Earth - neutral fault on ring final, any ideas on how to find with ease.

[ericmark]

It may do, but step one is removing a USB socket, as can't use the insulation tester until removed. The house split front and rear, and I thought the utility room was from front of house, but it is actually on rear of house, to reach sockets have to move furniture, and not safe to do that on my own, so waiting for daughter to visit.

I am itching to do it, but I have to use some common sense, and wait for assistance. Already had one landslide, where all my wives rubbish fell on me. Smashing a pickle jar, which she was unable to explain why it was stored in the utility room.

I watched the video can't see it will help, I already have a problem with the central heating, a triple and earth wire changes colour, and one core open circuit. If not a socket, then likely SWA around outside the house, but been in the house 5 years, so more likely a fault at a socket location.

 

[ericmark]

I decided not to wait, but have a go, connected everything up, and it has not tripped, and tested with a ½ trip current and held, tested on ramp and 21 mA before it tripped, so not a clue what it was.

 

[JohnW2]

I decided not to wait, but have a go, connected everything up, and it has not tripped, and tested with a ½ trip current and held, tested on ramp and 21 mA before it tripped, so not a clue what it was.

Maybe one of those 'nuisance trips' that you seem to have been so prone to in the past? How often (or over how long a period) was the tripping occuring?

 

[ericmark]

First trip, and it reset without a problem. Second trip it would not reset. Selected a USB socket to remove to split the ring, and found it was the neutral wire on one half causing the trip. So reinstated one side. Wife was going on holiday so promised not to look further until someone else in the house, mainly as it seemed likely would need large furniture moves to access sockets.

Then found the washing machine and tumble drier out of service, had not realised that room was included, and it included yet another USB socket, main reason to remove is so insulation test will not damage them.

Reconnected neutral and tested, and no trip, replaced the USB socket and all back to normal and no trip, there was one outside light, but where it is unlikely to get water in it, so same as when other side of house tripped, no fault found.

I do hate it when this happens, as one wonders when it will raise its ugly head again. I used to get it in old house as well, maybe four trips in 2 weeks, then 4 years with no trips. I will put the clamp on around the meter tails tomorrow, just to see, but seems what ever it was has gone.

At least the RCBO to downstairs cooker has been changed now, that was clearly a faulty RCBO. Would not reset with power off. And now the ring has a double pole type A bidirectional fitted. I have been considering balcony solar, but waiting to see what the rules are, my panels are south-west so ones to catch morning sun could help, but I don't think it will be worth my while, but now I could as the ring has a bidirectional RCBO fitted.

 

[JohnW2]

I do hate it when this happens, as one wonders when it will raise its ugly head again. I used to get it in old house as well, maybe four trips in 2 weeks, then 4 years with no trips. I will put the clamp on around the meter tails tomorrow, just to see, but seems what ever it was has gone.

Yes, it must be frustrating. As I've often said, in around 40 years of living with multiple RCDs of one sort of another, I have virtually never had any 'unexplained' trips. Most of the trips I have experienced have either been my fault (bringing N & E into contact, when working on circuits with SP MCBs/RCBOs) or water ingress into outdoor things! I'm not sure whether I've been very lucky, you have been very unlucky, or what!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Most of the trips I have experienced have either been my fault (bringing N & E into contact, when working on circuits with SP MCBs/RCBOs) or water ingress into outdoor things! I'm not sure whether I've been very lucky, you have been very unlucky, or what!

Likewise, here, none but explained trips, through my own stupidity.

 

[JohnW2]

Likewise, here, none but explained trips, through my own stupidity.

Well, in my case (and probably also yours) I wouldn't actually call it 'stupidity'. I always try hard to avoid N & E ever coming into contact in such situations (since, not being 'stupid', I know what the consequence will be if I allow that to happen), but sometimes 'fail in my efforts'