The problem MCB is the one marked sockets on the left of the CU in picture. Tried the RCD trip on left, it operated well. It would not reset till I Tripped all the MCBs on that side. The chimes and alarm MCBs are permanently off. HELP I’ve only got a multimeter
Ring main tripping
- Thread starter halton1957
- Start date
We have to go away tomorrow till Friday. I’ll trip the circuits on that side as a precaution while we are away. Problem when at home is that internet and phone will not function without that circuit. Luckily fridge and freezer are on the other side.
Cancel your holiday, us lot wont sleep worrying about this
"Tried the RCD trip on left, it operated well. It would not reset till I Tripped all the MCBs on that side."
That is an indication that its not as it should be - sometimes an indication of an N to E fault (or cumalative N to E faults on more than one circuit) being one favorite amongst other things too.
Sorry to await so long to follow up, I’ve been waiting for rain. It rained this morning - the mcb tripped and could not reset. l disconnected the spur feeding outside socket from indoor socket - mcb reset ok. Checked the cable and outside socket using multimeter on ohms setting ( still disconnected) 20k scale gave a reading of 17.2 between live and neutral. Boxed up the indoor socket without spur cable. Hopefully the fault now isolated, will check further when rain stops ( we never use outside socket anyway.
OK Good - my suggestion is 1/ do that test again to try to sure it is reliable and not changed much since you did it, the immediately test L to E then N to E then L+N joined together to test against E, if your meters highest range is in K ohms so good, if not and you are able to repeast those tests in the M ohm range too then that might be an advantage.
These readings might give us a clue.
When Electricians do those tests we do it with 500v DC wheras a simple multimeter uses 9 volts or less.
In the days of yore (when I was a lad and during my first few years practising Elek Trickery we used a meter that generated 500v by winding a handle, nowadays the meter does that electonically and all we do is press a button.
If you do tests I`ve mentioned then let us know the results.
PS - if youu ever use a meter that does the 500v tests (and other like 250v or 100v or 50v or 1000v) then do take care and treat them as you would treat anything thast is attached to the mains - unlikely to Electrocute you but can still be made to give you a nasty nip (Electric Shock!) .
These readings might give us a clue.
When Electricians do those tests we do it with 500v DC wheras a simple multimeter uses 9 volts or less.
In the days of yore (when I was a lad and during my first few years practising Elek Trickery we used a meter that generated 500v by winding a handle, nowadays the meter does that electonically and all we do is press a button.
If you do tests I`ve mentioned then let us know the results.
PS - if youu ever use a meter that does the 500v tests (and other like 250v or 100v or 50v or 1000v) then do take care and treat them as you would treat anything thast is attached to the mains - unlikely to Electrocute you but can still be made to give you a nasty nip (Electric Shock!) .
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Thanks for your guidance, much appreciated. The spur concerned is literally through an external wall behind the internal socket. So only 12 inches of cable and a waterproof double socket. The inside end of cable is taped up within the wall box. Outside socket is behind a bush so awkward access. Waiting to see if mcb has stopped tripping
In my days of yore, I worked on bombing equipment servicing in Cyprus. Workshop benches were steel topped and seating was on empty bomb tail cases with a steel rim. Bridge megger connections to each and wait till a junior wearing shorts sat down before winding the handle. You can imagine the result.
In my days of yore, I worked on bombing equipment servicing in Cyprus. Workshop benches were steel topped and seating was on empty bomb tail cases with a steel rim. Bridge megger connections to each and wait till a junior wearing shorts sat down before winding the handle. You can imagine the result.
Should have said, spur cable is flexible, am I correct it should be T and E? Perhaps that indicates a diy job?
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As I said to start with, 32 amp is a lot of power, 30 mA is very little, so enough to trip a 32 amp MCB is rather worrying, enough to trip a 30 mA RCD is not.
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