Old circuit breaker trips sometimes during the rain. Resetting usually works. 

Today the circuit breaker refuses to switch on. I flip the switch, there is a brief second of house lights, and then it shuts off instantly. The rain has stopped almost 6-hours ago.  I've unplugged/turned off all the electronics in my home

I carefully moved the dial to "DIRECT", switched on, and everything appears to be working perfectly. But I am hesitant to keep it on the direct setting as its been on 25mA since I moved in. Is the DIRECT setting dangerous?

 

 

There could be ants or other critters nesting in a power socket  or the other fuses/circuit breakers causing a slight short to earth and tripping the  "ground fault" breaker.

or something is still wet from the rain maybe up in the roof space where tangles of wires live ?

2 hours ago, creative1000 said:

I carefully moved the dial to "DIRECT", switched on, and everything appears to be working perfectly. But I am hesitant to keep it on the direct setting as its been on 25mA since I moved in. Is the DIRECT setting dangerous?

 

Yes the DIRECT setting is dangerous, in as far as GFCI is now non functional and providing no protection.

 

check all junction boxes for water, check for insects in all junction boxes, switches and sockets. If you find insects in any boxes add ant powder.

I can only echo the above.

 

Most likely the damp or creatures got in somewhere.

 

If you turn off all the MCBs in your board (or don't you have MCBs) will it stay on at 25mA? If it does, turn on one at a time until it trips. Investigate that circuit.

 

FWIW our outside power recently had a slightly similar problem and had both a flooded junction box and an insect infestation in another. Problem fixed in about an hour or 2.

Thanks everyone! It’s hot & dry again and the circuit breaker is working again on 25mA as normal. My lease is up, so I’ve been meaning to move out sooner to safer newer home