Why would circuit breaker trip every few hours?

brightontraveller

Crinkmeister wrote: »

If it's not a power cut then faulty RCD or a loose connection somewhere would be the next most likely cause.

Really ????

brightontraveller

Kiran wrote: »

Next time it trips out put all the MCB's to the off position straight away and reset the RCD. Put the MCB's back on one at a time, hopefully one of them should trip the power again. That'll identify the circuit that has an issue. From there it is a case of checking everything on that circuit but it does eliminate the rest of the house.


As I say, I'm not an electrician but this should work

no Fuses l-e fault yes n – e no wouldn’t do diddly

brightontraveller

For novice - unplug and disconnect all appliances feed from CU (fuse board ) leave x -xx hrs if no trip its an appliance then process of elimination? Problem is some RCD's etc dont like to be continually tripping and go faulty so you find fault but rcd has now given up the ghost so fault appears to still be there (electric fairies )Id go fridge . freezers central heating etc items that are on when your asleep etc [FONT=&quot]l-e fault pretty easy n – e more tricky, combination creating fault currents some pc supplys and [FONT=&quot]pest [/FONT] etc bloody nightmare [/FONT]

Ben84

I'm a little unclear what the situation is? Are none of the switches going down, or just the main one that turns off all the power to the house? Although you mention it turning itself back on, which is something they do not do, I have known people say this and later find someone else in the house turned it back on. It doesn't take long for everyone to notice the power is out.

Anyway, If none of the switches go down, nothing is tripping. That would more likely be small power cuts. I would ask the neighbours if they're had similar problems.

However, if it's just the main switch going down and none of the individual ones for the sockets, lights, etc, then it sounds like you have an RCD and that's tripping, which would be something going on in your house.

vacheron

Crinkmeister wrote: »

If it's not a power cut then faulty RCD or a loose connection somewhere would be the next most likely cause.

I agree. If you are losing power to the whole house (including ceiling lights, cooker, shower etc.) which then all come back on by themselves you could have an intermittent connection inside the consumer unit, perhaps a loose connection to or from the main isolator / RCD, or loose neutral bar return connection.

Alternatively it could be a problem with the incoming DNO cut-out fuse or cable if only your house seems to be affected and not the neighbours.

An electrician should be able to identify which of these it is, but if it is the DNO connection at fault you will have to contact your electricity supplier as only they are authorised to access it.

scarletjim

Kiran wrote: »

Next time it trips out put all the MCB's to the off position straight away and reset the RCD. Put the MCB's back on one at a time, hopefully one of them should trip the power again. That'll identify the circuit that has an issue. From there it is a case of checking everything on that circuit but it does eliminate the rest of the house.


As I say, I'm not an electrician but this should work

Problem is, when I try to reset, it doesn't work for a good 10/15 mins, and when it does work, presumably that's because the problem has 'gone away' for the time being. If it let me reset immediately then tripped out as soon as I flicked the relevant switch, I could do as you suggest, but because it doesn't work at all for a while, then does work for a few hours, I can't do what you suggest.

scarletjim

A few updates / clarifications:

It's not correct that it 'came back on its own' the first time as originally suggested - it turns out my housemate flicked all the switches down then up again (he thinks, but never told me or my GF). (Ben84 you guessed this! )

No switches trip - not the individual 6, nor the main one that presumably manages all those 6. The electricity just cuts out, but they all stay up ('on').

It can't be a power cut, because the other circuit, which works the lights and the oven, stays on and seems to be absolutely fine.

vacheron

scarletjim wrote: »

A few updates / clarifications:

It's not correct that it 'came back on its own' the first time as originally suggested - it turns out my housemate flicked all the switches down then up again (he thinks, but never told me or my GF). (Ben84 you guessed this! )

No switches trip - not the individual 6, nor the main one that presumably manages all those 6. The electricity just cuts out, but they all stay up ('on').

It can't be a power cut, because the other circuit, which works the lights and the oven, stays on and seems to be absolutely fine.

In which case it definitely looks like a poor connection in the consumer unit or a faulty MCB. Either way you need a qualified electrician to take a look at it.

scarletjim

No problem, I'm always happy to do that if necessary - I just hate getting someone out and they do something that I could have done in 2 mins, and I feel like an idiot who doesn't try. Cheers all.

Ben84

vacheron wrote: »

In which case it definitely looks like a poor connection in the consumer unit or a faulty MCB. Either way you need a qualified electrician to take a look at it.

Yes, and promptly. Bad electrical connections can be a fire hazard.