Old black box near consumer unit

[Lucien Nunes]

Have you noticed a tendency for the RCD to trip when heavy loads are used e.g. (heating / cooking equipment, or when large power tool motors start up? That would tend to confirm the theory of a neutral-earth short because the load creates voltage drop in the neutral which drives current through the fault to earth.

Thanks re saving switchfuse, will send PM

 

[h4r00n]

Yes, switching on fridge or freezer, microwave, kettle, hair dryer trips RCD for any plug in house. Having boiler on doesnt until maybe 10 mins in, same for phone charger and lights. Having everything switched off inc all plugs and lights also trips RCD after around 20 mins.. sometimes maybe 2 hours at most.

Will call another electrician to pop down. Thanks for all the help. I was hoping it was just the old uneccasry insulator switch which causes the issue as any nudge of it and it tripped.. but thats been bypassed and issue persists.

 

[nicebutdim]

Would also be interesting to know what level of current trips the existing RCD. Unfortunate that your electrician didn't conduct this basic test.

 

[h4r00n]

Just an update.. seems to be working. Missus said she was vacuuming when it tripped. She also mentioned she 'thinks' the plug pulled out too when vacuuming. Anyhow, I just opened the socket, checked connections and wiring it all seemed fine. Took out the 3 earths including the earth for the metal back box, looked ok. Connected it all backup and now weirdly electrics all seem fine.

 

[h4r00n]

There is a slight little kink in the neutral wire as shown in pic above but just put it all back together and electrics have been on for an hour now.. hopefully its sorted.

 

[snowhead]

Check on the reverse side of the black wire where I've marked it,, with the power off of course.
It looks like it's been trapped by the socket against the back box.