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It's bloody annoying isn't it?!
If you're stood in the darkness, you realise that you've only got a few minutes before your freezer starts defrosting AND you're reading this webpage via a mobile phone (because your computer is also left powerless).
Here's what to do...
Take action
1) Are any electrical circuits working? - Can you temorarily use an extension lead to power your freezer?
2) Can you ask a friendly neighbour for a temporary supply? - Just to provide enough power for emergency lighting etc
3) Has something simple just triggered the switch? - A light bulb blowing or light switch arcing can sometimes trip the fuse.
Unable to reset the switch? Or it blows within a few seconds?
1) Analyse what you have just done? Did you plug the kettle in, did you turn your steam iron in, did you just let the bath water out?
9 times out of 10, an RCD tripping will be in response to something that you (or your family) has just done.
1 out of 10 times, it will be as a result of either physical failure of the device or a build up of fault current which eventually tips the balance.
Let's be optimistic and start by looking for the majority problem.
If you just plugged the kettle in - Unplug it
If you just turned the steam iron on - Switch it off
If you just let the bath water out - Put the plug back in and look for evidence of water leaks:
Listen for sounds of dripping water (in places that you shouldn't expect to hear them!)
Look for damp patches on the ceiling below the bath
With the power still off
Feel around under the bath to see if there are any cables running beneath the pipework; this is not illegal workmanship but it is of no help if the bath water has been leaking onto the cables!
Lastly, if it has just started raining / snowing or the fog has rolled in (all forms of weather moisture) consider how this may affect the integrity of the cables that run under your floors, through your loft spaces, across the yard or perhaps to the pond lights?
RCD tripping is nearly always related to water ingress between the cables and earth.
There are other possibilities to consider, infinite possibilities to be honest, but let's try and narrow things down:
Is it possible that a rodent, squirrel or other animal may have nibbled at the cable?
Consider too: Flopsy the rabbit, Felix the cat and Rex the dog, all these pets and many others have been known to chew cables.
Neighbours - Do neighbouring buildings share a wall / floor / ceiling area with you? Is it possible that a neighbour has mistakenly drilled through a circuit relating to your home?
The General Public - Is it possible that a passer-by, vandal or road user has brushed past your exterior lights, incoming mains supply or doorbell?
Think laterally... What recent events may have affected your electrical system?
Now that you have your suspicions, try to narrow down their influence on the problem.
Narrow down the causes
Some fuse systems combine many circuits. Which circuits are affected by the power outage?
Do any electrical items in your home still work or has everything failed?
Try to eliminate as much of your circuits as possible.
Turn off ALL the switches on the fusebox
Now working from left to right; try to turn the switches back on one by one. Do any of them stay in place?
Then try again but this time right to left.
If any circuits come back on, fantastic! at least you should be able to get some temporary power going.
Still no luck? Unfortunately in the early 2000's we (electricians) fitted hundreds of "whole house" RCD protection. These have since been outlawed - not from a safety point of view - but from an "annoyance" point of view! You see, whole house RCD protection means that if, let's say, a light bulb blows in a bedroom... the entire homes circuit will disconnect in order to protect the occupants from the "threat" of an electrical fault. Most inconvenient!
So if this is a good description of your home... number one let's cure the fault but... number two, consider upgrading to RCBO protection.
Worst case scenario
Nothing has come back on and you are begining to feel damp toes as the freezer begins to defrost onto the kitchen floor.
Unplug everything that you can find with a plug on it
Anything without a plug: disconnect / switch off or remove from the circuit as best you can
Now try again...
Turn off ALL the switches on the fusebox
Now working from left to right; try to turn the switches back on one by one. Do any of them stay in place?
Then try again but this time right to left.
I really hope some things are now working?! ...If not, then i'm really sorry to tell you that your freezer is probably gonna defrost.
(Remember that opening it will quickly lose any stored coolness, try to keep it closed as long as possible)
Damage limitation
Having tried all of the above steps to narrow down the problem and failed, there is really very little that you can now do except call in an electrician. An electrican will proceed with the following course of action but I don't advise an inexperienced person to attempt this (especially as you can almost guarantee that this episode will occur at 3am and your tool kit is locked in the shed outside).
Try to stay warm and call an electrician in the morning (emergency electrical repairs are particularly expensive and often require parts that can only be purchased during working hours. So, if it is an option, wait until morning).
Define: ALCI, GFCI, GFI, RCBO, RCCB, RCD, MCB,
ALCI - Appliance Leakage Current Interrupter
CB - Circuit Breaker
GFCI - Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
GFI - Ground Fault Interrupter
MCB - Miniature Circuit Breaker
RCBO - Residual Circuit Breaker with Overload protection
RCCB - Residual Current Circuit Breaker
RCD - Residual Current Device
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