Mains trips randomly

pcgtron

Hi all.
My mains trips randomly and in the last 6 months we have lost 2 lots of freezer foodwwhich is costly.
I have tried switching everything off and turning things on one by one but everythingxcomes back on again.
It always seems to trip when we are out of the house, and the only switch on thedfuse box that has tripped is the main switch, all the individual rings are up whichhas cconfused me.
Now, it is an old trip box, not a modern rcd. The house is a 60's semi. Any help would be appreciated as we are in a new area and don't know any trades here.
I'm most baffled by only the mains switch tripping and no other, I thoughtall theelectrics had to be on one of the rings?

Vintageryan

We had this for months could never find the problem electrics would go out sometimes twice a day then be ok for a few weeks then keep tripping everyday for a week.


In the end the problem was our answer phone took it out around 6 months ago never had a problem since, so if I was you I would try taking appliances out that are always in and leave them out until your next trip and work though one by one.

Ectophile

What sort of main switch is it?

Before the widespread use of RCDs, the main switch was usually just a big switch - nothing could trip it other than somebody pushing the switch lever.

Some older systems used an ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker). Some versions of those (the Current Operated ELCBs) were just RCDs under another name, while others were VOELCBs (Voltage Operated ELCB).

Assuming it's some sort of circuit breaker, it could be a transient glitch caused by something switching on or off. Fridges and freezers can be the culprits, but it's hard to trace if it only happens when you're not there.

Yorkie1

A power cut trips my RCD; perhaps the same is happening with you?

JohnB47

Our local cafe had a problem like this recently. Turned out to be their fridge. It's nit enough to turn things off one by one and turn them on again straight away, you need to leave them off for a period one at a time. Difficult with the fridge I know but you can leave it off for quite long, as long as you dont open the door.

cyclonebri1

Yorkie1 wrote: »

A power cut trips my RCD; perhaps the same is happening with you?

But he hasn't got an RCD, simply circuit breakers if I read it correctly;)

OP, it seems to be tripping by overload as if something like the fridge or freezer (items that run sporadically), is creating a surge when it kick in.

The circuits need checking to see what is wired to where.

A new RCD protected board would be your best and safest option, although I realise not the cheapest, but.......

pcgtron

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Could it be the boiler? After I posted that our boiler decided to go nuts. It was apparent the pressure was very low which could have made the boiler go on and off which in turn could have tripped the mains?
It's very difficult for me to have the fridge turned off as we have a small baby in thehouse an need to keep going into the fridge. Also, this is so sporadic, it might not happen for 6 weeks, then go twice in a week.
Our boiler is now leaking and turned off so waiting for that to get fixed then I'll try and work it out. You might be right though, a new board might be the answer as ours is old. Any idea of what they cost to have put in.

ValHaller

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

But he hasn't got an RCD, simply circuit breakers if I read it correctly;)

OP, it seems to be tripping by overload as if something like the fridge or freezer (items that run sporadically), is creating a surge when it kick in.

The circuits need checking to see what is wired to where.

A new RCD protected board would be your best and safest option, although I realise not the cheapest, but.......

OP says

the only switch on the fuse box that has tripped is the main switch

so as I see it, it is some sort of earth leakage circuit breaker - and as it is on the fuse box, it is almost certainly an RCD rather than a voltage operated trip.

To change that fusebox is almost certainly shooting the messenger which is doing exactly what it is supposed to do.

It really is a matter of going through all the circuits and connected appliances to locate the fault. And even if the fusebox is changed, I think it is almost certain that the problem will remain.

cyclonebri1

ValHaller wrote: »

OP says

so as I see it, it is some sort of earth leakage circuit breaker - and as it is on the fuse box, it is almost certainly an RCD rather than a voltage operated trip.

To change that fusebox is almost certainly shooting the messenger which is doing exactly what it is supposed to do.

It really is a matter of going through all the circuits and connected appliances to locate the fault. And even if the fusebox is changed, I think it is almost certain that the problem will remain.

If the OP says he hasn't got an RCD I accept that hence my comments, but you will note I suggested to get someone in to sift through the circuits.

Given the main switch is kicking out it suggests a fault in the wiring/fusing. Could be any of;

The circuits are inter twined, the breakers don't match the circuits, the system may have several faults and the OP may have more than 1 faulty appliance.

It is a possibility of any 1 or more than 1 of those issues, and any amount of asking here can't alter the fact that he needs help.
When he gets help any electrician is going to suggest he bites the bullet and updates his home.


Regarding shooting the messenger, you are putting the cart before the horse, the main issue is to protect himself, and until the circuits are checked and proven to be true, the messenger may indeed speak with forked tongue:D

fluffpot

main switches don't trip, unless they are RCD ones.

OP - please can you post up a pic of the fuse board and we can comment

It might be better to get it replaced with one with individual RCD/circuit breakers (rcbos) that way if one trips, it onltyknocks out one circuit, not everything

pcgtron

Picture of fuse board. The mains switch on the right trips, but the rings are all still on