Consumer unit question trip

[Chri5]

All YOU can do is

"Press the test button" - all electrics should go off

Repeat a few times to make sure the RCD is mechanically ok.

If that doesn't cure the problem (it's unlikely it will) its a new RCD and test via a visit from an electrician.

Part aren't dear- http://www.allaboutelectrics.co.uk/80a-30ma-2-pole-rccb.html

Do consider that the RCD may be working correctly and that there is something wrong elsewhere.

Hve you plugged anything different in to a socket recently- old or new items ?
Have you done any DIY recently ?

Any leaks water wise near electrics ?

Are the fittings and cabling in a good condition ?

 

[ColJack]

2 showers? and on 32A breakers?

what are the power rating of the showers?

and were the shower isolators on at the time? ( not the shower itself, just the pullcord )
and the cooker switch too?
did it rain there today?
have you any outdoor sockets / lights off the ring main?

 

[spoony77]

Not sure of the power rating of the showers - how do i find this out?
The shower isolators were definetely off at the time.
The cooker switch was on as it always is.
Yes it rained loads today.
We have one outdoor light at the back but its always off.

Ive got a set of pc speakers whose transformer has browned over the years that works fine but ive disconnected to make sure this isnt faulty.
The only DIY ive done recently is wire in a receiver for a wireless roomstat to my boiler and lay some loft insulation but im pretty certain its more to do with the wife throwing the george foreman grill into the sink.

 

[sparkyspike]

When you turn an outside light off, the neutral and earth are still both connected. This can cause the RCD to trip, even with the light turned off.

The way to test earth faults is to disconnect the live AND neutral from the suspected circuit. This means going into the consumer unit which can be dangerous. If you remove the wrong neutral you can be handling a live cable all of a sudden.

If you get a sparky to do this for you, he will also be to do a continuity or insulation resistance test between suspected conductors and will also be able to do an RCD test which will reveal trip times and no-trip thresholds.

Simply disconnecting appliances and turning off lights and/or breakers may not reveal the faulty circuit.