Hedge trimmer shocker!!

[Jackrae]

Back to basics :-

Exactly what are we considering here. The Op started with an RCD then it became an MCB. Perhaps if the OP could supply a photo of his consumer unit content and a photo of the offending device then he might get some constructive and informed comment.

I raised the possibility of an MCB against an RCD simply because some of the information didn't seem to stack up. Facts are essential to getting informed comment.

 

[JohnW2]

Back to basics :- Exactly what are we considering here. The Op started with an RCD then it became an MCB. Perhaps if the OP could supply a photo of his consumer unit content and a photo of the offending device then he might get some constructive and informed comment. ... I raised the possibility of an MCB against an RCD simply because some of the information didn't seem to stack up. Facts are essential to getting informed comment.

I think it's probably all a bit academic. As the OP has more-or-less acknowledged, he is really going to need to get an electrician to determine whether there is any persisting fault on the circuit and to replace any device (MCB or RCD) that may prove to need replacing. Whilst I agree that we would need more information if we were to offer any (guess at) 'informed comment', I personally doubt that would alter the situation or help the OP much.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Jonboy18111]

What make?

I Would say the MCB is damaged. You can try giving it a good tap and flicking it on and off vigourously. This may get the mechanism back working. An MCB is around a fiver, you could fit if confident, or an hours labour from a spark.

ABSOLUTE LEGEND!! Give it a good tap with a wooden spoon and hay presto we have life!!! MCB is up.... Thank you so much, i had booked an electrician to come tommorow, but seeming i knew what the fault was because i cut through a wire myself, should i still get the circuit checked? The plug which the hedge trimmer was plugged into looks fine behind, as i have had the cover off.

 

[Jackrae]

JW2
Agreed, but there are perhaps lessons to be learned to the benefit of others. that's what continuity of education is all about. There's nothing wrong with learning from mistakes, but better is they are the mistakes of others.

 

[EFLImpudence]

ABSOLUTE LEGEND!! Give it a good tap with a wooden spoon and hay presto we have life!!! MCB is up.... Thank you so much, i had booked an electrician to come tommorow, but seeming i knew what the fault was because i cut through a wire myself, should i still get the circuit checked? The plug which the hedge trimmer was plugged into looks fine behind, as i have had the cover off.

Ah - Percussion engineering is quite often effective.

I would advise that you, at least, get the MCB ? replaced.
It is obviously not right.

 

[JohnW2]

JW2 Agreed, but there are perhaps lessons to be learned to the benefit of others. that's what continuity of education is all about. There's nothing wrong with learning from mistakes, but better is they are the mistakes of others.

In general, I couldn't agree more. However, in this particular case, I'm not at all sure that getting confirmation that we were talking about an MCB, and not an RCD, would have enabled any of us to learn very much, or to help to OP more than we have - hence my comment. I am, after all, just about the last person who could be accused of discouraging discussion As you imply, almost any discussion has an educational value of one sort or another.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

i had booked an electrician to come tommorow, but seeming i knew what the fault was because i cut through a wire myself, should i still get the circuit checked?

Let me turn that around and ask you this:

You have an MCB which would not turn on when it should until you whacked it with a wooden spoon. How sure are you that it will operate properly if ever you need it to?

 

[JohnW2]

I would advise that you, at least, get the MCB ? replaced. It is obviously not right.

Indeed, but I'm not so sure about your "? replaced". Given that testing it is effectively impossible, replacement would seem to me to be the only sensible course.

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

The question mark was only intended to relate to 'MCB' as there seemed to be some doubt.

They do normally go after the item in question.

Although I don't think it is an RCD.

 

[JohnW2]

The question mark was only intended to relate to 'MCB' as there seemed to be some doubt.

Ah, I see - then we are agreed. In fact, even though I also doubt it was an RCD, even if it were, and despite the fact that an RCD can be tested, I'd still be very inclined to replace it after it had required 'percussion treatment' to get it back into service.

They do normally go after the item in question.

Ah! In normal/correct English, they certainly do. However, I'm perhaps giving away some of my background, since I was initially brought up in a profession in which a question mark before a word, to mean "possible" or "possibly" was a very widespread practice in note-taking and recording of possible/tentative conclusions - e.g. "? broken", "? overheated", "? overloaded" etc

Kind Regards, John