GMC wrote:
GMC wrote:
Hi there.

I needed to replace two socket plates in my parents kitchen, i bought
the relevant 2 gang sockets from Screwfix, a brushed stainless Volex
socket which will replace the white plastic ones currently installed.
As soon as I connect either of the new metal sockets the RCD in the
consumer unit trips when the power is turned back on. I have triple
checked that I am connecting it up correctly. The fault goes away as
soon as the plastic socket is reinstated. I initially thought that the
socket may be faulty (!) so used the second one which gave exactly the
same behaviour. It seems that the metal sockets are directly related
to the RCD tripping but I dont understand why, can anyone explain this
to me or offer a solution please? (my solution may be to replace the
sockets with plastic ones!)

Thanks

Gerry.
Ok, further to a few suggestions I have checked the insulation on the
cables for nicks etc and cannot find any, indeed it all looks perfectly
normal.

As a test i decided to fit a new faceplate to a *different* socket. Same
result, RCD trips. This is with the socket hanging on its own not
screwed to the backbox and not earthed to the backbox.

Im confused.

Sounds like the faceplate may be faulty. Can you take the faceplate off
and measure neutral-earth resistance at the connection terminals. This
should be infinity. If it is low or zero, then there is a connection
between neutral and earth on the faceplate that shouldn't be there.