Outdoor mains stopped working.

B0bbyEwing

Looking for someone to point in the right direction here, which may very well be just phone an electrician. 

Basically I have an outdoor mains box where I can plug whatever in to it. This has recently stopped working.
It has in the centre a red push button & a yellow push button - test & reset.

The fuse box inside the house has been checked - nothing has tripped.
This mains socket outside is installed where the washing machine & tumble drier on the inside of the wall are both connected - and these appliances both work fine.

If I press the reset button on the outside mains, it just springs back out immediately. It doesn't stay 'in' or anything.

Any ideas?

Eldi_Dos

Have you checked whatever appliance you where plugging into socket is working if plugged into another socket.

FreeBear

If the RCD reset button keeps popping out even with nothing plugged in, it suggests the socket is faulty. Either due to ingress of damp, or a failed component internally.

ThisIsWeird

B0bbyEwing said:

Basically I have an outdoor mains box where I can plug whatever in to it. This has recently stopped working.
It has in the centre a red push button & a yellow push button - test & reset.
If I press the reset button on the outside mains, it just springs back out immediately. It doesn't stay 'in' or anything.

These buttons are for an RCD, which detects tiny current 'leakages' which can arise when the item being plugged in becomes wet or develops a fault. It's a very good safety device - pretty much essential for outdoor devices.

Pressing the 'test' button mimics a fault, so it should 'trip' instantly. Pressing the 'yellow' button should reset it, and it should remain on as long as there isn't a fault.

When you do your pressing, is everything unplugged from this socket? If 'yes', then it's most likely as FreeBear says, and the actual RCD or socket itself is wet or faulty - you'll need a sparky to replace it, unless you can do this yourself. 

If 'no', then for lawdie's sakes unplug whatever is there and try again!

B0bbyEwing

In order... 

Yes the appliance works in other sockets, just not in this one (and nothing does). 

Any idea what's caused it to go faulty? Surely water shouldn't have got in as its an outside box thingy & I'd assume sealed in a way to protect from water? 

Yes everything is unplugged when I press reset, although I did also press with something plugged in. Either way nothing works. 

Is it any different to changing the mains faceplates inside the house? The wife does those. I stay away from electrics as I don't know what I'm doing but she has more of a clue than me. If it's the same as interior faceplates then she should be good to go I'd imagine. 

FreeBear

B0bbyEwing said: Any idea what's caused it to go faulty? Surely water shouldn't have got in as its an outside box thingy & I'd assume sealed in a way to protect from water?

Water has a way of getting in to anything. It could just be condensation, or there could be a crack (or poorly sealed gland). Swapping out the socket with another one of the same type and rating shouldn't be too difficult, but you do need to pay close attention to sealing things up again.

Eldi_Dos

Just a thought does cable feeding the socket have a drip loop before entering the socket.

B0bbyEwing

Eldi_Dos said:

Just a thought does cable feeding the socket have a drip loop before entering the socket.

I couldn't tell you tbh as no cable is visible.

Since the washing machine & tumble drier are on the opposite side of the wall (& their mains) I imagine the outside socket is in some way powered from that (the interior mains supplying said appliances - which work as I've been using both today).