Fuse tripping out

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Hi can anyone help me had a new consumer unit fitted 2 years ago.and everthing has been working fine.then a couple of days my downstairs ring tripped out with tumble drier on .reset it then tripped out every now and again.thought it must be a fault with drier so didnt use it again .then using my washing machine it started doing the same thing.lets me rest it then trips out every now and then.could it be a faulty fuse.as it seems unlikely both appliances would have gone faulty or any other ideas thanks Stuart
 
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Turn it off and unscrew each socket.... vibration from washing machines etc has a habit of losening connections. It’s ever liking a dodgy socket over the appliance
 
I have checked some of the sockets will check the other ones tomorrow..if I find them all ok .could it not be a faulty fuse thanks for your reply
 
Fuses do not 'trip' (nor become faulty) so we need to know what the device is.

Is it an MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)
upload_2019-2-5_22-25-29.png


An RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker)
upload_2019-2-5_22-27-11.png
or

An RCBO (Residual Current [Circuit] Breaker with Overload)
upload_2019-2-5_22-29-15.png


The latter two have test buttons.
 
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That is an MCB, so you either have

an overload caused by an appliance or too many appliances on the ciruit - not likely, or more likely

a short circuit caused be a live wire in contact with neutral, or

an earth fault caused by a live wire in contact with earth.

This could be anywhere on the circuit and caused by damaged cable due to being squashed by floor boards (when trod on) or chewed by mice.
 
It is posssible for an MCB to become faulty but I would not consider this this first option - although it might be the easiest to determine by replacement.
 
Thanks EFL will check the rest of my sockets.just a bit confused as if it was a loose or damaged wire .why would it allow me to reset it and work for 15 minutes before tripping again
 
Thanks EFL will check the rest of my sockets.just a bit confused as if it was a loose or damaged wire .why would it allow me to reset it and work for 15 minutes before tripping again
Is it only when you have some big appliance (like the tumble dryer or washing machine) on, or does it trip 'every now and again' even if 'nothing in particular' is running?

Kind Regards, John
 
Thanks John no just trips when washing machine or tumble drier on.its fine with everything else
 
Any thoughts on swapping downstairs sockets mcb with upstairs mcb to rule out .or confirm faulty mcb
 
Thanks John no just trips when washing machine or tumble drier on.its fine with everything else
Despite what has been said, I would think that if it trips only when one of those machines is on, and remains reset for 15 mins or so before tripping again, the MCB being faulty is probably near the top of the list of potential culprits - although that obviously does not mean that that has to be the case!

Kind Regards, John
 
Thanks John will check all sockets tomorrow for wiring faults.then swap the upstairs mcb with downstairs one.then if ok go out and buy new mcb for upstairs
 

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