Electrics........advice needed please

[Dave7]

For some reason the system to only our sockets has started tripping.
At first I just put the switch and it seemed ok.......for a week.
Then it was happenening very soon after re-setting the switch.
By trial and error I "thought" I had traced it to the socket which runs from inside the house to the pond/pump outside.
I had the pump stripped and cleaned and the connection swapped for a new better type.
That seemed to cure it but 4 days later it has tripped again.
So my question(s) are........

Does this need an electrician?

Is it possible for an electrician to somehow test it and say AHA!!!! Thats where/what your problem is?
Thanks

 

[TissoT]

It would be an easy fault find for a good Electrician. at a guess either a cut in the cable supplying the pump or the pump as a seal problem. Providing the problem is traced to the outside/inside socket.

 

[Dave7]

[QUOTE 5398622, member: 9609"]does it ever trip with the pond pump disconnected - I would rule that out 100% before anything else. and what is dropping the rcd or the circuit breakers ?[/QUOTE]
I "dont think" it has.. Obviously I dont want to leave the pump off for too long but as I say, I dont think it has.
The thing is.......it doesnt trip immediately every time eg I re-set it yesterday and its still working this morning. Quite annoying really

 

[Accy cyclist]

My toaster kept making my power supply go off. I don't know why,but if i put Morrison's Extra Thick Toasty in it it'd somehow overload and the whole lot went off.

 

[subaqua]

My toaster kept making my power supply go off. I don't know why,but if i put Morrison's Extra Thick Toasty in it it'd somehow overload and the whole lot went off.

it pushes the carrier cage closer to element. it all expands with the heat and the earthed carrier is close enough to element to allow a residual current of 24mA upwards (the lower limit for tripping based on years of ramp testing devices - see proper science ) to flow.


as for OP . yup sounds like moisture creep. Electrician will test with an Insulation resistance tester , commonly known as a Megger. will show any low resistance fault between L-E or N-E

 

[Dave7]

[QUOTE 5398674, member: 9609"]can you not plug it into another circuit and see if it trips that ? even run an extension round to a neighbours and plug it in there (although I guess some neighbours might baulk at the prospect of you burning down their house with dodgy electrics- but thats neighbours for you these days #brokenbritain)

anyway, as you can probablt guess from my avatar I do get a bit concerned with folk dipping dodgy electrics into ponds,[/QUOTE]

Excellent idea thanks. Fortunately we have a granny flat extension which is on its own 'stand alone' circuit.
If only it would trip immediately all the time but I have just checked and its still OK since yesterday.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Excellent idea thanks. Fortunately we have a granny flat extension which is on its own 'stand alone' circuit.
If only it would trip immediately all the time but I have just checked and its still OK since yesterday.

I'd take @subaqua advice ,he is a sparky.
Or get a new pump

 

[Levo-Lon]

This morning one of my residents tripped the electric.

She was fishing toast out of the toaster while still cooking with a knife!!

I pointed to the big button that says cancel..good job we have rcd's

 

[Dave7]

as for OP . yup sounds like moisture creep. Electrician will test with an Insulation resistance tester , commonly known as a Megger. will show any low resistance fault between L-E or N-E

I have a Mr Fixit coming tomorrow. He is not a qualified electrician so is not able to do everything ie new installations.........but he certainly knows his way around and does possess a resistance tester. I will pass on your advice so many thanks for that.

 

[Dave7]

[QUOTE 5398740, member: 9609"]least it will rule out whether it be the circuit or the pump,[/QUOTE]
Reasonably confident it not the actual pump as it was new the winter just gone...........but my Mr Fixit is going to check it all out tomorrow.

Thanks to all for the good advice................even @Accy cyclist as I now know not to put extra thick slices in my toaster very handy as I am about to do bacon & egg on toast for lunch.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Reasonably confident it not the actual pump as it was new the winter just gone...........but my Mr Fixit is going to check it all out tomorrow.

Thanks to all for the good advice................even @Accy cyclist as I now know not to put extra thick slices in my toaster very handy as I am about to do bacon & egg on toast for lunch.

And definitely do not root out burnt toast with a fork while it's still plugged in,like my mum once did!

 

[Dave7]

This morning one of my residents tripped the electric.

She was fishing toast out of the toaster while still cooking with a knife!!

I pointed to the big button that says cancel..good job we have rcd's

That is 5th on the list of "Dumb Ways To Die"........after poking a Grizzly Bear with a stick and Using Your Private Parts as Piranha Bait.

 

[subaqua]

I have a Mr Fixit coming tomorrow. He is not a qualified electrician so is not able to do everything ie new installations.........but he certainly knows his way around and does possess a resistance tester. I will pass on your advice so many thanks for that.

if he repairs the fault he wont need to be a member of a Competent Person Scheme . if he replaces the pump and the pump is different to the existing , then it "may" come under the auspices of Part P notifiable work and he would need to be a member of a CPS , or you self notify to Local Authority Building Control .

 

[Paulus]

This morning one of my residents tripped the electric.

She was fishing toast out of the toaster while still cooking with a knife!!

I pointed to the big button that says cancel..good job we have rcd's

Is she still alive

 

[Lozz360]

This morning one of my residents tripped the electric.

She was fishing toast out of the toaster while still cooking with a knife!!

I pointed to the big button that says cancel..good job we have rcd's

Clearly a candidate for a Darwinian award!