RCBO taking time to be able to reset
Discussion
When RCBOs have tripped in the past, I've been able to reset them easily enough.
One tripped today but took a while before it would reset. Removed everything from the circuit and it kept tripping instantly as I went. Left it a while and it reset fine.
I suspect it was my OH's new hairdryer that tripped it (still introducing things back). Possibly overloading the circuit....?
Can RCBOs overheat and need to cool down in these circumstances? Nothing was (or is) hot to the touch.
One tripped today but took a while before it would reset. Removed everything from the circuit and it kept tripping instantly as I went. Left it a while and it reset fine.
I suspect it was my OH's new hairdryer that tripped it (still introducing things back). Possibly overloading the circuit....?
Can RCBOs overheat and need to cool down in these circumstances? Nothing was (or is) hot to the touch.
About sixth months ago ours did this in the middle of the night.
Ended up unplugging EVERYTHING in the house and it wouldn't reset for ages and ages, something downstairs was tripping it (nothing plugged in, including garage etc.). So put the upstairs on, ran an extension cable downstairs for the fridge and freezer and went back to bed.
In the morning rang a sparky and explained, he replied, go try it now, it'll be a devil to find and not worth me coming out.
All came back on, fine since!
Ended up unplugging EVERYTHING in the house and it wouldn't reset for ages and ages, something downstairs was tripping it (nothing plugged in, including garage etc.). So put the upstairs on, ran an extension cable downstairs for the fridge and freezer and went back to bed.
In the morning rang a sparky and explained, he replied, go try it now, it'll be a devil to find and not worth me coming out.
All came back on, fine since!
dundarach said:
About sixth months ago ours did this in the middle of the night.
Ended up unplugging EVERYTHING in the house and it wouldn't reset for ages and ages, something downstairs was tripping it (nothing plugged in, including garage etc.). So put the upstairs on, ran an extension cable downstairs for the fridge and freezer and went back to bed.
In the morning rang a sparky and explained, he replied, go try it now, it'll be a devil to find and not worth me coming out.
All came back on, fine since!
Pretty much exactly what happened here, including the extension reels Ended up unplugging EVERYTHING in the house and it wouldn't reset for ages and ages, something downstairs was tripping it (nothing plugged in, including garage etc.). So put the upstairs on, ran an extension cable downstairs for the fridge and freezer and went back to bed.
In the morning rang a sparky and explained, he replied, go try it now, it'll be a devil to find and not worth me coming out.
All came back on, fine since!

All back to normal now. Will see what happens (and have tried to suggest to the OH that having a hairdryer with the reheat and afterburner of a Tornado jet probably isn't necessary).
Getting the friendly sparks round for a quote on new work so will get them to look then.
Cheers guys.
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