RCB Tripped out.

[ronk]

At some time last night RCB tripped on the main board and all the sockets upstairs and down went off - both of those circuit have trip fuses.

This has happened before but very very rarely. The usual things are on standby or plugged in (fridges TVs Shower supply Timers
Etc) so I suspect it’s going to be a nightmare to identify the problem.

I did nothing more than set it to on again at 0300 without unplugging/switching off anything and it’s all functioning without a hiccup.

 

[PDJ]

Usually heating appliances like kettle, washing machines etc things that heat up and have water in them are likely items

If it resets it is a case of wait and see if it gets worse so you can unplug every thing then plug them back in one at a time until one trips it out then you know it was that one

Worst case is a damaged cable hidden it the roof or wall damaged by rodents

 

[pvr]

Any storms? Mine used to go at every thunderstorm until I replaced the RCB with a slower responding one. Never had the problem since.

 

[ronk]

It’s a wait and see period now !
I suppose it’s fortunate that we are unlikely to be away overnight so we won’t be blessed with a freezer full of gunk.

I would rather see a fault that could be identified rather than an intermittent situation.

 

[buzyg]

Did it rain in the night. Could be water getting in somewhere. Do you have external lights that come on from motion detection, on the front door, garden, garage etc?

 

[ronk]

Did it rain in the night. Could be water getting in somewhere. Do you have external lights that come on from motion detection, on the front door, garden, garage etc?

No - it was a still, dry night, no lights switching.
I think I will do one room at a time switching everything off/ unplugging and play the waiting game.

Im surprised the fuze trips didn’t go ? Or are RCD more sensitive?

 

[PDJ]

Or are RCD more sensitive?

Simple answer is yes they are long answer look on google as I am not good at writing really long answers

 

[buzyg]

Or are RCD more sensitive?

Simple answer is yes they are long answer look on google as I am not good at writing really long answers

As above. Yes they are. Fuse type devices can weaken over time and then blow, if the current is large enough they blow quickly. RCDs devices are more consistent and should trip at the same point each time an earth occurs typically well bellow 200ms.

 

[ronk]

There’s the usual stuff plugged in - plus the things we tend to forget about - phone chargers, timers , computers

 

[ph001]

RCD's work in a very different way to fuses and are thousands of times more sensitive! Basically an RCD looks at the current going out via the live and returning via the neutral. If there is even a small difference in current (as small as 15mA or 30mA) then it assumes some must have disappeared somewhere to earth (i.e. an insulation breakdown) and it cuts the circuit.

Most electrical equipment have things called Y-capacitors in them (capacitors that sit between live and earth) to attenuate electrical noise. If these go leaky it can play havoc with RCD's. Very low grade y-capacitors are commonly fitted to fluorescent light ballasts or any kind of cheap DC power supply / charger.

 

[ronk]

RCD's work in a very different way to fuses and are thousands of times more sensitive! Basically an RCD looks at the current going out via the live and returning via the neutral. If there is even a small difference in current (as small as 15mA or 30mA) then it assumes some must have disappeared somewhere to earth (i.e. an insulation breakdown) and it cuts the circuit.

Most electrical equipment have things called Y-capacitors in them (capacitors that sit between live and earth) to attenuate electrical noise. If these go leaky it can play havoc with RCD's. Very low grade y-capacitors are commonly fitted to fluorescent light ballasts or any kind of cheap DC power supply / charger.

Thanks - As a mechanical Engineer I appreciate that explanation.
I now think I will unplug any phone chargers as a first step. I do have a few cheapo / non Apple units kicking about which tend to be ignored.

 

[exdos]

I've had this problem in the past and sometimes it seems to be a transient problem which just needs switching the consumer unit back on and no repeat, which leaves you no wiser as to why the power went off. Last year I had a problem which I was able to identify to one circuit; the ring main in my conservatory. After differential diagnosis, I identified the problem was located to one socket outlet. The socket had been installed without a rubber grommet into the pattress box, and the neutral wire had been bent in a way in which the black PVC sheathing had been compressed and had now turned grey in colour (over 20years), due to compression, and this was sufficient to cause a short circuit. I wrapped insulation tape around the greyed wire and refitted the socket and since then the problem has not reoccurred.

The other identifiable problems have been incandescent light bulbs blowing and defective steam irons.

 

[ronk]

As soon as, or if I find what caused the trip I will post!
The prime suspect at this time is a halogen reading lamp. Its one of those touch sensitive things.
Its only a hunch but I will unplug it tonight.

 

[MrPT]

Good luck with your search. When I had something similar it turned out to be interstitial damp in a metal wall box glued into thermaline behind a fitted wardrobe (with no vapour barrier). Took bloody ages to figure out!

 

[TitanTim]

My fusebox dates from 1971 good old fashioned ceramic fuse wire cartridges have to say though trying to replace 5amp fuse wire can be a bit of a pain when it's a thickness of a hair especially in the dark. Upside is never get any tripping electrics

Tim.

 

[ronk]

My fusebox dates from 1971 good old fashioned ceramic fuse wire cartridges have to say though trying to replace 5amp fuse wire can be a bit of a pain when it's a thickness of a hair especially in the dark. Upside is never get any tripping electrics


Tim.

The fuses have been ok on the board Tim, it’s the RCD that trips out. Ok it’s a PITA at the moment but it will prevent a fatality.

 

[TitanTim]

My fusebox dates from 1971 good old fashioned ceramic fuse wire cartridges have to say though trying to replace 5amp fuse wire can be a bit of a pain when it's a thickness of a hair especially in the dark. Upside is never get any tripping electrics


Tim.

The fuses have been ok on the board Tim, it’s the RCD that trips out. Ok it’s a PITA at the moment but it will prevent a fatality.

Hopefully you will find out the cause of the tripping Ron

I remember as a child taking the top of a plug, plugging it back in switching it on and prodding it with a screwdriver, I don't ever want to feel that sensation ever again

Tim.

 

[ph001]

...almost as good as the knife in the electric toaster to retrieve your stuck toasted teacake!

 

[N4LLY]

...almost as good as the knife in the electric toaster to retrieve your stuck toasted teacake!

Done that, flew back through the kitchen door :lol: Hell of a kick in the chest