On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 00:10:15 GMT, "BigWallop"
wrote:

A fault to earth through the negative conductor
will only show when the supply to the appliance is actually being used.
That's the nature of un-balanced current flow in both conductors.

I wonder if the different devices work differently? I'm aware of
ELCB's and RCD's (the RCD.s with MCB's built in are the same thing)
and I think there was something before ELCB?


Earth and
negative are usually at the same, or bloody close to the same, potential
while the appliance is lying dormant.

Wouldn't that also depend of / if other devices are also running on
that (or other rings) from the same RCD? That device may be off but
beside it is say the tumble dryer pulling a few amps ...? With the
washer plugged in (but turned off at the wall) and assuming the
sockets only switch the live then the neutral / earth will still be
continued into the washer and a 'fault' between them still detected?

But this being a washing machine
supply, then look for water as well as burn marks on the wires inside.

I'll look for that later today .. ;-(

Mice
can also chew through the flex in the most inconceivable places.

Well, I'm not aware we have any mickys in here at the moment (we have
had a few years ago .. came in from under the communial suspended
ground floor .. holes now all filled .. ), I'll look for PVC chippings
as well then ;-)

All the best ..

T i m