Sockets keep tripping

[clueless456]

Hi,

I moved home a few months ago and the electrics RCD keep tripping. Sometimes it will happen every few days and sometimes will be fine for a few weeks before happening again.

I have identified the problem is coming from the utility room sockets. When it has happened before I have unplugged everything in the utility room and then the RCD switch will remain in the on position and seem to be able to plug everything back in again without any problem, although sometimes I have had to wait a few hours before the RCD switch will turn on again.

The only items used in that room are fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, and a double socket I use for kettle and sometimes toaster, but these are switched off at the plug when not in use. The washing machine and dryer both have separate fuse switches, although these also seem to be connected to the problem circuit.

I do not think overloading the sockets is a problem. I did previously have an extension lead plugged into the double socket to charge mobile phones and laptop, but have now moved those to other side of property on different sockets.

The last time this happened was in the middle of the night last night and all lights also went off. I have unplugged everything in utility and the RCD switch now remains on, but when I try to turn the sockets breaker back on it just keeps tripping everything, so sockets breaker is still off, so cannot use fridge freezer or washing machine.

Is there anything else I could try without having to call electrician out? Do these things sometimes rectify if left alone for a few hours? I cannot see anything else on that circuit to be unplugged.

Many Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[clueless456]

Can you post a photo showing the your consumer unit and the breakers you're talking about please?
It sounds like you're talking about a protective RCD tripping when you switch on the sockets circuit; not the individual MCBs for lights, sockets etc.

As @Mike Johnson posted earlier, MCB's trip on overload, RCD's trip on short circuits. Assuming the RCD that protects the individual "breakers" for lights/sockets etc. is tripping when you turn on the sockets circuit, and that it does not trip with the sockets circuit turned off - then you're back to needing to find the fault on that circuit's wiring or accessories.

I'd start as I said with looking at the outside light if you've disconnected everything else and think there's a chance it's fed from the sockets circuit.

Sorry I am not able to take a pic, but yes your first paragraph is correct.

 

[clueless456]

Sorry I am not able to take a pic, but yes your first paragraph is correct.

Managed to take a photo...

 

[nicebutdim]

Worth mentioning that continually resetting an rcd that won't hold will eventually lead to its failure.

If it fails in the closed position you might be left with the impression that the fault has been rectified, while a potentially dangerous fault still exists and could have lethal consequences.

I can appreciate you wanting to get to the bottom of this and learn what caused the issue, but repeatedly closing an rcd on a known fault isn't a recommended method of testing for reasons outlined above.

 

[clueless456]

Worth mentioning that continually resetting an rcd that won't hold will eventually lead to its failure.

If it fails in the closed position you might be left with the impression that the fault has been rectified, while a potentially dangerous fault still exists and could have lethal consequences.

I can appreciate you wanting to get to the bottom of this and learn what caused the issue, but repeatedly closing an rcd on a known fault isn't a recommended method of testing for reasons outlined above.

Thanks. I have tried to reset a few times, but not too much.

So it seems there are some other sockets not working either. I was just considering trying to move the fridge freezer into the kitchen for now, and tested one of the kitchen switches with the toaster and also a mobile phone charger to check the socket was working, but kitchen sockets not working either. And the living room sockets also not working.

This has confused me as the kitchen sockets are on a different circuit breaker, which does not trip the RCD protector when the kitchen sockets breaker is switched on. I thought the problem was just in utility room.

Lights are working and the oven / hob / microwave is working, just not the other sockets. Other sockets in the rest of the house are working ok.

I have plastic plug protectors plugged into some sockets, but the plug socket switches are switched off. Could the plastic plug protectors be a possible cause?

 

[Avo Mk8]

This has confused me as the kitchen sockets are on a different circuit breaker, which does not trip the RCD protector when the kitchen sockets breaker is switched on. I thought the problem was just in utility room.

Lights are working and the oven / hob / microwave is working, just not the other sockets. Other sockets in the rest of the house are working ok.

I would expect all the breakers to the left of the RCD to be fed from it, so if the RCD is tripped then none of those circuits will work, everything to the right should carry on working as before.
You might try unplugging everything that is on all the circuits to the left of the RCD, and seeing if the RCD will reset.
As has been said previously, a plugged in appliance, lamp, etc. with an earth to neutral fault can cause tripping even if switched off at its plug.

 

[Avo Mk8]

I have plastic plug protectors plugged into some sockets, but the plug socket switches are switched off. Could the plastic plug protectors be a possible cause?

No. They are not looked on favourably, but that's another story!

 

[clueless456]

I would expect all the breakers to the left of the RCD to be fed from it, so if the RCD is tripped then none of those circuits will work, everything to the right should carry on working as before.
You might try unplugging everything that is on all the circuits to the left of the RCD, and seeing if the RCD will reset.
As has been said previously, a plugged in appliance, lamp, etc. with an earth to neutral fault can cause tripping even if switched off at its plug.

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I would expect all the breakers to the left of the RCD to be fed from it, so if the RCD is tripped then none of those circuits will work, everything to the right should carry on working as before.
You might try unplugging everything that is on all the circuits to the left of the RCD, and seeing if the RCD will reset.
As has been said previously, a plugged in appliance, lamp, etc. with an earth to neutral fault can cause tripping even if switched off at its plug.

Thank you for the reply. But some of the circuits to the left of the tripped RCD are still working, such as the water heating and lighting?

The only things I can see that are not unplugged (but they are switched off at the sockets) are the plastic plug socket protectors in some of the sockets. Would that possibly be causing any problem?

The only other things still plugged into the kitchen / utility / living room are the oven / hob, which are still working.

 

[clueless456]

No. They are not looked on favourably, but that's another story!

Why is that? Could that possibly be the problem at all? Should I try unplugging any of the plastic protectors, or would it make no difference?

 

[tims22]

Why is that? Could that possibly be the problem at all? Should I try unplugging any of the plastic protectors, or would it make no difference?

Worth trying, although if you've unplugged everything and the problem persists you really need to get someone in to inspect and check the wiring, especially to that outside light you mentioned if it's fed from the problematic circuit.

 

[clueless456]

Worth trying, although if you've unplugged everything and the problem persists you really need to get someone in to inspect and check the wiring, especially to that outside light you mentioned if it's fed from the problematic circuit.

Surely as they are plastic (and also plug sockets not switched on) surely that could not be any problem to cause electrics to trip?... Although I will unplug them all if there is any possibility they are the cause? I would have thought that only an actual electrical item plugged in could cause electrics to trip?

If I get a ladder out to check the outside light, incase that is the problem, is there a simple way I could disconnect it? Such as, should it have wires that can simply be unplugged from the back of the actual outside light itself? Or please could you advise how I can disconnect it?

Also, is there anything on the circuits that ae still working that I should unplug - Such as sockets that are still working in other parts of house / water heating that is still working, or lights that are still working? Or would that make no difference to the problem?

 

[Avo Mk8]

Thank you for the reply. But some of the circuits to the left of the tripped RCD are still working, such as the water heating and lighting?

I am puzzled by this!
So just to clarify, the water heater MCB to the left of the RCD, and the lighting MCB to the left of the RCD, are continuing to power circuits that are still working, with the RCD off (tripped)?
Are you saying that because, for example, you still have hot water, or have you checked the light on the immersion heater/ water heater and it is still on?
Similarly with the lighting, if you switch that MCB on the left to 'off', do the working lights go off?

 

[clueless456]

I am puzzled by this!
So just to clarify, the water heater MCB to the left of the RCD, and the lighting MCB to the left of the RCD, are continuing to power circuits that are still working, with the RCD off (tripped)?
Are you saying that because, for example, you still have hot water, or have you checked the light on the immersion heater/ water heater and it is still on?
Similarly with the lighting, if you switch that MCB on the left to 'off', do the working lights go off?

No, when the RCD protector is tripped, none of the circuits to the left will work. But with the RCD protector switched on (which will only remain on if the "sockets" breaker immediately to it's left is switched off) some of the circuits to the left are still working (water heater and lighting). ?

 

[loz2754]

Why is that? Could that possibly be the problem at all? Should I try unplugging any of the plastic protectors, or would it make no difference?

Have a look at this:

https://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/

 

[westward10]

I would strongly recommend getting electrician involved. Suggesting you remove accessories is inappropriate no matter what precautions you take, the time you have been on here someone could have sorted it by now.

 

[clueless456]

Have a look at this:

https://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/

Thank you for the link, I wasnt aware of that and will make me think twice about them. What about any water damage to a socket? Would it be more dangerous with water damage to have a socket with plug protector plugged in, or without?