Outdoor RCD Socket

They aren't readily repairable I'm afraid to say. The only advice I would give you, is to replace the external socket with a plain, non-RCD type, then install a separate RCD device internally to control it. I have found that these RCD's are not very good at dealing with extremes of weather and temperature conditions, and they do become weakened very prematurely.

In the five or six I have installed in just the last couple of years, four have gone belly up already. A fifth one I remedied myself, before getting the call to go repair it. I replaced all with plain, non-RCD sockets. Just waiting for next year to arrive, just to see if this does really help, but we live in hope. :-)

To rule out water having got inside somewhere you can't see, take the socket off, and leave it in the airing cupboard for a few days (without the back box on it). Make sure you have disconnected the outdoor supply indoors, so the wires are not live, and make the exposed wiring and box waterproof whilst it is missing the socket. However, if this fixes it implying water had got in and caused the problem, you shouldn't use the RCD socket again for real without at least checking it with an RCD tester to ensure it's calibration has not been affected.

Did you remember to drill a condensate drain hole in the bottom of the box? Was there any sign of condensation when you removed the socket from the back box?

Some RCD's will also trip in the event of various supply problems such as disconnected earth, disconnected neutral, live/neutral reversed. Might want to check for any of these too.

Not repairable at all, and deliberately so. Much of the MK range has long manufacturers guarantees, so you might want to check if it is covered by that.

For future reference, the RCD for my outdoor RCD protected sockets is indoors in the dry. (Actually, it's an RCBO in the consumer unit).

Andrew

Many thanks for that info.

I'll try the warranty aspect with MK first.

I called MK and they said to send the Socket back to them and they would either repair or replace FOC.

When I took it off the wall it was extremely wet inside but after drying it out overnight it still didn't work so it's now on it's way back to MK technical sevices.

The drain hole was clear but the inside of the box was generally wet.

Next instalment:

MK received my RCD socket and have agreed it's faulty and as it's not repairable they are sending me a new one FOC.

Impressive service !!

Good.

I've never needed to return anything to them, but when I've spoken to their technical department about anything, they've always been helpful.

You might want to work out why and fix that before refitting.

New Socket received today. Can't speak more highly about service from MK. Many thanks to Andrew Gabriel for pointing me in the right direction.