How to find out what's tripping our switch?

darrenheaphy

Not sure if this is a stupid question or not but sporadically, over no particular time frame (could within a month or two) I notice our trip switch has been activated for plug sockets. It doesn't appear to be linked to anything in particular (i.e. it doesn't happen when something is activated). This morning for example I just noticed the microwave clock was off and then realised everything else was too!

Is there any way or process for identifying what could cause this? Any advice is appreciated!

bassey

Sounds like an over current fault, some appliance is drawing slightly more than it's rated current. Only thing I can think of without using a multi meter is to identify the circuit that is tripping and all the appliances usually plugged into the circuit, then leave one thing on for a couple of hours at a time until you find the appliance thats causing the over current.

2011

darrenheaphy wrote: »

Not sure if this is a stupid question or not but sporadically, over no particular time frame (could within a month or two) I notice our trip switch has been activated for plug sockets.

Do you loose all sockets went this device trips but the lights stay on? If so it is the RCD that is triping.

If you are just loosing a number of sockets (1 circuit) then it is most likley an MCB that is tripping.

These divices trip for different reasons. Let us know which device is causing the problem and it will be easier to assist you.

darrenheaphy

Thank you both. The switch is called ELCB (I presume that's Electric Circuit Board ...?). Does that help narrow it down somewhat? It definitely hadn't tripped at 9pm last night and I've plugged in anything that had been powered since (lights, charger etc) and it didn't trip again. Is it possible that something within the device would cause it or is this typically caused as soon as a device is plugged in?

bassey

An ELCB is an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker. I'd say it's an imbalance of the current in the live and neutral conductors, i.e some current is going to earth, this could be anything from a faulty kettle element to damaged wiring.

sparcocars

darrenheaphy wrote: »

Thank you both. The switch is called ELCB (I presume that's Electric Circuit Board ...?). Does that help narrow it down somewhat? It definitely hadn't tripped at 9pm last night and I've plugged in anything that had been powered since (lights, charger etc) and it didn't trip again. Is it possible that something within the device would cause it or is this typically caused as soon as a device is plugged in?

ELCB stands for earth leakage circuit breaker. Its just an older version of an rcd.

Its probably your immersion that is causing it to trip. Is your immersion on a timer? If so then that could be the reason why it doesn't trip all the time. Other than that a neutral in the fixed wiring of anything fed through the elcb is leaking to earth an only causes a trip when current flows in the circuit. Could also be an appliance plugged in causing it either.

Plug everything out and switch off the immersion at the switch or timer beside the immersion. Plug everthing in one by one and turn each item on. Also turn on the immersion switching between bath and sink mode. Do this with everthing until you find the culprit.

If none of the above works then turn off the mcbs in your board and leave the elcb on. Turn on each mcb one at a time and see if the elcb stays on. If it won't stay on with all mcbs off then the elcb is faulty but if it stays on and only trips when a particular mcb is turned on then the fixed wiring on that circuit may be faulty.

Note that an item would have to be plugged in or turned on, on the particular circuit of the mcb being turned on for the last test to work.

darrenheaphy

Thanks again, both. Yes, the immersion is on a timer but the trip doesn't switch every night, just every month or so. Could it still be the immersion then? In any event I shall certainly try your suggestions and see what happens, thank you.

ted1

Moisture will cause it to trip, May be the kettle, washing machine, dishwasher or immersion. Investigate these.

2011

When a circuit is functioning properly the current flowing down the phase (live) will be equal in magnitude to the current flowing back on the neutral. If these currents are not equal there may be a fault current flowing to earth. In some cases this could be as a result of a fault condition such as someone receiving an electric shock.

The RCD measures the current flowing down the phase and compares this measurement to the current flowing back on the neutral. If there is a difference in between the two currents (normally > 30mA in a domestic installation) the RCD will trip.

In my experience this fault is often cause by moisture/dampness getting to somewhere it shouldn't. So typically it will be from a faulty electrical device that uses water such as a washing machine, immersion or kettle (as other posters have suggested).

An intermittent fault such as this can be hard to find without having access to the proper test equipment or having the necessary experience.

There are a few "tricks" that can be employed to find this fault such as installing an additional RCD and moving it from circuit to circuit to work out where the fault is, but this requires a certain level of competence.

Therefore it may be best for the OP to get a professional in. IMHO the best course of action would be to contact a registered electrical contractor (ECSSA or RECI).

darrenheaphy

Thanks again guys. I have the freezer plugged into an extension cable (like this) in our basement, something that might be getting moisture so will change to a long plug cable instead.

I shall certainly try the systematic approach some of you suggested and failing that will certainly get a pro in. I'll let you know how it goes for the benefit of the archives should anyone else search for something similar again!