VM Cable tripping electrics?

StonedPenguin

StonedPenguin

StonedPenguin

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Hi, For the last few months my electric has been tripping randomly on the main switch so it was hard to identify, With it getting more and more frequent I today went and got a mains tester screwdriver thingymabob.

Several hours later after testing many things/everything, I find the Virgin cable connection to the v+box flashes like hell, goes dim then bright on the screwdriver :mad:

Could the VM cable be tripping my electric?

Thanks :)

e2a: It's the white VM cable that comes form outdoors, not the actual vbox. cheers
 
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On every applicance the screw driver gave a contsant red light which to my (limited) knowledge indicates the circuit is fine, Yet the incoming vm cable is bright, dim, flashes a lot. Is that normal?
 
If I could pick your brains a little further Telescopi I'd appreciate it. :)

Yesterday when it tripped (The main switch trips, Not the smaller ones that are labled lights, sockets etc)
It wouldn't allow me to turn it back on, It instantly pushed my finger back down, 10 minutes later - same thing.
So I unplug the TV & vbox from the wall, Try it and viola it allows the electric back on.

Does that point the fault to tv/vbox? Both the tv and vbox are about 3 months old. When I tested the plugs with screwdriver they was fine, Is there any other tests I can do?

Thanks.
 
Update:

I put RCD plugs on a couple things I thought could be tripping it, It seems to have halfed the ammount of trips I was previously getting.

Anyhow after 3 days of no trips, The extension lead with Vbox and TV just tripped this afternoon (had rcd plug on it at the time)

Is it more likly to be the TV? (few months old samsung UE40D7000) or the Vbox?
I have an rcd plug on each of them now, Time should tell.. :confused:
 
I've no idea tbh mate, I'm just renting it. It had a full refurb 2 yrs ago so I dunno if they did anything with the wiring then.

It was fine for the first 6 months of living here then the trips randomly started, Not long after we had VM installed and bought a new tv too. hmm.
 
I had the 4gang extension lead plugged into the RCD plug > into the wall., It's the RCD plug that tripped pinpointing it to the TV/VBOX (Thats all thats there)

Now ive put RCD plugs on each the TV & Vbox, Each in different sockets on the wall (side by side) so in theory it should be a matter of time before I know 100% if its TV or cable box?
 
TRNC said:
The simple method to find out for now is remove everything that you dont need, if it still trips then you have narrowed it down to essential kit and can check further (more unplugging and waiting) - if it goes away then its one of the unplugged ones. Its not rocketscience and I suggest you stop putting screwdrivers into anything if you dont understand why the light is on/off/flashing etc.
Click to expand...

Been doing that, Well similer but with multiple RCD plugs.

It's located it to the 4gang carrying tv/vbox, now im just waiting to see which of the 2 is actually the problem (got rcd plugs on each tv & vbox now).


I've not seen any mice Glaucus but ill keep an eye out, cheers :)


e2a:
Nightglow said:
Do you have mcb's, are these tipping or just the rcd.
Click to expand...

It's the main switch that trips, I have sockets, lights, cooker, shower etc but its always the main big switch.

Also I forgot to add: Before I got the RCD plugs, When it would trip and Id try to turn it back on it would push my finger back down tripping instantly, Even hours later.. Untill I physically unplugged the 4gang extension for TV/vbox from the wall, Only then it would allow the trip switch to be put back on,. This is why i put an rcd on it and it caught it today.., Putting these 2 things together it must be eminating from the tv/vbox?
 
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Yeah, behind the TV is a double socket on the wall, I plugged them both strait into the sockets and it still tripped, Now they are both plugged into the wall with RCD plugs in each so hopefully next time it trips it should pinpoint it for me?

cheers
 
Update:

After so much trial and error, It's the Vbox. I've phone VM and complained like a good 'un, Engy is coming Saturday morning with a free Tivo box and to do a re-installation..

What a ballache!
 
It has a plastic earth pin on the plug mate, Does this mean theres no possible way it can be the problem? :confused:

Twice its tripped the RCD plug thats its into, I'm confused :(

The VM engineer will be here tomorrow with a new box so I suppose I'll soon find out.
 
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