Trip switch ... should I be concerned?

JulesM

The trip switch in my fuse box for the wall sockets tripped last night for the first time ever. The lights etc stayed on.

Everything seemed to come back on OK when I put the switch back and it hasn't happened again. There was nothing extra plugged in.

Should I be concerned, or not?:huh:

muckybutt

Was it the mcb that tripped or an rcd ? the two are very different.

JulesM

oops ... should have said I'm a clueless female ...

I've googled those terms and I think it must be mcb - the fuse box is about 15 yrs old. I use a plug in rcd when using the lawnmower?

DVardysShadow

You would more often than not find an RCD on a modern fuseboard or somewhere with your meter connections. Yes there are plug in RCD's, but this is not sufficient logic to enable you to deduce that it was an MCB which tripped. Have another look and report back with the writing on the switch which tripped.

Myser

A circuit-breaker will have something like B16 or B32 written on it.

An RCD/RCCB will have a test button next to it and 30mA written on it.

JulesM

OK ... checked the fusebox and under the trip switch that went it says B32 and yes, a bit further along it does have a test button with 30mA on it ...

Everything has worked fine ever since and when I mentioned it to a friend he thought it could have been a power surge or even a tiny insect crawling in a wall socket. He thought it was a good thing it had tripped rather than something to be concerned about - hope so.

macman

So what tripped was a 32A ring main MCB, but it didn't trip the RCD.
They trip for a reason (for your protection) but on the evidence given it's not possible to know the cause.

DVardysShadow

I would say it is likely to be a fault which has blown itself clear. If all the appliances on that circuit are still working and there is no evident reason for the fault, then you should get an electrician in to check out your ring main. This is not something to be ignored.

JulesM

I am very grateful for your responses ...

but, DVardysShadow - your final sentence has frightened me to death!!

What does it mean? What could happen? Do I need an electrician urgently (given the time of year?)

Myser

Has a bulb in a table lamp recently blown?

Has some other appliance stopped working since the circuit-breaker tripped.

JulesM

No, I've checked every appliance and everything seems to be working fine. I'd feel happier if something had happened eg a bulb blown in a table lamp as it would give an explanation.

I'm quite careful and tend to unplug most things at night except dvd recorder and fridge freezer.