Test a socket ring main.

[kammx4]

Morning ive a garden bar with its own consumer unit in that has 3 RCD's 1 for an EV charger 1 for the lights and 1 for the 7 sockets. In the last few days the socket RCD will trip out straight away in the bar and in the main consumer unit in the house the RCCD trips to?. Ive swapped the RCD around from lights to sockets and back again, as they are both 32 amp with the same outcome. Is there any way to test each socket individually to find out which one is the problem My son is 2nd year apprentice at this time and is very confused as this bar has been here for 4 years. Many thanks for any help and advice

 

[ProDave]

It's not the individual sockets you test but the wiring for that circuit first as a whole then break it down to identify the fault.

You are almost certainly looking for poor insulation due to damp or damage and for that you need an insulation resistance tester.

 

[kammx4]

It's not the individual sockets you test but the wiring for that circuit first as a whole then break it down to identify the fault.

You are almost certainly looking for poor insulation due to damp or damage and for that you need an insulation resistance tester.

Thanks just odd why it suddenly has started doing this i just thought that there might be an issue between each socket hidden in the walls and a way to test this.

 

[ProDave]

Yes the insulation tester will alert you to the problem and you can narrow it down by progressively breaking up the circuit until you get to one section of cable or one fitting that has the fault.

The first question though is always has any work been done lately. and I mean ANY work.

 

[Murdoch]

Are you sure the lights RCBO is 32A?

 

[kammx4]

Yes the insulation tester will alert you to the problem and you can narrow it down by progressively breaking up the circuit until you get to one section of cable or one fitting that has the fault.

The first question though is always has any work been done lately. and I mean ANY work.

Only a EV charging point by a qualified installer last August which is on a separate RCD.

 

[kammx4]

Are you sure the lights RCBO is 32A?

Yes thanks for your reply i've 32 for the EV charger 32 for the sockets and 6amp for the lights.

 

[michael8554]

Unplug everything plugged into the 7 bar sockets and reset the bar RCBO and the RCCB ? breaker in the house.
If they don't trip, then plug each bar item in, only one in place each time.
Then if there's no tripping plug in all the bar items.
If it does trip then that means the combined residual current leakage of all the devices adds up to more than the RCD can handle.
One of the devices with a heating element, such as a kettle or dishwasher, may be starting to leak too much current to earth.

 

[kammx4]

Unplug everything plugged into the 7 bar sockets and reset the bar RCD and the RCCB ? breaker in the house.
If it doesn't trip, then plug each bar item in, only one each time.
Then if there's no tripping plug in all the bar items.
If it does trip then that means the combined residual current leakage of all the devices adds up to more than the RCD can handle.
One of the devices with a heating element, such as a kettle or dishwasher, may be starting to leak too much current to earth.

Many thanks will try this and update later.

 

[kammx4]

Unplug everything plugged into the 7 bar sockets and reset the bar RCBO and the RCCB ? breaker in the house.
If they don't trip, then plug each bar item in, only one in place each time.
Then if there's no tripping plug in all the bar items.
If it does trip then that means the combined residual current leakage of all the devices adds up to more than the RCD can handle.
One of the devices with a heating element, such as a kettle or dishwasher, may be starting to leak too much current to earth.

Just wondering what you think it might be if everything is unplugged and it still trips?.

 

[poni]

water

 

[ProDave]

Just wondering what you think it might be if everything is unplugged and it still trips?.

A wiring fault, Quite possibly damp or damage, e.g. rodent damage. These things happen.

 

[roys]

Any sockets on the outside?

 

[Murdoch]

A photo of the main house CU would be useful

 

[ProDave]

Those are SP rcbo's so don't entirely rule out a fault on a different circuit.

 

[Murdoch]

Those are SP rcbo's so don't entirely rule out a fault on a different circuit.

And if one is for an EV it’s not compliant either

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

In the last few days the socket RCD will trip out straight away in the bar and in the main consumer unit in the house the RCCD trips to?.

Unless one is a time delayed device, in the event of an earth leakage fault with two RCD's in series, it can be a bit of pot-luck which one trips or if both trip..?

Basically with no discrimination built into the circuit design, it's just down to the operating characteristics of the devices and the circuit characteristics of the wiring which causes either device to operates first.

So the house and bar both operating sounds like they are probably both functioning correctly, as its unlikely to have two RCD's become a bit oversensitive at the same time?

Ive swapped the RCD around from lights to sockets and back again, as they are both 32 amp with the same outcome.

Random swapping of devices generally achieves very little...

A suitable test meter (or meters) that can perform RCD tests, Insulation resistance tests, Continuity tests, Earth loop impedance tests,
Would quickly identify what parts of the installation are electrically sound...
And which parts, (if any), have any poor test reading....

It could be faulty damaged wiring, faulty appliances, water ingress, lose connection arcing and breaking down etc..

But you are very limited if you have no access to any suitable test meters?