DJ54 Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 One breaker switch started tripping tonight. Nothing different plugged in. No burnt electric smell. Breaker is for bedroom, 1 bathroom, on outside light. The wiring goes up to ceiling (above) and goes to different locations as above. How’s best way to check it? Live in village and don’t know of any experts in the area. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worgeordie Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 If the wire goes into the ceiling,it could be rats have chewed the wire, they are tree rats and like to come in the roofs during the rainy season. Or if the wire is connected to the electric shower,thats also something to check. leave it switched off until you find the problem. regards worgeordie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyjustice Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Breaker do go bad and trip with no load. First step is replace breaker and see if it still trips. If not great, if still trips look for shorted wire. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubonjoe Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Moved to here for better info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Also check that you dont have an ant nest in your breaker box,light switches and plug sockets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Gecko's are also a possibility, they can "short" things too. Buggers cost me an a/c unit !. If you have an a/c for that bedroom you mentioned check it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daffy D Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Happened to mother-in law 11 minutes ago, johng said: Also check that you dont have an ant nest in your breaker box,light switches and plug sockets. Happened to mother-in-law. The Safe-T-Cut that I fitted some time ago tripped. Couldn't find anything wrong till I noticed the Safe-T-Cut box was swarming with tiny ants, those little ones you can hardly see. (Crossy skip the next part ) Didn't fancy taking the whole thing apart so I heavily sprayed all round the box then with eyes closed and fingers crossed lightly sprayed on the box. I then flipped the switch on and off a few times till it stopped tripping, and it's been OK since. Phew!!!! As an extra precaution I got a couple of those giant commercial sized moth balls put them in one of those net bags things that they sell fruit in and hung it over the box. Seems to do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Is the device that's tripping an MCB (no Test button) or an RCBO (has a Test button)? If it's an MCB you have a pretty solid fault, likely (as noted earlier) Roland Rat having a chew on the wires. Make sure you have disconnected / unplugged everything on that circuit and try again. If you think it may be a bad MCB swap the wire over to another of the same rating. PLEASE be very careful, power off at the main breaker before doing anything. Do you have any test equipment (neon screwdriver, simple multimeter)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 3 hours ago, Daffy D said: (Crossy skip the next part ) Didn't fancy taking the whole thing apart so I heavily sprayed all round the box then with eyes closed and fingers crossed lightly sprayed on the box. I then flipped the switch on and off a few times till it stopped tripping, and it's been OK since. Phew!!!! I didn't ? Does it still trip on the Test button? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daffy D Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 18 minutes ago, Crossy said: I didn't ? Does it still trip on the Test button? No willpower Yes it still trips on the Test Button Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 2 minutes ago, Daffy D said: No willpower None whatever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielParsons Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Does it trip if nothing is on, i.e. lights? If you know whats connected to the circuit try the process of elimination, if its a socket circuit then try to see what socket is causing the fault by plugging something in one socket at a time.. apart from that it will need further investigation as other members have suggested.. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritManToo Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 I usually swap the suspect breaker with the one next to it (assuming same rating). Swap the live wires, or swap the module, depending on your unit. Then if the swapped breaker, flips you know it's a circuit problem and not the breaker. I had a breaker that flipped in one circuit, but both were fine when 2 were swapped. Some breakers are more 'flippy' than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmcc6 Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 I once tracked down what fuse kept tripping by going one by one to each breaker switch. Narrowed down to my electric hot plates. Turns out a fried bug was laying across two wires. Another occurred much later when there was a dirt build up in a floor mounted power point. fixed with vacuum cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickmondo Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 turn everything off. turn the breaker to the on position one at a time, turn stuff on and see what makes the breaker trip then you have found the cause of the problem. you will then need to look closely at the part of the circuit which tripped the breaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightSky Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Im no sparky although when we had a similar problem I noticed the circuit included outside lights and fittings and it tripped when it rained so I am looking for an outside switch, wire, light that might be letting in water. What I did was to look around any sockets or light fittings for gaps and applied sealant to fill the gaps. Of course it could also be old wire or damaged wiring etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bankruatsteve Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Uhm, I think the OP solved already guys. You can save what you did one time for when the next mystery comes along. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ54 Posted September 10, 2018 Author Share Posted September 10, 2018 Thanks to all for your input. The breaker tripped last night three times i went around and checked any plugs etc. Should flash damage. Nothing. It not tripped today with everything the same plugged in . i don’t like to fool with electric, got knocked on my ass twice when in my 20’s Told the wife we need someone that’s qualified to come take a look inside the house and above the ceiling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 If it is an MCB (no Test button) that's tripping I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you leave it turned off until you can get a man to look at it. It's quite possible for a fried Roland Rat to sit there fizzing gently without tripping the MCB and get a nice fire going!! This is not something you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cake Monster Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 I would lay money down that its water getting into the outside wiring somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retiredandhappyhere Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 8 hours ago, CharlieH said: Gecko's are also a possibility, they can "short" things too. Buggers cost me an a/c unit !. If you have an a/c for that bedroom you mentioned check it. Yes, a gecko set my kitchen air-con unit on fire by shorting the wires and the fire caused quite a bit of damage, requiring a difficult clean-up, particularly of the ceiling, and complete redecoration of walls and ceiling, as well as the cost of a new air-con unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VoidedEntry Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 On 9/9/2018 at 12:28 PM, Martyjustice said: Breaker do go bad and trip with no load. First step is replace breaker and see if it still trips. If not great, if still trips look for shorted wire. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Very rarely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 Is your wiring in yellow conduit if so you could probably rule out rats.unplug everything if it still trips, then it does sound like an internal wiring problem. if your power board has an adjuster turn it up one notch. good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thailand49 Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 I start with your room light switch first most likely defective now or as noted ants nest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xylophone Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 21 hours ago, DJ54 said: Nothing. It not tripped today with everything the same plugged in . Could be water or ants...…….water dries out so no more problems until the next time it rains, and the ants can get fried when plentiful (forming a circuit) thereby opening up the short circuit. Whatever the case it is a matter of getting a qualified person to look at it, and it will/should be a process of elimination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 1 hour ago, xylophone said: ... and it will/should be a process of elimination. Hopefully not the elimination of the sparky in a puff of black smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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