What is causing the switch to flip?

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Mobster
Soldato
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9 Apr 2012
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13,165
I've got a 10-socket surge protector plugged into a two-socket faceplate and I'm finding that when a few devices are plugged into it, I am flipping the switch on the fuse box, which is rated at 32A.

Now I know the problem is caused by the devices plugged into this socket as I can unplug them all and the problem goes away.

What I've got plugged into the 10-socket surge protector, when the switch is flipped:

  • 85W Apple MacBook Pro charger (charging laptop)
  • JBL Creature III speakers
  • TP-LINK router
  • USB hub
  • WD Hard Drive

I've also got a powerline adaptor plugged into the other socket on the two-socket faceplate.

Is this enough to flip the switch. Has anyone got any ideas what I can do?
 
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A quick Google says that the JBL speakers are only 25W so it's unlikely to be a power draw issue, could it not be a faulty earth on something causing it to trip? Easiest way to diagnose would be to leave one device unplugged and see if it trips the breaker still, if it does then switch them around until you've found the faulty one.
 
Caged said:
Is it an MCB or an RCBO in your consumer unit?
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this, and what curve? some allow a bigger start surge than others but that said i cant see anything that looks like it should surge on start up out of your mentioned electronics
 
If its an RCBO then it could be an earth fault and not over current. Chances are it's some dodgy connection (the breaker could be faulty) - find the offending item/s and replace them.
 
All that stuff is pulling less than 0.5A so the chance of it overloading a 32A MCB is exceptionally low.
As others have stated it's much more likely a faulty device, unplug everything and then plug them back in one at a time until it trips the breaker, when it trips it is most likely the faulty device.
 
Unplug one device at a time and test with the remaining 4, and also try all devices but without the powerline adapter.

It's the RCD tripping due to a perceived earth fault.
 
Try not using the surge protector. You might also have an issue with switch mode power supplies leaking current to earth. Or an RCD that is too sensitive.

Unplug the device with the most Chinese-looking power supply and see how you get on.
 
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theone8181 said:
I have had appeared fail in my consumer unit, it was permenantly clicking off even when it was not in the consumer unit.
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I'll read it thru before posting this time :) I've had mine keep flicking off in the consumer unit and even when it was changed the old one still did it so it was knackered and not a short.
 
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