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electric trip switch keeps tripping

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sphinxy | 23:36 Mon 01st Mar 2010 | DIY
4 Answers
Hi can any body help the trip switch for all the sockets in my home tripped out yesterday at around about 2 pm unplugged all sockets and turned off all sockets then re set switch then replaced plugged units one by one this worked and all was well till about 9 pm then switch tripped again this stayed on till 7/10 am this morning wife turnedit on again when she got in at 5/55 pm it was of again she set it again i got home at 7 pm it was on at about 7/45 tripped out again re set it 10 mins later gone again this went on for about an hour on for 10 ,20 mins trip againre set at nine pm still on at 1035 pm any one got any idea why this is happening any thoughts would be appreciated thanks
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Sounds like something that needs to warm up is faulty or something is overheating, The only way is to plug individual items in one at a time and give them 15 mins. Before that try with nothing plugged in for 15 mins
13:35 Wed 03rd Mar 2010
Have you tested everything plugged into a socket BY RUNNING IT one by one with the trip switch on?

If nothing plugged into a socket is tripping it, then I would suggest it must be a fault with something hard-wired. eg. something to do with central heating/lighting/cooking.
Something may have shorted out (by leaking water?) in your centreal heating setup, a lighting unit/socket has been knocked/damaged or your stove has gone wrong (if electric).
Sounds like something that needs to warm up is faulty or something is overheating, The only way is to plug individual items in one at a time and give them 15 mins. Before that try with nothing plugged in for 15 mins
That's the problem with large paragraphs and inconsistent ways of showing the time. Difficult to follow.

Off at 14:00
On shortly after 14:00

Off again at 21:00
Assumed on again shortly after 21:00

Off at 07:10
On again 17:55

Off at unknown time
On again 19:00

Off at 19:35
On again 19:45

Think it's off again at 20:05 and every 10 to 20 minutes until ... 21:00 ?


So it stayed on for 7 hours in the afternoon, then overnight for 10 hours, then for an unknown time during the day, and then when you were there in the evening the trips were was much more frequent.

Well it sounds like something that isn't used overnight but while you are there. It could be the heating / water. You might try switching it off for a day and using a small heater and kettle, see if the problem goes away.

Or, while you are home, there are lights and TV and radio and cooker etc on that isn't used overnight. But the fact it did trip during the day suggest to me it isn't likely to be something you plug in while you are there.

I think it's a case of gradually eliminating the potential sources of the problem.

Is it a fridge/freezer causing a power spike maybe ? Difficult to switch off your freezer for too long, but it may pay you to take it off for a while (just don't open the door). But again, why not at night if it's that ?

Can only suggest removing stuff in sequence and seeing if the problem goes with any particular load.
Question Author
thanks for your response had an electrician round he found the fault was in the conservatory that was wired up by the previous owner but apparently the wire had streched he disconnected the spur and all fine now so thanks again

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