Shed Electrics

[Farley13]

I have installed a new consumer unit in my shed to run a light and a 13amp socket. When I switch the light on or plug anything into the socket the RCD trips. I have rewired the whole lot this weekend and cannot solve the problem. I have tried it with just the light attached and it still trips. It is all brand new Wylex kit intended for garage or workshop use. The RCDs are 6A for the light and 20A for the socket.

Any ideas as to where I might be going wrong?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The fact that it doesn't trip until you connect a load suggests to me a N-E fault. Check all your wiring for trapped wires, nicked insulation etc.

 

[securespark]

Are you absolutely positive there is no N / E reversal anywhere?

I fitted a split CU for a customer whose garage socket then proceeded to trip the rcd, but only when power was drawn. On investigation, the socket had just such a fault.

 

[Farley13]

Thanks for your advice. I have taken it all apart , checked all the cables as suggested and also checked the CU to see if there is any unwanted contact anywhere, plus I have tested it all with a circuit tester. I have rewired it all again (carefully!) but only wired up the light socket this time.

However, it still trips when I switch the light on. I am baffled - could it be the RCD is faulty?

 

[Lectrician]

Try rewiring the lights - N to E or L to E fault on the lights maybe??

 

[securespark]

OK.

Remove ALL wiring from the outgoing terminals of the CU. Does the RCD reset? If so, there is a problem with outgoing circuits. If it still trips, there is a problem with the rcd or perhaps the way it is wired at the other end.