Socket blowing fuse
- Thread starter Suet33
- Start date
Help Support Talk Electrician Forum:
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2009
- Messages
- 14,558
- Reaction score
- 753
It sounds like a cable got pinched by the screw and pierced.
Nope - it happened as the screw touched the metal on the box - definitely no cables nearby!
I suspect your husband has placed the cables poorly in the back box and the fixing screws are causing the problem.
Take the fixing screws out and see if the problem goes away
And at the same time check he’s connected the cables to the correct terminals
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 14,177
- Reaction score
- 832
He has either terminated something wrong or damaged a cable or both would be the most likely cause.
Is it an MCB or RCD or RCBO that is tripping?
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2009
- Messages
- 14,558
- Reaction score
- 753
What tests has he done to verify the wiring is correct?
None - what would you suggest?? That’s the type of help we need O guess x
Check the wires as they enter the back box, it's easy to slice the insulation on sharp metaledges if it hasn't got a grommet.
Take a photograph of the wiring behind the faceplate and post it on here.
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 14,177
- Reaction score
- 832
This sounds like as above a cable probably a live has been nicked and made the back box live , when the screw (which is earthed via the front plate) touches the now live back box the protective device will operate.
this also means that the power was not off and he lucky not to get an electric shock or worse .
this is all assumption of course but it’s my best guess from the information we have here.
this also means that the power was not off and he lucky not to get an electric shock or worse .
this is all assumption of course but it’s my best guess from the information we have here.
If its a neutral it will not trip the rcd or RCBO until some current is drawn (though it could be as little as 30 ma if the rcd trips at 15), also it sounds like a spark occurred at the 3.5mm stud suggesting a short circuit.
this assumes its been wired correct and not live (line)to the cpc terminal and earthed back box
this assumes its been wired correct and not live (line)to the cpc terminal and earthed back box
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2010
- Messages
- 14,403
- Reaction score
- 1,001
Oh yes it will if there is a voltage imbalance between neutral and earth. Seen it loads of times
only because there is a load ,if there is no current flowing the cpc will not be able to divert current to create the imbalance .
it used to happen on the old dual (RCD) Residual Current Device boards when someone connects to the wrong neutral bar , or a shared neutral is connected across the 2 rcds
it used to happen on the old dual (RCD) Residual Current Device boards when someone connects to the wrong neutral bar , or a shared neutral is connected across the 2 rcds
In what way was it wired wrongThanks all - problem now resolved! Wrong wiring (it will take him a while to live that down)
Similar threads
