Power Keeps Cutting Out After New Fuse Box Installed

[tugbeer]

Hello everyone and thanks in advance for any advice. I hope this is an appropriate place to post this thread.

I live in a council flat and had a new bathroom fitted some months ago. A new fuse box was installed at the same time. Ever since we have had problems with the power cutting out. The same light switch always causes the power outage when the light is switched out, although it doesn't do so each time. The flat is a strange layout as we have exclusive use of what would normally be a communal stairwell (building plans were changed last minute when a dentist surgery was included downstairs). It is the upstairs light switch to this stairwell that triggers the cut each time. The light is one of those Fluorescent Bulbs that you typically get in communal areas.

I got the council to send out an electrician, who advised me that the problem was my surge protected 6-way power socket extensions and the new fuse box was too sensitive for them. I've got rid of all of these but am still having the same problem. My instinct is there is a fault due to the installation of the fuse box or perhaps the new electrics in the bathroom. However if I get the council to send out another electrician and they deem it to be a result of my own equipment I will be charged £100.

Any ideas? Is there an easy way I can locate the problem?

Thanks again.

 

[kingeri]

Is something actually tripping in the consumer unit? If so, do you know if it's an RCD, MCB or RCBO that's tripping?

 

[LeeH]

Maybe a picture of said 'trip' will help.

Normally with cases like these the fault has always been there but not detected because it wasn't on a RCD protected circuit.

Boards get replaced with no pre testing so faults are not found before hand.

It will be a hard diagnoses on the internet I'm afraid.

 

[The Ghost]

My guess, and it is a fairly wild guess, is the strapping cable positions need to be swapped around. I say that as I came across this before with two way switching and it turned out that was the problem, and swapping the positions sorted it. Wild guess though! And by the way it is only applicable to 3 core and earth cable.

 

[tugbeer]

Thankyou for the replies. I'm not sure what type of fuse board it is, please find pic attached. is the likelihood this will be a problem somewhere with the flat's wiring, or could it equally be a fault with one of my appliances? cheers.

View attachment 35531

View attachment 35532

 

[tugbeer]

ha ha, just noticed it says rcd in massive letters... it's the switch next to the red mains switch that goes.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Suggests that something on one of the circuits protected by the RCD (3 MCBs to the left of the RCD) is causing the RCD to trip.

 

[Ib≤In≤Iz]

This is a job for an earth leakage clamp meter, tester & an electrician.

Without the proper equipment/experience it's going to be very difficult trying to diagnose this over the internet.

For what it's worth, there could be a fault on a different circuit some where??

Have you tried eliminating appliances e.t.c

 

[valleybilly]

A new CU fitted with new and old mcb's ? . If this has been going on since the new board was fitted i'd be paying nothing to get this mess sorted. Going off what you said maybe the landing lighting may share the same neutral with the Dentist downstairs !. Whoever fitted the CU should fix this FOC as with anything newly installed in my book .

 

[Taylortwocities]

A new CU fitted with new and old mcb's ? . If this has been going on since the new board was fitted i'd be paying nothing to get this mess sorted.

I live in a council flat

I think that rather resolves the payment suggestion!

 

[dmxtothemax]

RCD.S do not like shared neutrals.
This is NOT a easy thing to sort out
even experienced electricians will tell you,
problems like this can involve lots of time to sort out.
From a DIY perspective all you can do is work out what trips it
then it.s up to an electrician.
Call them back !

 

[mydigitalhome]

Board indicates a panel heater on a 6A breaker how big is the heater?

 

[mattg4321]

Looks and sounds like a rough job. Lid isn't even on properly.

 

[GMES]

In the picture, the board looks like it's laid on the floor If so it will be the voltage dropping out of the top of the breakers that's causing it.

 

[Midwest]

'The same light switch always causes the power outage when the light is switched out, although it doesn't do so each time'.

It could be something as simple as arching at that switch, something normally attributed to double pole switches, but I've read, can be caused by SP switches?

 

[i=p/u]

Is stairwell lighting into your fuse box, you need to
Flick switch, walk back and forward nine times wiggle flicking in between and possibly drop out
Neutral ata a time, and
Then maybe still rub the head

 

[static zap]

Hall light syndrone , should be an halfway up the stairs classic .
(No re-work fix - dissable it - add a light fed from flat -at door)

 

[Pete999]

Borrowed N

 

[Gigsy]

Hi I am training to become an electrician. I am just putting this out there for some more experienced electricians to maybe comment on.

The op said the switch controls a florescent tube, could it be that, it is the inductor in the tube causing the RCD to trip. I am wondering if it has anything to do with the inductor in the florescent tube inducing a current in the neutral conductor when the magnetic field around it collapses, after the switch has been flipped. This could cause a current more than 30mA in the Neutral and not in the Line and therefore trip the RCD?

Is there a simple test he could use to see if this theory holds any weight?