Help! RCD will not reset

Alter_ego

Wife was using cooker controls when the RCD tripped the kitchen, one light circuit, sockets, fridge/freezer etc.

The RCD switch feels as though it has a solid physical block stopping it moving up.

I've tried switching off all the trips on that RCD but it still wont reset.

Any ideas please?

dil1976

Can you post a photo of your RCD that has tripped to help us, you may need to push it down before pushing it up to turn it back on.

Alter_ego

 Pushing down did not help. Thanks for helping. My capabilities are limited but here's a pic of the consumer unit by torchlight.

Neil_Jones

Try turning the whole lot off (may be a red switch or similar) just after the meter but before the RCD.

Then see if you can reset the switch.

If you can and it trips again when you apply power again, it's doing it for a reason and it'll be something on that circuit is causing the problem.  They don't trip for fun.

fwor

If what Neil_Jones suggests does not resolve the problem, the next thing I would try is to see whether the cooker has its own isolation switch, in the kitchen (often hidden away behind drawers or at the rear of a cupboard). This should be a dual-pole switch, which will isolate both live and neutral, just before the cooker. This may help in the case of a neutral-to-earth fault in the cooker.

Alter_ego

Just managed to reset, with all the breakers off I pushed up very hard on the RCD - It reset!!  Switched on each circuit in turn and it did not trip again.

Is it worth a callout of an electrician to check it out? Or maybe I should operate the test (in the morning)

fwor

The "Test" button on the RCD won't tell you anything more than that the RCD is working correctly internally. If it tripped while the controls for the cooker were being used then you probably have an intermittent fault in the cooker. I would advise that you have an electrician test and see what's going on.

Alter_ego

Many thanks to all who helped. Everything is back to normal this morning, but I will get it checked out.

Heedtheadvice

Yes you should operate the test.

If the test button does not trip the red then it is faulty.

It is conceivable that forcing the rcd back on again may have damaged it and that the fault still exists. That is potentially dangerous and the rcd will not switch off if similar faults occur.

Best then get in an electrician.

If the test button still works the rcd will be fine and you may find that you either have an intermittent or temporary fault (possibly caused by moisture or failing heater element) or that the cooker is not currently being  operated the same as when the original fault occurred such as the ring in use or oven or grill thermostat or fan. Try out all function of the cooker fully.