The RCD on the garage circuit is continually tripping, even with
everything unplugged.

Divided circuit and with only half the ring connected the trip stayed
in. Some things plugged in, still ok. Plugged in freezer (via extension
lead) and "pop".

Any thoughts on the sorts of thing to look for? I am planning to break
the ring at every socket and test earth continuity, L-E and N-E
resistance.

--
John Alexander,

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On 11 Aug, 21:36, John wrote:
The RCD on the garage circuit is continually tripping, even with
everything unplugged.

Divided circuit and with only half the ring connected the trip stayed
in. Some things plugged in, still ok. Plugged in freezer (via extension
lead) and "pop".

Any thoughts on the sorts of thing to look for? I am planning to break
the ring at every socket and test earth continuity, L-E and N-E
resistance.

--
John Alexander,

Remove NOSPAM if replying by e-mail

Doesn't the fact that the RCD stays in without the freezer plugged in
but trips when it is point to where you should start looking?

In article
s.com, cynic writes
On 11 Aug, 21:36, John wrote:
The RCD on the garage circuit is continually tripping, even with
everything unplugged.

Divided circuit and with only half the ring connected the trip stayed
in. Some things plugged in, still ok. Plugged in freezer (via extension
lead) and "pop".

Any thoughts on the sorts of thing to look for? I am planning to break
the ring at every socket and test earth continuity, L-E and N-E
resistance.

--
John Alexander,

Remove NOSPAM if replying by e-mail

Doesn't the fact that the RCD stays in without the freezer plugged in
but trips when it is point to where you should start looking?

Not necessarily because with nothing plugged in when I connected the
neutral of half the ring I got a trip. With the other half of the ring
only I could get some things to work. I therefore thought half the ring
was OK but when I plugged the freezer in it went pop.

I don't disagree that the freezer may be a part guilty party but I think
there must be something else. Could it be upstream of the RCD?

--
John Alexander,

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On 11/08/2010 21:45, John wrote:
In
s.com, writes
On 11 Aug, 21:36, wrote:
The RCD on the garage circuit is continually tripping, even with
everything unplugged.

Divided circuit and with only half the ring connected the trip stayed
in. Some things plugged in, still ok. Plugged in freezer (via extension
lead) and "pop".

Any thoughts on the sorts of thing to look for? I am planning to break
the ring at every socket and test earth continuity, L-E and N-E
resistance.

--
John Alexander,

Remove NOSPAM if replying by e-mail

Doesn't the fact that the RCD stays in without the freezer plugged in
but trips when it is point to where you should start looking?

Not necessarily because with nothing plugged in when I connected the
neutral of half the ring I got a trip. With the other half of the ring
only I could get some things to work. I therefore thought half the ring
was OK but when I plugged the freezer in it went pop.

I don't disagree that the freezer may be a part guilty party but I think
there must be something else. Could it be upstream of the RCD?


Sounds like you've got some 'borrowed' neutrals somewhere. Check that
everything on the RCD has its neutral connected to the RCD's neutral,
and that everything *not* on the RCD *doesn't*.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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Have you recently removed any wiring accessories?
Check for Neutral being pinched (N-E will cause RCD trip).

Have you got anything outside or conduited to outside on that circuit?
Check for water ingress into light fittings, sockets, enclosures,
junction-boxes, SWA.

Have you recently nailed or drilled anywhere?

Try all the appliances "as they were" on an extension lead to another
circuit's RCD (assuming you have a twin RCD consumer unit which is
worth converting to if you just have a non-RCD protected side split
load at present).

If you can not pin it down re intermittent you may have to surface
wire temporarily to pin it down.

In article
s.com, js.b1 writes
Have you recently removed any wiring accessories?
Check for Neutral being pinched (N-E will cause RCD trip).

Have you got anything outside or conduited to outside on that circuit?
Check for water ingress into light fittings, sockets, enclosures,
junction-boxes, SWA.

Have you recently nailed or drilled anywhere?

Try all the appliances "as they were" on an extension lead to another
circuit's RCD (assuming you have a twin RCD consumer unit which is
worth converting to if you just have a non-RCD protected side split
load at present).

If you can not pin it down re intermittent you may have to surface
wire temporarily to pin it down.
Well, the good news is that I found it - but it was in two parts!

A neutral had been hard against a screw holding a cover on and the
insulation had given way.

The other problem was in the pump for the pond - it was about 200k L-E
and N-E. Thought it was going to be a new pump but discovered the
waterproof connector wasn't! Replaced that and we are all working again!

Thanks for all the advice.
--
John Alexander,

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