i want to change my old plastic sockets with new chrome finished sockets. I've wired them up correctly (i think) and earthed the socket cover to the back box but as soon as a metal screw touches the back box the circuit breaker trips.
any ideas?

michaela, February 2009

Get an electrician before you have fire - or worse!

T, February 2009

Double check you have the wires in the right terminals - Black or blue in 'N', Red or brown in 'L', and the smaller middle wire in the earth terminal, which will look different to the other 2 (you should be able to see where it connects to the faceplate).

Also check that the live is not touching or connected to the backbox, possibly if the insulation has chafed - the breaker would operate if that had happened and it came into contact with the (earthed) faceplate when the screw touches it.

Adam, February 2009

Perhaps you have stripped too much insulation off the live wire and even though it might be pushed fully in to the terminal block, there is some bare live conductor exposed which is touching off the earth conductor (which should be sleeved in green/yellow striped sleeving).

J, February 2009