Lights tripping

[JohnD]

We need to see your own photos from your own installation.

 

[GaryCharlesworth]

The far left 6A feeds the lights and the 63A is 4th one in and feeds all 5 MCBS

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

One of your outside lights or junction boxes has got water in it. This may for example be conducting current from live to earth in the outside cabling, and this causes an imbalance in your RCD which trips it. It is not the 63A max rating that matters, but the between 15 to 30mA leakage to earth.

 

[JohnD]

One of your outside lights or junction boxes has got water in it. This may for example be conducting current from live to earth in the outside cabling, and this causes an imbalance in your RCD which trips it. It is not the 63A max rating that matters, but the between 15 to 30mA leakage to earth.

Yes, most likely, it's very common.

The 6A is not an RCD so it does not trip due to earth leakage

It is best to have a DP switch fitted indoors for outside lighting, so it can be isolated when this fault occurs.

 

[JohnD]

the 63A is 4th one in and feeds all 5 MCBS

Are you sure? It would normally be fitted at the end of the row, not in the middle.

 

[GaryCharlesworth]

Hmm..looked at all the junction boxes .theyre IP65 further protected by pvc sheeting..both bone dry..tomorrow I'll start disconnecting the lights one by one

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Hmm..looked at all the junction boxes .theyre IP65 further protected by pvc sheeting..both bone dry..tomorrow I'll start disconnecting the lights one by one

How have you diagnosed that it is the outside lights causing the RCD to trip? Might it be one of the other 4x circuits fed via the RCD, causing the trip, don't you think?

 

[GaryCharlesworth]

No..its everytime i turn them on to collect my bike to ride to work early morning

 

[Murdochcat]

Are the bulbs in the outside lights LED ?

A failed LED bulb can introduce problems, even dead shorts. Even seen this with a halogen.

So remove the bulbs before you waste more time

 

[JohnD]

It is best to have a DP switch fitted indoors for outside lighting, so it can be isolated when this fault occurs.

If you do it now, it might save you time and inconvenience.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

No..its everytime i turn them on to collect my bike to ride to work early morning

If you are certain then - It should be fairly easy to locate the fault. By the divide and conquer method.

 

[GaryCharlesworth]

By golly I've fixed it..in the process of if disconnecting the first light I noticed a loose neutral in the second one..tightened it up and hey presto.thanks for all your help