Sockets not working downstairs - no appliance seems faulty?

lh_111

Hi, hope someone here can offer advice. Last night all our power tripped, and could not be reset. By a process of elimination we located the fault to the downstairs sockets, and checked all appliances one by one. However, even with all unplugged and all sockets off, the power still trips when the 'downstairs sockets' switch is on. All others (upstairs, lights, shower, oven etc) are fine. We do have damp in one of the downstairs rooms, which is being dealt with in 2 weeks (new damp course, replaster etc) and an electrician will be present then. Can damp walls cause a rcd to trip and not be reset? I'm slightly loathed to get work done by an electrician which may have to be ripped out in 2 weeks when the builders are in. Any help very greatly appreciated. Thanks.

the

If all the appliances are unplugged, then obviously there is a problem with either the downstairs socket wiring (including the ring circuit or spur circuits) , or plug socket themselves.

You mention that there is a problem with damp, look around the sockets for damp, in attempt to e isolate an individual socket.

It really depends upon how comfortable you are working with electricity to advise you further

lh_111

Hi, thanks for your reply. I am not confident with working with electricity, and shall not be. I was really just wondering if the damp could be the cause of the fault. As I have work being carried out in a couple of weeks I was wondering whether to just cope until then - I have important appliances running on an extention lead at present. I am concerned about getting an electrician in, paying for work, only to have the walls ripped apart in two weeks.

maninthestreet

Possibly just a wiring fault in one of the sockets - with the power off (VERY IMPORTANT!!), unscrew the sockets from the wall and check if there are any loose wires or wires with chaffed insulation.

olias

I agree with the above post, however if you are not confident with electrics and are able to cope with extension leads, can you not last 2 weeks until your planned work gets underway? Even if you need to get a couple of extra long extension leads to run from upstairs, they should only cost you £20-£30?

Olias

muckybutt

If its the RCD thats tripped and the mcb that supplies power to the affected sockets hasnt tripped then it sounds like theres an earth to neutral fault or is it an rcbo that supplies the sockets then again theres an earth fault but that could be either live or neutral that is faulty, yes damp could well be the cause for it tripping.
If you feel confident enough turn the whole fuse board off at the main circuit breaker and go to the affected area that you think could be the cause, then unscrew the sockets from the wall if they are damp then you will see condensation or corrosion on the socket rear, let the affected sockets dry out and then try resetting the rcd.
If in doubt though leave well alone and leave it to the sparky.

zax47

Added to what people have suggested, you've also had lots of useful advice/answers on the other forums you've asked this question on.

DVardysShadow

muckybutt wrote: »

If its the RCD thats tripped and the mcb that supplies power to the affected sockets hasnt tripped then it sounds like theres an earth to neutral fault or is it an rcbo that supplies the sockets then again theres an earth fault but that could be either live or neutral that is faulty, yes damp could well be the cause for it tripping.

Actually, an RCD will trip for both live to earth and neutral to earth faults, without necessarily taking out the MCB, particulalry if the casue is dampness.

muckybutt

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Actually, an RCD will trip for both live to earth and neutral to earth faults, without necessarily taking out the MCB, particulalry if the casue is dampness.

Bad discrimination tho if it does !

DVardysShadow

muckybutt wrote: »

Bad discrimination tho if it does !

Absolutely not necessarily the case. Consider a 100mA leakage to earth. Correct behaviour is for an RCD [rated to trip at 30mA] to trip, but for the MCB [rated to trip at say 32A] to remain closed.

waynehayes

It's not the job of a circuit breaker to operate if there is an earth fault, that's what the RCD is for.