Never had this before usually they just stopped working.
Extension reel with MCB safety plug just done a long hedge in our shared drive. Got clear then set up to cut the shrubs overhanging from the church, only a 1rs work ground level. Plugged in the extensions MCB plug and the red bar started to quickly vibrate in the window on/off on/off very rapid. Tested the socket its not that. Is it a safe bet to say its knackered? had six years but not that frequency of use.
If it is knackered I'll chop the MCB plug off and fit and ordinary one and buy separate circuit breaker.

Many thanks to all who take the time to view and those for replies.

Bob UK, August 2013

not ment for you sparky :-)

mm, October 2013

mountains out of mole hills you lot have not got a clue ,best you call some spark who knows what he is doing,least you gave me a laugh reading your posts

mm, October 2013

I know that what I'm going to suggest is obvious - indeed so obvious that most people overlook it anyway.

Have you checked that all the terminals in the sockets and plug tops on both the extension leads and your gardening tool are tight?

We all have a tendency to assume that when we plug into an extension lead, or plug in a gardening appliance, it will work - because it did last time!

I know this sounds trite, but try it anyway before replacing anything.

Sparky201309, September 2013

most extension reels don't have an rccd but a toc fitted in them ,that's a thermal overload cut out,its a little red button you press to reinstate the power they do not switch themselves back on ,mcb,s are fitted in your consumer unit,(fuse box)have you checked what ever you had plugged into to the reel??

mm, August 2013

Ok Pecci thanks for the correction.
A residual-current device (RCD), or residual-current circuit breaker (RCCB) or residual twin-direct current couplet (R2D2), is an electrical wiring device that disconnects a circuit whenever it detects that the electric current is not balanced between the energized conductor and the return neutral conductor.
( I looked it up).

However nothing shows on the fault I had hence I’ve turned to the ever knowing Peccavi the main responder to many of the forum questions.
Yet all the time its referred to as a Residual circuit Breaker. Suppose its easier than remembering the definitions. However the question you asked no it was not under load. I took a break for tea and disconnected the hedge cutter, the RCD extension from the socket so it was all safe while I supped tea....I then re-powered the extension plugging in the RCD and turning the socket on only to get the bar that indicates power on fibrate up and down rapid. I hit the test button nothing happened I hit the on button( used to reset) nothing happened so turn it off at socket and remove the RCD plug. Tried it in another socket same thing. Tested both sockets with Polarity tester all three neon lights lit stating OK. I can only assume the RCD is knackered the fuse in it tested ok so it wasn’t indicating that fuse had blown other wise no current would be at the live indicator bar would it.
Once again many thanks.

bob, August 2013

You have an extension lead with a safety cut-out device - an Earth Leakage Breaker or RCD ? (Not a MCB)

It turns off and on very rapidly (you do not say if on-load or off-load).

The general case is that these things - RCDs and MCBs both - trip off and stay off - they have to be manually reset.

I would not trust a safety device that has the capability to switch off and then turn itself back on - on is own - without my approval.

Peccavi, August 2013