RCD tripping randomly over the past few weeks

[Paul.M]

If the mcbs are on and the rcd won't reset, that could be cumulative earth leakage on start up (computers, fridge etc).

The random tripping on what you have said, the socket circuits, points towards high earth leakage just below the tripping point of the rcd until an electrical item requires more current, eg fridge or something on a timer.

It also could be damp/condensation at a socket or switch with all this heavy rain we have been getting?

As said before it needs professional investigating and I wish him good luck. Please come back and tell us how it goes.

 

[sedgy34]

My money is on the appliance he mentioned the fan clogged with ice on round it

 

[DaveyD]

I know the outside lights been turned off - but just by a SP switch?

 

[GOLLUM]

I know the outside lights been turned off - but just by a SP switch?

I have now isolated the outside light by disconecting wires from int connector so have to wait and see if it trips again, just a case of narrowing down possible cause one by one.

 

[GOLLUM]

Think i might have narrowed it down to a 2 gang socket, the socket in question just has the washing machine plugged in to it. i tried to plug in the freezer to same socket and it trips yet when i plug freezer into its original socket it fine, yet when i plug the washing machine into it it fine as well. I have a spark coming round on Monday so at least he has a starting point.

Cannot understand why it trips when i plug in freezer but not the washing machine, if it was a fault with the freezer would that not trip it when plugged into its original socket. weird

 

[GOLLUM]

It is defo the freezer causing the problem as i put both the washer and the freezer on ind RCd's and the last two trips of the main rcd the washer has been ok but freezer rcd tripped as well. So now i need to find someone to look at that,i have looked at compressor and no damp there so no idea what the problem there is.

 

[telectrix]

new freezer?

 

[GOLLUM]

You got to be kidding its a 2k usa type, and believe it or not works perfectly apart from blowing the god dam rcd. I know somwone local who services them so il just have to spend Sparkys money on that.

new freezer?

 

[Darkwood]

Remember here Gollum your confusion has arised from the simple fact you can plug the freezer in and it may not trip, but the freezer has a control circuit and may not call the compressor for hours so can be misleading, some freezers have more complex controls too so can hide the fault until certain criteria is met e.g. some models have heating coils to maintain the freezer has differing temp as the fridge all from one compressor circuit.

 

[kenny james]

have you considered having the freezer put onto its own dedicated circuit run seperately from the consumer unit?.