Odd IR Fault

[sellers]

Future father inlaw rings me up yesterday night with tripping RCD, socket circuit tests out at 0.02meg with everything disconnected except extract fan due to access.

So arrange to go back today to locate fault and circuit tests out at 26meg?? What do you recon? It hasnt been raining, nipped conductor behind socket? Bit of a big jump for it to be damp or degrading cables.

 

[steptoe]

what are you testing across?

 

[sellers]

sorry, L+N to E

 

[NozSpark]

Condensation??

I've had that before, especially when they leave those little cards on the back of their plugs:O

 

[kerching]

Something with a surge arrestor/supressor connected across L + E??, but its a hell of a long shot in domestic [unless on a PC or comms kit]

Megger it L to N, wait for smoke then see what isn't working!

Intermittent faults, don't you just luv 'em............ :coat

 

[lineman]

Have seen rodent damage eventually blow conductors apart and from test results "appear" to clear faults.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Possibly overheating joint, softening insulation of T&E during high to full load conditions on the circuit? After joint cools down, insulation hardens creating more robust IR readings again. Though more common on lighting circuits around actual light fittings rather than socket circuits. Has he had any additional heaters plugged in during the colder weather?

Doc H.

 

[steptoe]

right, so what exactly is fed from this RCD?

could be a N-E from a different circuit.

trying to find faults with lim testing isnt a good idea,

you need to narrow it down to either L or N to E as a first point.

 

[ProDave]

And take that fan out of circuit.

 

[IzzyS]

Future father inlaw rings me up yesterday night with tripping RCD, socket circuit tests out at 0.02meg with everything disconnected except extract fan due to access.

Maybe the "future father in law" is testing YOU.

Sounds like a moisture related problem to me. Check out the fan, particularly if it's ceiling mounted - I've seen some badly installed ones full of water.

Any external sockets or lights spurred off this circuit?

 

[sb_89]

Maybe a damp joint box under the floor . If it hasn't been fixed and is resting on the ground