- Joined
- 27 Jan 2008
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- Location
- Llanfair Caereinion, Nr Welshpool
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The house has two ring finals, the original and second one which was added latter, both from different consumer units and different RCD's the original wiring also included an immersion heater, that is now a radial, plus one socket on the cooker.
House has been empty for 18 months and my wife has been busy rearranging rooms, the result is the room over the garage where the two CU's are is crammed full of junk, (she would not call it junk) so the closest sockets to the consumer unit are not accessible.
She was using the kettle in kitchen when the ring final failed, also builder outside doing pointing, and cables run from new thorough the cavity wall, so when cavity wall insulation was put in, I insisted that section of garage wall was missed.
It would seem the RCD tripped, it has done this on and off for years, it tripped once in last 18 months and since not in house lost contains of one freezer.
Normal procedure, switch off all MCB's switch RCD back on, then switch on the MCB's again, however the old ring final did not power up, all but one of the original sockets were dead. My thoughts were likely two faults, one likely been there for years, tested ring and neutrals and earth still show as being a ring.
The one socket still working turns out to be a spur, the consumer unit looks A1 like the day it was installed all wires pass the tug test for poor connection, swapped the MCB just in case so not that and not found in any socket where an original spur has been taken.
House built around 1980 so then people did fit the old round junction boxes under floor boards, but don't recall every seeing one.
So trying to think of ways to locate where the problem is. All accessible sockets removed and checked, already moved loads of furniture to access the one socket still working, only to find it is a spur. At least sure the MCB is OK. Considering methods to find out route, next job is find the low ohm meter. Thinking measuring ohms earth to neutral should show order sockets connected, but any ideas welcome. Other than get a new wife who does not fill house with craft junk.
House has been empty for 18 months and my wife has been busy rearranging rooms, the result is the room over the garage where the two CU's are is crammed full of junk, (she would not call it junk) so the closest sockets to the consumer unit are not accessible.
She was using the kettle in kitchen when the ring final failed, also builder outside doing pointing, and cables run from new thorough the cavity wall, so when cavity wall insulation was put in, I insisted that section of garage wall was missed.
It would seem the RCD tripped, it has done this on and off for years, it tripped once in last 18 months and since not in house lost contains of one freezer.
Normal procedure, switch off all MCB's switch RCD back on, then switch on the MCB's again, however the old ring final did not power up, all but one of the original sockets were dead. My thoughts were likely two faults, one likely been there for years, tested ring and neutrals and earth still show as being a ring.
The one socket still working turns out to be a spur, the consumer unit looks A1 like the day it was installed all wires pass the tug test for poor connection, swapped the MCB just in case so not that and not found in any socket where an original spur has been taken.
House built around 1980 so then people did fit the old round junction boxes under floor boards, but don't recall every seeing one.
So trying to think of ways to locate where the problem is. All accessible sockets removed and checked, already moved loads of furniture to access the one socket still working, only to find it is a spur. At least sure the MCB is OK. Considering methods to find out route, next job is find the low ohm meter. Thinking measuring ohms earth to neutral should show order sockets connected, but any ideas welcome. Other than get a new wife who does not fill house with craft junk.