socket in garage has failed .....

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Then this would suggest a fault at the RCD or a conductor out at the socket.
Really need some test equipment!
Make sure the fuse is okay, and check the connections at socket, and at RCD.
Could be damaged, out, trapped pvc of cable.
Isolate prior to opening any enclosures and checking cables.

 

[teddyb]

Thanks, I'll give it a go tomorrow!

 

[RF Lighting]

I'll bet the RCD FCU has gone up the spout. Those power breaker ones seem to have a habit of doing this.

 

[Taylortwocities]

you'll need a multimeter or a two probe test indicator.

 

[securespark]

I'll bet the RCD FCU has gone up the spout. Those power breaker ones seem to have a habit of doing this.

 

[teddyb]

Good morning!
all connections seem ok.

Thinking about removing RCD unit.

The garage has its own mini consumer unit:

garage consumer unit

• teddyb
• 1 Sep 2013
• 1

and the garage itself is protected by the main consumer unit in the house:

main consumer unit in house

• teddyb
• 1 Sep 2013
• 1

If I take out the RCD above the failing socket in the garage,
and fill the gap with a suitable junction box, will this be ok?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

There is no need to have the RCD/FCU unit as you already have RCD protection at the garage consumer unit (check the RCCB is rated at 30mA).
Don't quite get the reasoning behind this connection unit being in place other than loading restrictions on continued circuit.
Unless you have a faulty RCCB in the mini CU.
I assume it is the 40A MCB for distribution to garage?

 

[teddyb]

Yes, as you say.
Anyway - the RCD has now gone and everything is now working!!

Thanks so much to everyone who has helped!

 

[riveralt]

Have you checked the cables inside the RCD/FCU on both the load and supply sides and the new socket to see that they make full contact with the terminals - sounds like you may have pinched wire - with the terminal trapping the conductor insulation.

 

[Speakercon]

Yes, as you say.
Anyway - the RCD has now gone and everything is now working!!

Thanks so much to everyone who has helped!

What rating is the MCB that's protecting that socket/summer house?
There is a slight chance that the RCD/FCU was being used to fuse down the circuit it was protecting.

 

[JohnW2]

Anyway - the RCD has now gone and everything is now working!!

From the picture of your house CU, it looks as if it's at least possible that the 40A MCB supplying the garage may not be RCD protected. Are you sure that is it? If it weren't, and you have now removed the RCD from the garaage CU, that would obviously mean that your garage now has no RCD protection at all!

Kind Regards, John

 

[riveralt]

I think the 40A MCB is for the cooker circuit or something 'up'.
The garage circuit appears to be on a 20A (right hand MCB) and protected by the RCD.

 

[JohnW2]

I think the 40A MCB is for the cooker circuit or something 'up'. The garage circuit appears to be on a 20A (right hand MCB) and protected by the RCD.

If that's true, then obviously all is well. I was going by:

I assume it is the 40A MCB for distribution to garage?

...to which the imemdiate response was:

Yes, as you say.

Kind Regards, John

 

[riveralt]

Indeed very worrying if that is the case - and that would support the inclusion of the RCD/FCU downstream of the CU.
I was going by the symbols and in some respect the size of the MCB to interpret what was going on RCD protected side of the CU - LtoR:
32A = Oven/cooker
16A = Water Heater
6A = downstairs lights
6A = upstairs lights
6A= downstair/outside lights
20A = Car port or garage.
The symbol on the unprotected circuit looks like it is another oven/cooker.
But who knows???
The OP really needs to come back and clarify the issue because if one is to take one scenario he is putting himself and others in danger with the current set up.

 

[JohnW2]

Indeed very worrying if that is the case - and that would support the inclusion of the RCD/FCU downstream of the CU. I was going by the symbols and in some respect the size of the MCB to interpret ...

I tried that as well (not very well, with the pic provided), but I would count that as 'assuming' (and we should 'never assume', particularly with an issue as important as this one!). It was the OP's apparent confirmation that the garage was fed from the 40A MCB which concerned me.

Indeed The OP really needs to come back and clarify the issue because if one is to take one scenario he is putting himself and others in danger with the current set up.

Quite so. Hence the question I posted. Not an occasion on which to 'assume', I would say.

Kind Regards, John