HI, I removed a wall socket to replace the skirting boards and since putting it back my rcd on my trip board keeps blowing. I have checked the wiring and everything is fine. I have not nailed on the board so I have not nut the wire by accident. Can anyone help me? Not to clue'd up on thnigs like rcd and distrubution boards.

Kevin, June 2009

Have you you tried switching off all consumer units i.e. lights, fridge, cooker etc the resetting your RCD the swithing on items one at a time until the trip throws out.

Quintoro, November 2009

Finally sorted it!!! It was an outside uv lighting pump on the pond. For some unknown reason it just happen to trip the rcd at the same time as removing the skirting board. Unsure why but replace the pump and outside cabling and now everything fine. Thanks to all for your help. Much appreciated.

Kevin, June 2009

I had a similar problem. I disconnected everything (so I thought) but the fault persisted. My fault was traced to my gas hob ignition system which was permanently wired via. a fused spur and so I overlooked it. Make sure you have definitely disconnected everything like your house alarm, bell transformer, central heating etc., things which are normally permanently connected to the mains via. fused spurs. Connect these items one at a time, test for a short period, disconnect and then try another item. Obviously, the one that trips your RCD is the faulty one.

You may have a faulty RCD, they are normally very reliable but have been known to fail.

Dave, June 2009

Ah - then the new skirting board and the socket off and back on again were red herrings - sent to confuse... At least you've eliminated the socket...

Best to replace the socket first.

The RCD (bigger two pole device) usually provides power to all the circuits in the house - upstairs, downstairs, power, lights, cooker etc. Either the RCD is playing up (very unusual) or one or more electrical devices is developing a fault.

You say power was OK for a full ten munites and then the RCD tripped. Perhaps a device that has the ability to switch itself: Fridge - Washing Machine - Dishwasher - Boiler - Immersion Heater got to a change point after the ten minutes and tripped your breaker.

If you disconnect each circuit in turn (flip the breaker off) you will be able to eliminate the specific circuit and the devices on it - will take time though - just how long should you wait to be able to say that you've made progress. At least ten minutes... Don't let the freezer defrost!

Good luck...

P, June 2009

I have turned everything off in the house and unplugged all appliances. Turned on the power and it stayed on. I turned on the tv and it lasted about ten minutes before tripping the rcd again. The offending socket which i removed it still disconnected and so is not wired wrongly. Cant believe my just disconnecting a wall socket can cause this problem ?????

Kevin, June 2009

"I have checked the wiring and everything is fine."

I suspect that it is not fine...

An RCD compares current in Live & Neutral - if there's as little as 30mA difference (0.03 Amps) the RCD breaker will trip the assumption being that the "missing" current is running to Earth through a person's body - a safety device.

You might remove each socket one at a time and leave the wires hanging in the air - dangerous so be careful and keep children away - and see which particular socket is causing the problem.

Good luck...Take care...

Peccavi, June 2009