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RCD switch keeps tripping

  • 11-09-2023 4:08pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35


    Hi there I don’t know if anyone still looks at this section but here goes. The RCD switch in my fuse box has tripped and it won’t go back up. It’s indicating that my sockets downstairs are the problem but I have pulled all the plugs out of the sockets and nothing- still tripping. Any ideas?



Answers

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 506 ✭✭✭HorseSea


    No electrical experience here, just a consumer, but I had a similar issue a few years ago and the local electrician checked around and said it could just be the RCD switch itself on the fuse board, installed new one and no problem since. He said they go rarely, but sometimes it's as simple as that. Not a DIY job though.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,766 ✭✭✭allinthehead


    Any rain where you are? Outside socket etc.

    You could try putting all the mcb's the rcd controls in the down position and see if the rcd will go back up. Then put the mcb's up one by one.

    If that fails then you need an electrician.

    ****, sunny ****.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 209 ✭✭Bruthal.


    Turn off all the socket mcbs. Then see will the RCD reset. If so, turn on socket mcbs 1 at a time and see will one cause the RCD to trip.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 groovyger


    Thanks guys. Think it’s an electrician job



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,828 ✭✭✭meercat


    Make sure your immersion is turned off



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 groovyger


    It is



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,828 ✭✭✭meercat


    Why do you say it’d indicating down stairs sockets



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 groovyger


    Because that’s the switch that keeps tripping the RCD



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,828 ✭✭✭meercat


    It’s most likely a neutral to earth fault

    it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the faulty circuit

    it may trip when it’s drawing a load

    move an appliance up stairs and try it in a working socket (kettle or toaster) and see does it trip


    also turn your heating off (sometimes the pump may go faulty)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 groovyger


    This is my circuit board. As you can see the RCD is in the on position and one of the smaller switches is in the off position. The switch that is down says downstairs sockets. As soon as I go to put it up the RCD gets tripped.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 groovyger


    My kitchen sockets are on a different switch and all of them are okay??



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,828 ✭✭✭meercat


    Is there an outside socket (as others have asked)

    or power to a shed from this circuit



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 groovyger


    There is power to the shed but I don’t know where that comes from. My ex husband did it when we first moved into the house



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 groovyger


    I don’t have any outdoor sockets



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,084 ✭✭✭Mike3549


    Theres a big chance that its sockets in the shed, connected to the downstairs sockets line.

    How your fridge? We had an rcd fuse tripping, at first it was once a day for 2-3days, then the frequency increased to every 30mins. Found out that it was something connected to the sockets and then my daughter asked me if I can fix the fridge? Problem found.

    Try disconnecting everything downstairs. If its still tripping, then probably its sockets in the shed.

    If not, them try connecting some appliances, fridge, tv, broadband router etc...



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,720 ✭✭✭Lenar3556


    What would be the prospects of getting him back to have a look?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 550 ✭✭✭chrisd2019


    what is connected in the shed?

    disconnect everything and check the switch again.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 groovyger


    Oh I would say absolutely nonexistent



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 groovyger


    The only thing connected in the shed is the tumble dryer. I don’t use it very often and we did try taking the plug out but the switch still tripped



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 groovyger


    Thank you guys for all your help. I eventually had to get an electrician out and it was the wiring for the shed that was causing the problem. All sorted now



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 999 ✭✭✭gabbo is coming


    Hi, I have an armoured cable.gojng out.to a garden room. Only there's a join in it, under the garden.


    When it used rain heavy, it would trip and wouldn't let a reset until it had dried out


    Three months ago I did a job on it, got a real ip65 junction box. Thr other day, it tripped again, for thr 1st time


    Now it keeps tripping, but unlike before, it will stay on for 15 seconds and then trip. Is it the same issue? Seems more like load?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,957 ✭✭✭kirk.


    Did you use a proper resin joint

    The stuff you mix and pour in

    Regular IP joint boxes are no good over time



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 999 ✭✭✭gabbo is coming


    Have a very good junction box, looking to get gel to fill it


    Hard to purchase



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,957 ✭✭✭kirk.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 999 ✭✭✭gabbo is coming


    Gonna pump this in to a wiska box



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,957 ✭✭✭kirk.


    Was it damp inside the box

    Haven't seen that stuff before



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 999 ✭✭✭gabbo is coming


    I've yet to take a look, but was with previous box



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,974 ✭✭✭whizbang


    I wouldnt go sealing in the moisture just yet...

    Have you a sensor light or something timed on the outside circuit? 15 secs everytime is telling you something.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 999 ✭✭✭gabbo is coming


    Hi, definitely moisturise in the box, it had a load of visible water in it. Dried it and sorted. Here's the stuff I bought




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,100 ✭✭✭Comer1


    I had this problem for years, absolute nightmare. Everyone said it is very unlikely to be the the switch itself so I changed many items in the house. Got in an electrician and he said the same but I asked him to change the switch anyway. Problem solved.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 506 ✭✭✭HorseSea


    Yeap, that's what I said way back in original reply to OP.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,957 ✭✭✭kirk.


    You might get lucky with a less sensitive RCD but ime there's nearly always an underlying issue

    You've a better chance of rcbos solving the issue cos they're splitting up the leakage .More expensive though.

    Reading the ops description there that's usually a fault anyhow



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