Outdoor Electrics - water ingress

[Davey1]

Hi, about 3 years ago I put an outside 4 way weatherproof switch on a wall. I wired in a pond pump, ultraviolet light and 2 spare. All had been working well until I went to switch it back on today after its winter off. It tripped the rcd that it is attached to inside the house. I have now discovered that some water has gotten into the switch and pooled by the earth wires clamp. It has obviously been there a while as it has turned a nice wet rusty colour. I have tried to dry it and get it going but it still trips out the rcd. Is my pump now broken? Will I need to replace the switches or will it work once it has dried?

Any help is appreciated as a new pump will be £300!

 

[jj4091]

You need a multi meter to carry out resistance tests

 

[breezer]

how can your pump be broken? it sits in water 24 /7

a multi meter will be of no use since it can not read at the right voltage to detect a L-E or N-E short

your box has either leaked or its condensation.

I would get a new one and drill small holes in the down side facing side

filters should be left on 24/7 even through winter, more info is here

 

[thompsk]

filters should be left on 24/7 even through winter, more info is here

Agree, mine is on all year round

 

[plugwash]

looks like you need a new switch.

In future drill a drain hole in the bottom of the box. No seal is perfect and you really don't want to create the situation where once water gets in it never gets out.

 

[breezer]

i guess plugwash is just agreeing with me then

thats 2 people that said drill holes, and 2 people that said leave filter on 24 / 7

 

[securespark]

I don't think I agree with this:

how can your pump be broken? it sits in water 24 /7

I find lots of RCD tripping faults due to faulty pumps.

Or did I misinterpret what you said?

 

[breezer]

you missinterpreted what i said.

good pumps just give up the ghost. i have only ever had one trip an rcd, even then it wasnt the pump itself but the float swicth on the pump, still it served its life, i sliced it open

 

[Davey1]

Thanks for your advice everyone. I am going to try and replace the switch before I replace the pump, and I will be drilling a hole this time. The pump is an OASE Aquamax, purchased 5 years and 1 month ago, it had a 5 year garauntee! Typical.

 

[breezer]

a lot of them on ebay (oase aqua max)