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Hello
Bought a house. Has a wee summer house/shed thing. Has power sockets, lights and a heater/aircon unit, but none of it works - presumably because in the fusebox there's a switch stuck down.
I can't move the switch labelled "RCD controlled circuits". Is this a safety feature telling me there's a problem? Or is the switch broken? Others move freely.
Cheers! Bob
Sounds broken to me, I'd check the circuit before replacing.
Not an electrician but seen broken breakers before, usually from external factors.
I'd say broken, if it was a dodgy for circuit you should be able to move it but it wont latch in the open position.
Edit: Yes the MCBs (miniature circuit breakers which trip if too much power is drawn on the circsuit) won't have power as the RCD (residual current device which trips if it detects a short to earth) is in the isolated position.
Have you tried turning off all the MCBs, then trying to flip the RCD? Also try turning off the power supply to this board (ie your main board) then trying to move the RCD. I think some of them can't reset unless they are unpowered.
As above. Sounds like should may have a short to earth somewhere so when you move the RCD breaker it immediately trips. If you open the other breakers first it will probably stay up. Then when you switch the others on you will see which circuit is causing the problem
If you can't actually move it rather than it not latching then it sounds broken though
May sound obvious but do not force it, and do not hold the breaker in the on position if it wants to trip!
Thanks. I tried turning the others off, and turning the power to the board from the house off, and nothing lets me move this guy. Seems "mechanically" off, it's not that I can move it and it wants to flip off again. Will ask an electrician!
Just swap it out - not tricky to do. Its borked
If it won't move physically, it's ****ed. Rip it out and replace it.
Does the RCD need resetting? Try pushing the test button and seeing if that allows you to close it.
That was my first thought, but it should still move even if it won't stay open.
How hard have you tried? It's a double pole so will be harder to move than the other singles
Had exectly this issue on our caravan. Main RCD switch stuck. Got electrician to change it.