Electric keeps tripping - possibly found source

victor2

So it's not the (green) RCD that's tripping, but only the MCB labelled Ring Circuit Ground Floor.
That suggests something is overloading the circuit, not shorting to earth. It might be that with a normal load on, everything is OK, but then something cuts in that increases the total draw on the ring to a point where it trips the breaker. On its own, it may not trip it, but when other things are running, such as the fridge compressor, it is too much. Got any relatively high powered items?

silvercar

victor2 said:

So it's not the (green) RCD that's tripping, but only the MCB labelled Ring Circuit Ground Floor.
That suggests something is overloading the circuit, not shorting to earth. It might be that with a normal load on, everything is OK, but then something cuts in that increases the total draw on the ring to a point where it trips the breaker. On its own, it may not trip it, but when other things are running, such as the fridge compressor, it is too much. Got any relatively high powered items?

It’s the main circuit. Fridge freezer is on that one, but it flipped when we turned that one off.

first time it flipped there was nothing switched on at all! 

We have tried turning things off room by room, which is how we first pointed the finger at the lounge, but then it went again with the lounge off. Problem is it can take 5 minutes to flip or 45.

victor2

Do you have a smart electric meter? If so, does the IHD show high usage at any point? Or you could install the Bright app on a smartphone and see your usage history in 30 minute intervals and look for any unusual spikes. Of course, if it is a sudden spike, these won't catch it before it trips.

victor2

Another idea...
Does your fridge/freezer have an anti-frost feature? Many do, and it involves a heating element that normally cuts in something like once a day. If that is failing and the fridge periodically tries to switch it on, maybe that trips the breaker. Is your freezer icing up?

silvercar

victor2 said:

Another idea...
Does your fridge/freezer have an anti-frost feature? Many do, and it involves a heating element that normally cuts in something like once a day. If that is failing and the fridge periodically tries to switch it on, maybe that trips the breaker. Is your freezer icing up?

All looks fine, other than the ice box, but that would be because the stored ice is melting and sticking together.

silvercar

victor2 said:

Do you have a smart electric meter? If so, does the IHD show high usage at any point? Or you could install the Bright app on a smartphone and see your usage history in 30 minute intervals and look for any unusual spikes. Of course, if it is a sudden spike, these won't catch it before it trips.

I have a smart meter. But it is all sudden spikes.

silvercar

I’ve called our bank’s home emergency line…..

GDB2222

The MCB is rated at 20 amps. Do you know why it is not 32 amps, which is usual for a ring main?

With nearly everything switched off (and **unplugged**, I hope!, so as to be quite sure), it’s unlikely to simply be overloaded. So, you either have a faulty appliance or faulty wiring. If you unplug everything and it still trips, it’s the wiring and you need an electrician. 

Furthermore, something that trips the mcb can get seriously overheated and cause a fire, so don’t delay. 

victor2

silvercar said:

victor2 said:

Do you have a smart electric meter? If so, does the IHD show high usage at any point? Or you could install the Bright app on a smartphone and see your usage history in 30 minute intervals and look for any unusual spikes. Of course, if it is a sudden spike, these won't catch it before it trips.

I have a smart meter. But it is all sudden spikes.

Can you relate those sudden spikes to anything? Such as the fridge cutting in or the central heating pump running? It sounds like you're looking for something that you don't run on demand, but is controlled by a thermostat or other switch.
Edit: I see you have a separate MCB labelled Central Heating, so it may not be the pump.

silvercar

victor2 said:

silvercar said:

victor2 said:

Do you have a smart electric meter? If so, does the IHD show high usage at any point? Or you could install the Bright app on a smartphone and see your usage history in 30 minute intervals and look for any unusual spikes. Of course, if it is a sudden spike, these won't catch it before it trips.

I have a smart meter. But it is all sudden spikes.

Can you relate those sudden spikes to anything? Such as the fridge cutting in or the central heating pump running? It sounds like you're looking for something that you don't run on demand, but is controlled by a thermostat or other switch.

Nothing. First time it happened, there was nothing switched on.

It’s just flipped again, with nothing at all on!