RCD Tripping

[mjtefc9]

Hi..

Replaced all the switches and sockets in a house today.. got to the final switch which needed changing.. single switch one way.. flicked it on and the RCD Tripped! And wouldn't reset.. luckily nobody is in the house yet.. so I've left it off. A friend said I need to test at the DB by putting the live in the earth bar.. and go back to the connecting switch as there is a earth/neutral imbalance. So I've got a lighting wire wrong somewhere!

Never tested before.. so don't know what I'm looking for.. any help?

I only have a cheap tester..

 

[EFLImpudence]

Replaced all the switches and sockets in a house today.. got to the final switch which needed changing.. single switch one way.. flicked it on and the RCD Tripped! And wouldn't reset.. luckily nobody is in the house yet.. so I've left it off.

Do you mean it did not trip when you switched on all the other switches?
Or as this was the last it could be any of the others?

If that's all you have done - and you did it all correctly - then possibly a faceplate screw has penetrated a wire.

A friend said I need to test at the DB by putting the live in the earth bar.. and go back to the connecting switch as there is a earth/neutral imbalance. So I've got a lighting wire wrong somewhere!

RCDs react to a Line/Neutral imbalance because the current is finding a return path other than the Neutral.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Oh, just looked at all the pictures.

What the hell are they supposed to show?

 

[mjtefc9]

Ha ha just the board and the last switch I replaced and my cheap tester! .. the issue is definitely with this switch..

I've never done any testing and he said I will be able to use my tester to find what's making it trip?

 

[chivers67]

Have you put the old switch back and checked to see if the light off it works?

 

[flameport]

the issue is definitely with this switch..

Not necessarily. Fault could be elsewhere. Or there could be multiple faults.
Did this installation ever work properly?
Why are all of the sockets and switches being replaced?
Do the sockets work when things are plugged in such as a kettle?

 

[mjtefc9]

Hi.. all being replaced due to the old fixtures being old fashioned, replacing just with MK White switches and sockets.

I changed all the sockets and light switches downstairs no issue.. then went up and tested all the lights and sockets before starting up there to make sure they all did and they where fine.

Changed the one in the pictures and replaced the cover and it worked fine.. went to the bedroom whilst it was still energised and just switched the one way switch on and it tripped and couldn't be reset.. the only way I have been able to reset it is to take the lighting circuits out of the equation from the board.

Sorry lads.. ‍

 

[333rocky333]

Hi..

single switch one way.. ..

Your picture seems to shows 2 gang switch with one gang connected as 2 way

Looking at the amount of blacks, im quessing some may be neutrals and some switchlines

 

[mjtefc9]

Your picture seems to shows 2 gang switch with one gang connected as 2 way
..

Looking at the amount of blacks, im quessing some may be neutrals and some switchlines

Yeah not labelled up as switched wires by previous install... one operates fitting in the bathroom and one for the landing.. which is also switched on and off by a downstairs switch..

 

[sparkwright]

Some of those connections at the switches look downright shoddy, so I'm not surprised the RCD is tripping.

There seems to be wires not connected to anything.

Sometimes a multiple switch can be fed by two circuits on separate RCDs. If you get two wires round the wrong way the RCD would trip.

The best thing you could do is a send a picture of EVERY switch which CLEARLY show each CABLE and each WIRE emerging from those cables, and exactly which TERMINALS they go in.

Also it would be helpful if you explain what each switch is supposed to do.

We can then advise how you can improve the wiring on all these switches and hopefully find the fault or faults in the process.

Sockets as well I see.

What a bloody mess.

 

[chivers67]

looks like there's no grommets in the back boxes too...

 

[chivers67]

and another look at the CU it's not be labelled that well either! Two circuits number 1/2/3/4 , I know they're on different RCDs but still not right.

 

[bernardgreen]

and another look at the CU it's not be labelled that well either!

I am wondering who installed the CU, and what these Red and Black singles are

 

[securespark]

They may not be singles, they may be insulated and sheathed.
I have seen them with coloured sheaths.