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

[Bobster]

Did the tripping start after the sockets were worked on?

If so, you've missed giving us some important information.

Like having a mechanic look at a noise on a car then after time investigating, telling them that it started after you hit a pothole.

 

[Bobster]

Did the tripping start after the sockets were worked on?

If so, you've missed giving us some important information.

Like having a mechanic look at a noise on a car then after time investigating, telling them that it started after you hit a pothole.

 

[Cupa]

Thanks for the replies. In the summer months, the hot water is controlled manually. We have a big tank and there is only 2 of us, so we tend to warm it up once a day and then switch off completely. So there is nothing programmed to come on or off boiler wise.

The sockets were done some months back as I said. There were never any issues and no tripping. This issue only materialised in the last week. We have not bought or plugged in any new equipment during this time.

 

[johnduffell]

You might want to get the alarm put into its own rcbo to reduce the chance of issues. And also make sure the battery is good as mentioned above.

 

[acvc]

What are all those black neutrals doing on the right-hand neutral busbar?

 

[streamer]

What are all those black neutrals doing on the right-hand neutral busbar?

If you look closely you'll see that the RCD supplies the two MCBs to the left of it as well as those to the right.

 

[Cupa]

Update for you guys. Went to bed with the shower, first floor sockets, lights and wall lights MCBs all in the down position and all plugs taken out of their respective sockets - result? Still trips the RCD.

Next step was to try and see if perhaps it is one of the MCBs to the left of the RCD: ring circuit ground and first floor.

I noticed that when the ring circuit ground floor MCB was down and everything was unplugged, there were no issues and the RCD didn't trip. However, and not always, but sometimes when I would flick that particular MCB up (we keep our bins and recycling in the garage, which has an electric door and this operates on that circuit), the RCD would immediately trip....does that tell us anything new or useful?

 

[Risteard]

Update for you guys. Went to bed with the shower, first floor sockets, lights and wall lights MCBs all in the down position and all plugs taken out of their respective sockets - result? Still trips the RCD.

Next step was to try and see if perhaps it is one of the MCBs to the left of the RCD: ring circuit ground and first floor.

I noticed that when the ring circuit ground floor MCB was down and everything was unplugged, there were no issues and the RCD didn't trip. However, and not always, but sometimes when I would flick that particular MCB up (we keep our bins and recycling in the garage, which has an electric door and this operates on that circuit), the RCD would immediately trip....does that tell us anything new or useful?

You (who has randomly replaced parts with ones of unknown origin from eBay!) are not competent to be diagnosing this issue. That is what this (and everything else you have written) tells us.

Contact an Electrician. That is the ONLY answer to this. Stop messing about with it - you clearly don't know anywhere near enough (if anything) about it.

 

[davesparks]

I noticed that when the ring circuit ground floor MCB was down and everything was unplugged, there were no issues and the RCD didn't trip. However, and not always, but sometimes when I would flick that particular MCB up (we keep our bins and recycling in the garage, which has an electric door and this operates on that circuit), the RCD would immediately trip....does that tell us anything new or useful?

It suggests that something plugged in to that circuit might be the source of the issue, or it might not. As this is an intermittent issue it may just be coincidence that the RCD didn’t trip whilst that circuit was off.
It could also be the case that the RCD is now broken as a result of being reset and tripping so many times on a fault.

 

[Cupa]

Thanks Dave - do RCDs have a shelf life?

 

[telectrix]

Thanks Dave - do RCDs have a shelf life?

not a shelf life as such, but once installed they get dust in them, mechanisn sticks if not tested regularly, and if they keep tripping due to a fault, sometimes they get wore out. a bit like me.

 

[Octopus]

OP ............. you stated you had a spark coming on Thursday, which I presume was today - what did they find?

 

[johnduffell]

Is that really a thing? Rcds can only trip umpteen times before they get worn out?
I'd have thought they'd be designed to break their rated load 1000+ times before suffering any failure due to wear.
However I'll agree with the overall point that the op is not going to solve it quickly through trial and error!

 

[MJPD29]

Agree with Murdoch, what did your 'spark' come up with?

 

[Cupa]

Spark is coming next week guys, not this week.