Tripped All the sockets in the house!

mike_2009

I was switching off the socket connecting an extension lead to my office computer last night and the bedside light beside it turned off. I went and checked the fuseboard and it tripped the master breaker for all the sockets in the house. It's a new build.

Anyway, I suspect a monitor I had to replace the power supply on a few years ago could be the culprit as I could only source one from Australia, it supports 230vac but I suspect it's not 100% EU compliant?

Is there a way to identify which plug - monitor / Computer / Laptop has a fault? High POT test or other? Just to make sure I identify the right culprit and replace it! My Flatmate works off another computer and would loose work if I trip the house again at the wrong time! Thanks.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058325903/tripped-all-the-sockets-in-the-house

Just to get this straight - you were switching off a socket to an extension lead and the power tripped, triggering the 'master breaker'. Was the socket surround metal or plastic and were you touching the lamp or another device or case at the time? Is the master breaker an MCB, or an RCD or combined RCBO (or maybe even an arc-fault isolator)? A photo would help.

This Australian power supply for the monitor, is it branded for that specific monitor or was it just a spurious one which matched the voltage and current?

Is there a way to identify which plug - monitor / Computer / Laptop has a fault? High POT test or other? Just to make sure I identify the right culprit and replace it!

No, not really as HIPOT test is a specialist test, but an electrician can carry out an IR test. Depending on the breaker which was tripped, duplication of the fault might be the only real way forward.

mike_2009

Thanks - plastic double gang socket. Pics below - the RCCB was the one that tripped and all the sockets are to the right & the booster pump were affected. The lighting is a different row. The power supply was matched to the exact monitor model but I don't have the old one to compare, no sign of "Samsung" mentioned on the replacement PSU, only made in China. Could be a knockoff but a poor quality one.

fuse.jpg

standardg60

Plugging in each component individually is the simplest way to identify which one might be at fault if they trip the switch again.

Could be the extension lead itself as much as anything else.

mike_2009

Looks like the extension lead, unplugged that monitor and hit the socket switch and it tripped again. Might have taken a surge to that extension lead in the past but bought a new one a week ago so swapped it out with that one. Will test again tonight with that monitor just to check. Thanks!

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121469620#Comment_121469620

Unusual! Was there a surge protection unit in that specific extension lead though?

If so then it must have been a failure of what's called the class-Y capacitor (line to ground) as these fail in a shorted state.

mike_2009

The new extension lead worked fine, turned off at the socket without issue, phew! Swapped it out for a bigger one with it's own power switch and usb ports so will hopefully not encounter this again! Weee recycling for the faulty one! Thanks for the info.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121475664#Comment_121475664

Glad you got sorted