Strange fault

[bodders22]

Hi All,

I was called out yesterday to a customer that has been having trouble with the electric tripping on various circuits (16th edition mem2000 board)
When I got there I had a quick look and couldn't find anything obvious anyway cut a long story short did a full eicr, all circuits good.
She's phoned the dno no reported problems in the area.
Ive explained it's probably something they're using as it never trips when they're out, or maybe could be a water leak after a shower etc, but still no pattern.
I've isolated the outside lights and it still occurred last night.
The strange bit though is its the non rcd side and she's claiming the main switch tripped along with some mcb's.
I thought perhaps a faulty switch so replaced with one I had in the van but as I said it happened again ! Is this possible as I've never come across a switch that switches itself off and no its definatley not an rcd. It's 1990's house and doesn't appear to have been messed around with too much.
Confused please help!!
:rolleyes4:

 

[44ALLAN]

It's just a switch mate and doesn't trip.
Internal mechanism might be shot though causing it to open but you would tell that when closing it surely !

 

[bodders22]

I know mate it feels fine when closing, def think someones messing around.

 

[Guitarist]

Maybe someone thinks that green means "go".
There is no way I can think of that all the MCB's, plus the main switch would end up in the off position unless..
a) Someone is messing
b) There is a ghost

You have done all that you possibly can, so maybe suggest to the homeowner that they get someone else to come and have a look at it.
I know you won't want to walk away from the problem, but I really can't see how it is anything other than human interferance.

 

[bodders22]

I'm gonna tell her to not let anyone use the toilet downstairs lock the door (its got the lock you can operate from outside) and see what happens tonight.

 

[44ALLAN]

I know mate it feels fine when closing, def think someones messing around.

I would disconnect the main switch inside the consumer(without telling them) and just have the rcd covering the board....I'm guessing there's another isolator on the tails?
If it opens again then someone is extracting the proverbial mate lol

edit
and put another mcb in, but not wired up, and see if that trips lol

 

[bodders22]

Thats a good shout 44Allan there is another isolator in the meter cupboard I'll try that today I think.

 

[Rockingit]

^^^ was going to say pretty much the same thing....short out the switch out of circuit, you're not leaving the install any less 'protected' temporarily, see what happens. If it only happens night, might be someone sleep walking?? Kids do do this!

 

[zap]

Get some carbon paper and deposit carbon on all the switches. If it happens again get her to check her daughter's hands for evidence.

 

[DPG]

Get a a camera in there. Its the only way youre gonna prove exactly what's going on and who's doing what. It's also going to save you visiting every day. Unless you want to visit every day of course ;-) daz

 

[bodders22]

Cheers Rockingit, It's been happening between 5pm and 10pm at night which I think is when the daughter goes to bed, and it never happens when their not in.
So definatley points to her !

 

[Tuttle]

Maybe someone thinks that green means "go".
There is no way I can think of that all the MCB's, plus the main switch would end up in the off position unless..
a) Someone is messing
b) There is a ghost

You have done all that you possibly can, so maybe suggest to the homeowner that they get someone else to come and have a look at it.
I know you won't want to walk away from the problem, but I really can't see how it is anything other than human interferance.

Who's she gonna call? Ghostbusters! :60:

 

[Silly Sausage]

I take the unit has a door.
Just duct tape the thing up and see what happens!

Someone's taking the proverbial here.

 

[44ALLAN]

Get a a camera in there. Its the only way youre gonna prove exactly what's going on and who's doing what. It's also going to save you visiting every day. Unless you want to visit every day of course ;-) daz

A photo of the mother and daughter would help here
Bodders has been going to this fault for 3 year seemingly:drool5:

 

[dan86]

slightly off topic here, but how are you charging for this job? you seem to have been back a fair few times now

 

[bodders22]

Hi Dan,

I've only been twice once for a quick look which I didn't charge for, and the eicr which i did, the rest so far has been over the phone, anything other visits I'll just charge my normal hourly rate. cheers
Lee

 

[bodders22]

Lets see what occurs tonight !!
Told her to call me if it trips and not to remove the tape

 

[dan86]

View attachment 17786
Lets see what occurs tonight !!
Told her to call me if it trips and not to remove the tape

lmao! EPIC!

 

[ian.settle1]

Tell her to leave the gin bottle alone

 

[44ALLAN]

Tell her to leave the gin bottle alone

The mother or the daughter:54:

 

[john pen]

They haven’t hand anylights fitted with electronic chokes fitted recently as these can sometimestrip mcbs as I had some in a couple of lights and had to put a type c mcb in

 

[Rampantchilli]

They haven’t hand anylights fitted with electronic chokes fitted recently as these can sometimestrip mcbs as I had some in a couple of lights and had to put a type c mcb in

bet they dont cause the main switch to turn off

 

[decolad69]

The mother or the daughter:54:By the end of the week it will be all of you ! Check the deeds of the house was it owned by Doris Stokes?

 

[bodders22]

^^^lol no call out yet

 

[dan86]

iirc- you mentioned it happens between 5-10pm? what are you gonna do if it goes later tonight out of interest?

 

[bodders22]

I've got a plan,I've hid a key for the padlock I'll tell her when she rings hopefully she won't though, because if it trips with that lot over it I ain't got a clue !!

 

[decolad69]

I've got a plan,I've hid a key for the padlock I'll tell her when she rings hopefully she won't though, because if it trips with that lot over it I ain't got a clue !! Take a lady companion with you !

 

[dan86]

9pm. no call yet I take it?!

 

[bodders22]

No still at home Dan, I'm afraid to ring though just in case !

 

[44ALLAN]

I've got a plan,I've hid a key for the padlock I'll tell her when she rings hopefully she won't though, because if it trips with that lot over it I ain't got a clue !!

If that switch trips mate you want to be down the patents office 8.30 sharp :clap:

 

[bodders22]

Surprise surprise no faults occurred last night!
Customer still not believing its her daughter though "must of fixed itself!"

 

[44ALLAN]

Surprise surprise no faults occurred last night!
Customer still not believing its her daughter though "must of fixed itself!"

Damn................could have been worth millions that.........a switch that trips with no tripping mechanism in it lol

 

[Guest111]

Have you access to a uv lamp? if so this is an easy one to locate,coat the main switch in the powder used for tracing drains, this shows up bright green under UV light then when you get the next call go out straight away,if the daughter has UV dye on her hands it,s her throwing the switch.

 

[dan86]

The question here is why the heck would she flick the switch? especially this many times and not say anything :/ how old is the daughter out of curiosity?

 

[zap]

maybe she's sleep walking as suggested earlier in this thread

 

[marcusone]

Definitely Poltergiest activity. Not unusual when there is a teenager in the house. My two never know why their bedrooms look like bomb sites.

 

[bodders22]

The question here is why the heck would she flick the switch? especially this many times and not say anything :/ how old is the daughter out of curiosity?

The daughter is about 11, it only happens when she is up, nothing happens when there all in bed.
Just found out there is a new man on the scene enough of a trigger maybe ?

 

[Guitarist]

The daughter is about 11, it only happens when she is up, nothing happens when there all in bed.
Just found out there is a new man on the scene enough of a trigger maybe ?

Certainly a good way of getting attention if she got caught.

 

[bartkusal]

I dont think it is sleep walking. Sleepwalking generally occurs during the first third of the night (between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.)

It has to be just messing about...

 

[zap]

I would have thought she'd be put to bed earlier than that! I used to sleepwalk at that age and my missus says I still do after a heavy night:moon:

 

[bodders22]

Yes it is quite late I agree all mine are all in bed way before that !!, I don't think it could be sleepwalking as she'd have to go through the front room to get to the cu unless it is the mum of course !