Kitchen Ring Main Problem

[PhilCumbria]

Hi all i have a problem on a kitchen ring that has been reconnected by a different firm on a complete rewire. The building has been rewired apart from a kitchen that was joined onto existing wiring. Problem is, one I don't have a ring and two, I get power but then it goes off after an hour or so, I play with the cable at the cu and it comes back on, but then goes off??

 

[ipf]

Sounds like the kitchen fitters have been involved.
Any test certs involved for the 'complete rewire'?
I wouldn't recommend 'playing with a cable at the cu' for getting a result.

 

[DPG]

Sounds like you need to get them back to check it out.

 

[littlespark]

If you can “play” with the cable at the cu, and it comes back on…. Sounds like a loose connection. Get whoever worked on that back to put it right.

Not wanting to scare you unnecessarily, but a loose electric cable can lead to overheating, and then a fire.

 

[ipf]

What is your position in all this?

 

[brianmoooore]

Could this be a MCB being overloaded and tripping out? Being able to be reset after it has cooled down.
Maybe a RFC that has been split into two radials?

 

[ipf]

Could this be a MCB being overloaded and tripping out? Being able to be reset after it has cooled down.
Maybe a RFC that has been split into two radials?

Could be anything, even another kitchen RFC carved up by a 'fitter'. A kitchen being joined onto existing wiring in a 'complete rewire' sounds weird.
Some more info, Phil?

 

[captaincaveman]

Why do you say you don't have a ring? If only one or two conductors aren't continuous end to end then there's a bad connection somewhere and ergo your problem.

Also, if it works when moving stuff in the CCU then there maybe a bad connection with the ends of the RFC into the MCB or the Buzzbar is not inserted into the MCB properly.

Next time it goes dead try voltage testing the output of the MCB

Note - There may be more than one issue! wouldn't be the first time...

 

[timhoward]

From previous posts I assume Phil is the sparks trying to solve the problem.
I'd want to know why moving a cable changes anything as a top priority. To state the obvious I assume you've checked the CU connections themselves are sound. Finding the first point on that leg and checking connections and all permutations of continuity and IR with the cable in various positions would be high on my list. Could be a damaged section of cable or loose connection(s).

Did you measure the ring integrity at the CU or at a socket? Check any connection you've touched.
Does the entire ring go dead sometimes or just a section of it?

 

[Markyd]

When you play with the ring at the cu.....Get a sparky and a fire extinguisher

 

[PhilCumbria]

When you play with the ring at the cu.....Get a sparky and a fire extinguisher

Found it thanks, was the joiner and a nail gun!!

 

[brianmoooore]

was the joiner and a nail gun!!

If I could uninvent anything on a building site, the nail gun would be it! Joints vary from hardly tacked together at all to something that would survive a nuclear blast. The nails bend in all directions when fired in. I've seen them bend through 180 degrees and come back out of the surface of the wood, if they encounter a knot.
With the Part M regulations for switch height, the noggin in a stud wall is often right in the way, and these things don't make it easy to modify it. All the studwork I've built has been held together with 5 x 80mm screws.

 

[gloy]

One thing that I have not seen mentioned. If you do discover a ring of such be careful that the ring hot wires trace back to the same MCB, I have come across many circuits where the hots feed back into different MCB making the circuit live even though you think the circuit has been isolated. A simple plug in circuit tester will tell you if this is the case, before you further explore. Could be a loose connection where a cable is acting like a bi metal strip, when it heats up (due to a possible arch) it moves away from its contact, as already mentioned this type of fault can cause cables to burn out, and fires. GET IT CHECKED BY A PRO (if not one yourself)

 

[Mike Johnson]

One thing that I have not seen mentioned. If you do discover a ring of such be careful that the ring hot wires trace back to the same MCB, I have come across many circuits where the hots feed back into different MCB making the circuit live even though you think the circuit has been isolated. A simple plug in circuit tester will tell you if this is the case, before you further explore. Could be a loose connection where a cable is acting like a bi metal strip, when it heats up (due to a possible arch) it moves away from its contact, as already mentioned this type of fault can cause cables to burn out, and fires. GET IT CHECKED BY A PRO (if not one yourself)

See post 11.

 

[thetorrancee]

You need to hire electricians who can pinpoint and fix electrical issues, It’s good to know some proper ways to reduce the risk of electrical problems. I had no idea that some of these things could help keep you safe.