With only three sockets, it might just be worth swapping them out, at a couple of pound each - probably unlikely to solve the problem, but it rules them out as the culprits?
Hi, thanks for the response.For what it is worth,
Apparently random tripping of an RCD was eventually tracked down to a defective security light. Only when its PIR sensor detected animals on the lawn did it switch on and trip the RCD,,
The only sort of testing you could do yourself would be to press its test button and make sure that it then trips. However, whilst that would give some reassurance that it would probably trip in anger "when it should", it obviously does nothing to tell you whether it might trip "when it shouldn't" (which might be your problem).Is there anyway of testing the RCD to see if its faulty?
Have a look back on this forum. When faced with a tripping RCD, just about every DIYer thinks the RCD is faulty.Is there anyway of testing the RCD to see if its faulty? or is it just a case of replacing it? They're not expensive so that's not an issue.
He/she would but, as I've said, IR testing of the whole circuit wouldn't get them any closer to knowing the location of a fault.A proper electrician would use an insulation resistance tester, but you don’t have one of those?
So I checked the security lights & they were full of water, I traced the cable which was behind the fence to a plug that was plugged into........ a pile of leaves on the ground. So that's the lights ruled out.Edit - couple of replies as i was replying here
security lights maybe the issue - any rain recently ?
open the sockets again - do you have 2 cables - in/out going to 2 sockets and 1 to the 3rd
so a radial circuit in/out daisy chained
you maybe able to disconnect and see if its a run of cable between Fuse and 1st socket, then, 1st to 2nd and finally 2nd to third - maybe some vermin have chewed the cable
whats the conservatory made of and how are the wires run
solid floor - solid walls
Hi, thanks for the response.Have a look back on this forum. When faced with a tripping RCD, just about every DIYer thinks the RCD is faulty.
It is most likely that the RCD is doing its job and there is a fault, somewhere.
The most common problem is because of an outside circuit. But you “think” the external lights are not from this circuit, and you haven’t mentioned an external socket.
The circuit would seem to be simple: a radial from the FCU, and round to the three sockets.
Suggest you turn off the power, remove the cables from the back of the three sockets. Safely insulating the cable ends.
Turn the power on. If everything is ok then connect up the first socket. Still ok? Connect the second socket to the first and so on. Sooner or later you’ll find the RCD will trip and that will point to the length of cable or the socket that might be the problem.
A proper electrician would use an insulation resistance tester, but you don’t have one of those?
Your photo shows single insulated wires passing through the holes of the metal boxes.So I checked the security lights & they were full of water, I traced the cable which was behind the fence to a plug that was plugged into........ a pile of leaves on the ground. So that's the lights ruled out.
As for the cables, see attached photo. This is the spur and 1st socket, the second has 1 in 1 out and the third 1 in as you described.
The conservatory has half block walls and a solid floor, the roof has been insulated & under drawn with a plasterboard so the wires may chase up the walls into that roof void? (see photo).
I do have access to some 3core cable, so i'll do as you suggested an run a new cable between the sockets to test each one.
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