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Electrical

RCD fuse keeps tripping

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.37 PM

Our builders rewired part of our new kitchen / dinner. After they installed the socket plates, one of the fuses (RCD Fuse) keeps tripping every 8 hours or so. It is not associated with any electric activity, ie it trips spontaneously, not when we plug or use any of the appliances. It only cuts electricity from wall sockets thus disconnecting any appliances such as televisions computers etc. The lights are still working. The builder refuses to come back to check claiming that they did everything right, that everything was working perfectly when they left. However, the first such event occurred within 5 hours of them leaving in the middle of the night, and the fuse only started tripping in this way after they attached the wall plates, the last job they did before vacating the premises. I need advice as to what to do. Is it serious? Is it to do with faulty wiring, faulty plates or anything to do with the fuse box.? Or faulty wiring under the floor. Help!

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5 Answers

DEACON ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Rating: 5 out of 5

Grimsby

Our builders rewired... this is red alert No1. Where is the electrician who installed it? How would the builder know if it was all done right? Unlikely to be the RCD itself, more likely an appliance. If you got the electrician back he could test the affected circuit and compare it with the readings on the certificate... assuming you got one.

Answered7 May 2018

Glamorgan Security and Electrical Ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5

Aberdare

Sounds like an appliance. Anything to do with the wiring would normally trip everything. An individual rcbo going could indicate an appliance or appliances using more than the rated current of that rcbo. I’m guessing, but you’ve probably had all new appliances in your new kitchen and not had the consumer unit checked to see if it can handle them. You’re best to call an electrician to take a look. A builder saying he won’t come back because it’s done correctly is suspicious. If he was confident is was correct, he’d come back no problem.

Answered7 May 2018

Proman Electrical Ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5

Swansea

Hi, ALL electrical work, doesn't matter how small a job, requires a certificate, here's our guide on this http://proman-electrical.co.uk/eic/ RCD's do not trip on overcurrent, they trip on earth leakage, meaning that you have a short circuit to earth. This could be anything that was altered from new appliances to new sockets. Did the "builder" join cables then plaster over? The upshot is, that once modified, if the circuit was tested (as is the legal requirement), then this would have indicated a problem that is now causing your RCD to trip. Or, the certificate you have showing the test results would vindicate the "builder", proving that at the time of the testing, no problem existed. I guess you don't have a certificate or any proof that any electrical testing was done. Report your "builder" to trading standards for not providing adequate certification, or at least threaten to unless he provides proof that he tested adequately, if he cant demand that he pay for an external test to be carried out. Hope this helps Mark

Answered11 May 2018

David D. Electrical

No reviews yet

Preston

Hi, First of all I would advise RCD device testing, if that's ok I would inspect and test every single socket. If sockets are fine I would have a look at all extension leads used in your house. If installation is ok, then you need to PAT test your appliances. Some freezers have natural leakage to earth and that could also trip your RCD device out. Regards David D. Electrical

Answered7 May 2018

Anonymous user

Since 2005 electrical work must be carried out following the requirements of Part P Building Regulations. (This part concerns to the electrical installation). Homeowners must comply with Part P, for instance they will employ a competent person to do the job and producing an Electrical Installation Certificate. The way to comply with Part P is by doing the job in accordance to BS7671 Wiring Regulations. Local Authorities have the power to dismantling the installation if it does not meet Part P requirements. I recommend you to employ a competent electrician to do an Electrical Installation Condition Report. And he will be able to rectify any unsafe condition of the wiring and tell you where is the fault. Good Luck.

Answered11 June 2018