Why Do My Sockets Keep Tripping? 4 Reasons Your Sockets May Be Tripping.
Why do my sockets keep tripping?
Several factors can contribute to socket tripping, including:
- Overloaded circuits due to excessive use of appliances
- Short circuits caused by damaged wiring or faulty connections
- Faulty appliances or devices drawing excessive current
- Water or damp ingress in sockets, joints or wiring, leading to electrical faults
If your sockets are tripping the MCB that protects their circuit, it is likely to be an overload fault. This means that the rating of the MCB protecting the socket circuit in question (likely to be a 32a or 20a) is being exceeded by the circuit. This tends to be more common in older houses that have only 1 circuit for every socket in the house. Most older houses would have had 1 or maybe 2 sockets in each room with not much more than a lamp plugged into most sockets when it was designed/installed. In todays world however we have much more plugged in throughout our homes and this can present problems on older installations.
For example, a house back in 1980 would have only had an electric kettle plugged in in the kitchen, possibly a toaster too. However today we have air fryers, blenders, coffee machines, kettles as well as many more “fixed” appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers. Your kitchen alone now could potentially draw 20-30 amps of currently if many appliances using sockets are being used at the same time. That’s without other rooms using computers, televisions and other devices.
If however the RCD is the cause of your sockets tripping this could be more likely to indicate a fault somewhere. RCDs work by monitoring the flow of current between live and neutral conductors and check for imbalances. Should an imbalance occur (usually caused by a fault of some description) then the RCD will trip to protect not only the circuit but also any persons or animals that have come into contact with the live conductors. The most common types of faults causing an RCD to trip are broken/damaged cables and moisture ingress.
In this article lets go through some of the potential causes and how to identify which device is causing your socket tripping issues.
Identifying MCBs and RCDs:
MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) and RCDs (Residual Current Devices) are indispensable components of your electrical system. Here’s how to recognize and understand their roles:
- MCBs: These protective devices are located within your consumer unit or fuse box. They’re designed to automatically interrupt the electrical supply when they detect overloads or short circuits. These are the smaller switches or “single size”, normally labelled with what circuit they control.
- RCDs: Residual Current Devices are another essential safety feature. They monitor the flow of electrical current and swiftly disconnect power if they detect imbalances, safeguarding against electric shocks. These devices are normally bigger or “double sized” and will have a button on them marked T or TEST and should be labelled as RCD.
Troubleshooting The Cause Of Your Sockets Tripping:
If you’re facing unexplained socket tripping, follow these steps to identify the root cause:
- Remove Any New Screws Or Nails In The Wall: One of the first questions I ask customers who are experiencing their sockets tripping is whether there has been any DIY done recently. Unfortunately it’s very common for people to nail or screw through a cable concealed in the wall. These fixings could hit the cable and cause a short between live and earth or live and neutral which in turn causes the sockets to trip. If there has been some DIY done recently the first port of call is to remove any nails or screws that are in close proximity to a socket or switch. If the wall has been drilled first and a wall plug placed in then removing the screw may not solve the issue as the drill bit may have caused greater damage to the cable. If this does not solve the issue we would then begin with the following.
- Unplug All Electrical Items: Begin by unplugging all appliances and devices from the affected sockets. This helps determine if the tripping is caused by a faulty appliance or an overloaded circuit.
- Reset MCB or RCD: Locate your consumer unit or fuse box and identify the MCB or RCD responsible for the tripped circuit. Reset the MCB or RCD by switching it back to the “on” position. Some RCDs will need the switch pulled fully to the off position before pushing the switch back to the “on” position.
- Gradual Reconnection: Reconnect your electrical items one at a time, allowing intervals between each connection. If the tripping occurs again after reconnecting a specific appliance, it may indicate a fault with that device. Devices that frequently tend to be the cause could include: Anything with a heating element (kettle, coffee machine, washing machine/tumble dryer) or electronics that have PCB boards inside (televisions, computers etc).
- Investigate areas for signs of rodent presence or moisture: This one can be tricky but if you know you have mice or other rodents or moisture ingress from things like a leaking roof or damp spreading up a wall this could be a good indicator of the location of a fault. These issues should be highlighted to an electrician as this could help narrow down where the fault is and speed up the fault finding process, in turn saving you money!
When to Call A Professional Electrician For Help:
If after unplugging all electrical items and resetting the MCB or RCD, this doesn’t resolve the issue and your sockets are still tripping, it’s time to call in an expert. Here at AVB Electrical we are able to help with all of your fault finding needs! Serving Chelmsford, Essex and the surrounding areas, we can conduct thorough inspections and diagnose complex electrical problems safely and efficiently, using a range of specialist equipment. Don’t hesitate to reach out for professional assistance when needed.
For all fault finding requirements please see our Fault Finding service by clicking here, or alternatively by calling us on 07918 998691.
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