RCD Tripping off - switch at fault

ItsOnlyMe_2

Hi all,
wondering if anyone can assist. The RCD in our house tripped off last night - in the middle of the night when no one was using any appliances. I have narrowed it down to the switch for the boiler. From my 'tests' I have half deduced it is not the boiler itself but maybe the switch itself - is this possible. I tested the switch by removing the load wires (which go onto the timer/programmer and then the boiler itself I presume) and it tripped out. I therefore conclude whatever is causing it is before the current gets to the boiler.

Is it really feasible that the switch could be the fault area? I have read nothing about a switch causing similar problems. I am planning to buy a new fused switch socket to replace the one there just wondering if anyone could offer any insight before I do this.

vaio

ItsOnlyMe wrote: »

Hi all,
wondering if anyone can assist. The RCD in our house tripped off last night - in the middle of the night when no one was using any appliances. I have narrowed it down to the switch for the boiler. From my 'tests' I have half deduced it is not the boiler itself but maybe the switch itself - is this possible. I tested the switch by removing the load wires (which go onto the timer/programmer and then the boiler itself I presume) and it tripped out. I therefore conclude whatever is causing it is before the current gets to the boiler.

Is it really feasible that the switch could be the fault area? I have read nothing about a switch causing similar problems. I am planning to buy a new fused switch socket to replace the one there just wondering if anyone could offer any insight before I do this.

It could well be the switch but to really confirm you could take the feed wires out of the switch and see what happens. (obviously insulate the live ends etc etc)

matbe

ItsOnlyMe wrote: »

Hi all,
wondering if anyone can assist. The RCD in our house tripped off last night - in the middle of the night when no one was using any appliances. I have narrowed it down to the switch for the boiler. From my 'tests' I have half deduced it is not the boiler itself but maybe the switch itself - is this possible. I tested the switch by removing the load wires (which go onto the timer/programmer and then the boiler itself I presume) and it tripped out. I therefore conclude whatever is causing it is before the current gets to the boiler.

Is it really feasible that the switch could be the fault area? I have read nothing about a switch causing similar problems. I am planning to buy a new fused switch socket to replace the one there just wondering if anyone could offer any insight before I do this.

Not really i doubt it is the switch
You say you have done some "tests" what exactly have you done ?

I have had a few faults that have been similar with boilers and have narrowed it down to the pump, check the connection box on the pump the seals/bearings fail on the pump and this fills with water if you have already turned off the boiler isolator and the rcd is still tripping out then ignore this as the fault is elswhere.

Dont waste money on a new switched fused spur as i can pretty much guarantee 99% that this is not causing an rcd to trip.

hope this helps .

Mat

ItsOnlyMe_2

the only reason I say it is the switch is because it trips the RCD off when I switch it on with no load going out. If the switch is off it will not trip.

latecomer

If its simply a fused spur socket then I'd just replace it as it will only cost a few quid and its a quick job. If nothing else then at least you could rule it out if the problem persists.

27col

I agree that it seems very unlikely, that the fused spur could be the problem, but I have come across some peculiar faults at times. As latcomer says it will only cost a few pounds to eliminate it from the equation.

ItsOnlyMe_2

thanks for suggestions guys. I will try changing the spur socket. I have got another one in the house that is not used but wired up to something (don't ask me what or why as it has never been on since we moved in 1 year ago!) I will try swapping them and see it that works.

I will then have a look at the boiler to see if I can see any signs of water around it.

Any other suggestions welcome.

matbe

ItsOnlyMe wrote: »

the only reason I say it is the switch is because it trips the RCD off when I switch it on with no load going out. If the switch is off it will not trip.

This pretty much rules out the switch itself then, it will be something further down the line.

It will be either the boiler or something connected to the boiler.

Look at pump this is far and away most likely but could also be a fault on boiler.

sparky883

Your replies make no sense-Why give bad advise-If there is no load on the fused spur I.E. You have disconnected the boiler,And then when you operate the spur it trips the RCD then the Fused Spur is at fault (Damp) Matbe does not seem to have grasped this simple explenation and has got all mixed up.
If you do change the Spur and the fault still occurs then its the cableing but i doubt it!! But then again he is only 99.9% certain so there is room for error!!!!

ItsOnlyMe_2

just to update you all on the situation.

Had the plumber around this morning and it is the circulating pumps that are at fault, not the switch at all. God knows why the switch alone tripped the RCD?!?!?!

matbe

sparky883 wrote: »

Your replies make no sense-Why give bad advise-If there is no load on the fused spur I.E. You have disconnected the boiler,And then when you operate the spur it trips the RCD then the Fused Spur is at fault (Damp) Matbe does not seem to have grasped this simple explenation and has got all mixed up.
If you do change the Spur and the fault still occurs then its the cableing but i doubt it!! But then again he is only 99.9% certain so there is room for error!!!!

Matbe seems to have grasped the situation by the balls as i said check the pump.!!!