Generally SWPS. Which just about everything has these days.
But it's more likely to be a heating element of some sort that causes a trip. The sort with an earthed outer case and the element insulated with a mineral substance. Moisture getting into that causes it to 'leak'. Which may not happen the second it is switched on.
But even that can be RCD protected so not quite as dangerous as you'd think.
same regs, but a requirement that HMOs *must* have an inspection every 5 years, whereas I doubt most normal homes have one even every 10 years as "recommended", I doubt they even get one every time they change hands.
When I re-wired this house on moving in - in the '70s - I added one for the sound system. Rather before computers were common. You might be surprised how much noise there can be on a ring.
They are replacing the meter not checking the premises wiring. The most you could reasonably expect is a phasing check pre and post install with a plug in tester and a visual on the integrity of the main earth termination at the cable head end.
That is probably over optimistic in most cases. When you add leakage from all the circuits, allow for the range of tripping thresholds of the RCD and then allow for transient disturbances, it would have to be a pretty small installation to not suffer the occasional trip with just a single RCD.
That's about all they did here, other than notice I'd improved the tails from 16mm to 25mm, so they upped the cut-out fuse from 60A to 80A.
Andy Burns formulated the question :
Where do you draw the line. I would certainly condemn any 1930's installation. A 1968 one, in reasonable condition - probably not, the wiring being plastic will not have deteriorated, it should be earthed throughout and earth bonded etc..
From electronic equipment?
All I can say is it doesn't happen here. But nothing with a heating element here is RCD protected.
Actually no. One lamp since I replaced my dodgy washing machine.
It is. One of the benefits of RCBOs.
Not in my experience of visiting houses and doing electrical work.
Closer to 50% probably less.
Now _that_ sounds more like my experience of private property in Hackney ;)
ARW expressed precisely :
Obviously, you will be called to rewire properties and the liklehood is that you will attend many more which desperately need rewiring - not really much point in your going otherwise.
EICR, extensions, new kitchens, disabled shower rooms etc.
Not for rewires.
normally it's not though. And it would be very hard to find a spark that would do that.
NT
...Mrs Worthington...
earth bonding is usually missing in 60s, 70s & lots of 80s installs. Any more gems of wisdom for us?
That's the problem with "whole house" RCDs - even the circuits that gain little benefit from protection like immersion heaters and cookers get lumped in with everything else on the same RCD.
I would almost certainly stop a test if the cable was TRS or VRI as the chances of causing damage to the cables outweigh the benefits of the tests.
I don't think I have ever been to domestic dwelling that has actually had a 10 year test done at ten years.
I have seen them tested when sold, sometimes even on 3 or 4 year old properties.
My local council certainly do not test their properties every 10 years. The gf lives in a council house and I first shagged her on 10th June
2006. Her electrics have never had an inspection in the time we have been together.HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.