Intermittently tripping electric switch

[ThisPunnyLemonHedgehog]

I’ve just moved into a new property I’m renting, and when I got in there and went to plug in my phone the socket wouldn’t work and none of the other plug sockets or anything plugged into them worked. I looked and saw that one of the switches for the sockets had tripped, and this excludes the fridge being an issue as it had tripped before that was even plugged in. I’ve been turning things on and off trying to find what’s tripping it but the times it goes off seem so random and it’s making it hard to locate the issue. Any one got any helpful info? I’m with a lettings agent as a student so I don’t have direct contact with the landlord to discuss it right away. I’ll insert a pic of the fuse box. It’s the circled one that’s tripping (the one turned off was just so I could try and pin point the issue)

Could be a bulb in one of the landing lights. Have you got an EICR for the property? You should have received one as a new tenant saying the electrics had been tested

Hey, I’ve turned off the main lights to see if it trips again but it has tripped whilst they’ve been off as well. No I don’t have one of those, it’s a property let out to students so don’t think they bother giving out that info

We had this in our downstairs. Kept tripping and unfortunately the only way to figure out what was tripping it was by process of elimination. For us we narrowed it down to a long 4 gang extension lead which was overloaded and running off a 4 plug extension socket. The house obviously didn't like it!! So check you don't have an overloaded circuit.

Have a check for faulty wiring or appliances also. Anything faulty or not working properly may trip the switch.

@ThisPunnyLemonHedgehog

You say it's random when it trips... What's the longest time you've been without it tripping?

i.e.

"It's random, but will definitely trip within, e.g. 30 minutes or two hours, etc."

or

"It can be fine for a day or 3, but won't last a whole week" ?

Is it on the same circuit as the outdoor lights? Sometimes they can trip when it rains and moisture gets in

Get in touch with the agent- though there should be landlord details on your lease. But if agents are managing the property that’s who you report it to.

That's a 32 amp breaker so it won't be running a lighting circuit, it'll probably be a ring main (sockets).

It's definitely the breaker going and not the RCD?

It’s gone without tripping overnight and well into the next day so like 14 hours and then it just suddenly tripped again with nothing new being plugged in or anything

Pretty sure they’re separate, they look like different circuits on the fuse box anyways. I’m not familiar with the place as I’ve only been here 1 night

Yeah no contact details for the landlord they’re just given as the lettings agents, who unfortunately close quite early and shut on weekends so hard to get in contact when this happens at night

@c3pu Hey, yeah it’s just that singular breaker which appears to just be all the plug sockets that go off, because things like the shower, lights etc. work fine. The RCD stays on when it trips

I have never heard of Phase Guard MCBs before and had to google them, looks like some Chinese brand. I don't think there is anything you can do until an electrician looks at it, could be a faulty device as its a surprise its tripping before the RCD. Will have been a very cheap install when it was done.

the reason the text doesn't line up with the correct breaker is because the rcds were fitted at a later date to comply when the regulations changed so the breakers have been pushed along.

@LivingDeadGirlUK thanks, yeah it’s quite strange how it’s going off after so many hours of being ok as well. Hopefully I can get in contact with my agents by Monday!

You mentioned it's a Student accommodation - Has anybody else already moved in before you - was it tripping for them before you arrived?

As a PP has mentioned - I think it's going to be a case of trial & error to narrow down the culprit.

It sounds like you've already tried testing devices individually...

As per PP - Try eliminating or swapping gang plugs or extension leads (don't forget any in housemates or shared rooms).

~~

Try working you way around the house eliminating sockets i.e. In each room - leave a socket empty... If it still trips - you know it wasn't that socket.... Plug stuff into that socket and leave a different socket empty, etc.

~~

It may not even be a faulty device or appliance - it could be that the whole circuit is being overloaded.

For example - I worked in an office and if a particular electric heater was switched on and then somebody tried to boil the kettle - it would overload & trip the circuit.

Both kettle & heater were brand new, known brands, plugged directly into the wall sockets in different rooms in the building. Both worked fine independently for years after.... but both together - overloaded & tripped.

Likewise, other (different style) electric heaters worked fine alongside the kettle.... just that one combination that tripped.

So maybe, for example, someone is using a hair dryer or kettle at the same time as someone else is making toast?

Those breakers can have different ratings - so if it is being overloaded by "normal usage" - an electrician should be able to put in a "bigger" one.

Maybe keep a little diary of events each time it trips - Time of day... Who is home... What is everybody doing (i.e. Mary is making toast while Dave is blow-drying his beard), etc.

Eventually you should be able to identify a pattern of events and narrow down the cause. (i.e. it only trips when Tegan has got the heat-lamp on for her exotic pets tank and somebody boils the kettle at the same time!)

Good luck!