Trip switch ... should I be concerned?

DVardysShadow

JulesM wrote: »

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.

So would I. A 32A circuit breaker does not drop out without a significant release of energy somewhere. So if no appliance is responsible, it leaves your wiring. There will be significant burning somewhere. Me, I would check it out myself at the earliest.

Myser

If the RCD had tripped, it may have been a less of a concern.

As the circuit-breaker (MCB) tripped, it is likely to have been caused by a low resistance or short-circuit across the live and neutral somewhere on that ring (of sockets).

Do you know if the ring spurs off into a garage/shed at all?

Do you have electric storage heaters on the wall?

It may be worth having someone to look at it. As it hasn't happened again, the cause/fault may have cleared, so not an immediate danger.

DVardysShadow

Myser wrote: »

As it hasn't happened again, the cause/fault may have cleared, so not an immediate danger.

Disagree. You won't know whether it is an immediate danger until you find the fault.

JulesM

Immediate danger!! :shocked:

What does that mean - I'm not followng this. Am I in danger of an electrical fire or electrocution? I thought that was the whole purpose of the switch tripping to stop that happening.

macman

The trip switch operates to prevent that. But if the circuit is reset, and the original fault is not corrected, the risk remains.

JulesM

Myser wrote: »

If the RCD had tripped, it may have been a less of a concern.

As the circuit-breaker (MCB) tripped, it is likely to have been caused by a low resistance or short-circuit across the live and neutral somewhere on that ring (of sockets).

Do you know if the ring spurs off into a garage/shed at all?

Do you have electric storage heaters on the wall?

It may be worth having someone to look at it. As it hasn't happened again, the cause/fault may have cleared, so not an immediate danger.

Yes, there is a wall socket in the garage but nothing plugged in it. No storage heaters.

Hintza

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Disagree. You won't know whether it is an immediate danger until you find the fault.

But that could be similar to how long is a piece of string. I think I wouldn't be worrying too much unless it happened again.

I do hear what you are saying but where do you start and finish?

DVardysShadow

Hintza wrote: »

But that could be similar to how long is a piece of string. I think I wouldn't be worrying too much unless it happened again.

I do hear what you are saying but where do you start and finish?

I am not going to make the call for someone else in this situation.

If an earth leakage breaker trips, the energy involved is small, so I would just accept that some events will arise due to spikes outside and that the breaker has prevented damage,

For a 32A breaker to trip, there will be damage. Now, if one wire has been burnt through on a ring main, there is an increased risk of fire, because 1 wire on 1 side of the ring main is carrying more current than it should.

JulesM

Sorry it's been a while but I thought I'd let you know the outcome ...

Some of the replies to my post really frightened me so I contacted an electrician straight away. His first thought was that the switch itself had weakened over time and reacted incorrectly. He said if something had blown there would have been a bang.

He came out and did a thorough check of the wiring, sockets, fusebox but found no fault. That was a relief after a few sleepless nights fearing an electrical fire:eek:

Just one of those things it seems (hasn't happened again)

ormus

you sometimes get odd things happening like this with electrics.
ie
under certain atmospheric conditions, two contacts can arc across and short, so blowing the fuse.
reset the mcb and everything is ok. and it doesnt happen again for months/years, or never.