I just changed a plug socket for the first time carefully following the wiring instructions and making sure all bare wires were covered. I changed it from a plastic one to a metal one with a plastic casing. I isolated the fuse for the sockets in that part of the house and switched it off testing with a lamp. I changed it all, turned the fuse back on and then the rcd blew for the whole house. I flipped the rcd and restored everything and then the new socket seemed to be functioning as the lamp was lit by the new socket. There has been no problems since but I am wondering why it did this as I had isolated the socket. As it is Saturday morning the washing machine and dishwasher were on so not sure if this higher than normal usage caused the rcd to blow when I switched the socket fuse back on??? Any ideas why?? Thanks
Why did rcd blow after changing a plug socket?
- Thread starter goldbyron
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Time to isolate the supply and recheck your work, as it tripped as you restored the power after your work.
You could have damaged a conductor or caused a short circuit or maybe a pressure fault.
You could have damaged a conductor or caused a short circuit or maybe a pressure fault.
incorrectly wired
or loose wire inside the backbox
or wire trapped and crushed by screw or faceplate
most likely
pst a pic //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=129539
or loose wire inside the backbox
or wire trapped and crushed by screw or faceplate
most likely
pst a pic //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=129539
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Are you absolutely sure that you
and not that the RCD had already tripped?
Working on a single circuit can trip an RCD if the neutral touches earth, even with the MCB/fuse switched off.
and not that the RCD had already tripped?
Working on a single circuit can trip an RCD if the neutral touches earth, even with the MCB/fuse switched off.
No I am not sure that the rcd blew when I turned it back on actually. It could have happened when I was working on it. I was struggling with the wires so they could have touched. I didn't know it would trip if the fuse was switched off...
Thanks for the answers, I will re open but will wait until Monday as I am too worried that if something happens I will have to get an emergency electrician! If I mess about on Monday, and take a photo then, if something goes wrong I can get a sparky out then. LOL, a bit risk averse.
I am very much a novice and wasn't great at science at school! How does a earth and a neutral wire cause a trip in the system if the fuse is turned off? Is thee still a residue current and how comes it doesn't electrocute you?
THat's probably the reason then.
If you think you did a good job on the socket, probably not worth messing anymore, unless you get further problems
It is because all the Neutrals and Earths (CPCs) are connected together, separately at the CU and then completely at your supply or the transformer.
When you touch them together some of the current from other items being used goes through the CPCs, instead of all through the Neutrals, and so bypasses the RCD which detects the imbalance etween L and N and trips, which is what it does.
Residual current IS the amount of imbalance, in the case of RCDs between L and N.
No potential difference (volts) or very little.
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