of 4 grand. It was the UFH pump that was faulty all along. Idiot. The customer engaged the same idiot to change the pump. I'd have been seeking legal advice for costing me wasted thousands.

 

[Cupa]

Morning folks. I have been a recommended a good electrician but he is only able to come and see me next Thursday. Been quoted £150 for the chap to set aside half a day.

While I am waiting I would like to do more fault finding, because the issue is that as soon as the RCD trips, the house alarm goes ballistic because it thinks somebody is trying to bypass it. It went off once at 3am and today at 7am....I apologised to the neighbours by they were not happy (understandably).

Went to bed last night and before doing so, I switched off the 4 x MCBs to the right of the RCD:

1. Electric shower (we never use this, it does work, but we just don't use it)

2. Sockets first floor (on the image it is on, ignore, at the time of going to bed it was down / off)

3. Lights

4. Wall lights

So only the Ring Circuit 1st Floor and Ring Circuit Ground Floor was on. And at 7am, the RCD tripped.

My plan is to repeat the above experiment again, but this time, in addition to having the 4 x MCBs to the right of the RCD in the off position, I shall disconnect anything plugged into the mains ion the 1st floor.

I am wondering if a lose wire is touching the back box or earth? We had some screwless sockets installed about 7 months ago, perhaps that is the cause?

 

[telectrix]

the alarm shouldnot activate on loss of mains supply. think you'll find that it's back-up battery is U/S. as for your shots in the dark, you think you've eliminated the circuits that you have switched off, but you're wrong. a N-E fault would still be present.

 

[Wilko]

What does your hot water heating and central heating? Does anything come on at 7am? Is that a repeatable time for the trip? As @123 mentions, boiler pumps can cause this ...