Earthing Problem

I can't work out why the RCD on the outside lantern light keeps tripping. I have good earth around all the wires. The insulation is ANTI this and ANTI that, so it should be OK. What does the team think ?
BobH

That's a lot of wires for a lantern Bob, PIR detector?

Rinse and repeat, with the electric off, then dry fully.

Ed.

Yep, 2 earths, one to the lamp socket and the other to the cast aluminium lantern plus loop off to the next lamp - 3 lamps in parallel. Cut off the old terminal block off and replace.

Hmmm, tricky one. Might be an earth leak...

Looks well 'earthed' to me

Is it anti-ant?

Is the brown wire intact? Looks like it could be damaged to me.

Neil

No, there is plenty of earth. Brown wire cut back to good. It is surprising just what damage ants and other critters can do. Both ends of the conduits were sealed around the cables - but they still got in and made their home there.

That was my (humorous) point!

Neil

Now I'm confused! I thought we were all joking...

Cheers,

Dave

Guys,

A good earth keeps you safe. It doesn't prevent RCCB trips.

The RCCB (residual current circuit breaker) looks for an imbalance in the live and neutral line currents (due to a >30mA leak) and trips the breaker.

With the power off, wash, clean, dry and you should be good, as long as the cable isn't damaged elsewhere.

Colin

Perhaps get some adhesive heat sealing tube and completely seal all the connections and joints.

Clive

If it was working well prior to this then maybe some damage has occured or damp is shorting it, outdoor electrics are a pesky business.

Or, perhaps you put something new on the line and the wires are overheating, depends what they're rated for, i'm not saying this is the case just i had a couple of garage lights kept shorting because the copper was too thin.

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 03/07/2016 09:06:07

I started this post off, a bit tongue in cheek, but mainly to show how ants and other creatures work to confound our futile attempts to "improve" the world we live in.
The problem has been sorted, tested and as far as I am concerned, safe to use once again. I am sure that if the wiring survives for another 10 years, I will have had my moneys worth. I expect the lanterns will have to be replaced some time as its a big ask for die cast Aluminium to survive 20 years in an outdoor environment and in any case they should perhaps be replaced with LEDs or whatever new technology is around the corner.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys (and girls).
Over and out
BobH