Earth Leakage Tripping

Alexander the Straight said:
Pardon my possible ignorance , but as I understand it, light switches would only have/switch live wires?

Im struggling to understand how a faulty light switch would trip the earth leakage, and not the relevant light breaker? (assuming there was a short cct or overcurrent somewhere)
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Afaik, the regulations changed at one point. Older houses don’t have earth leakage on light circuits.
 
Alexander the Straight said:
Pardon my possible ignorance , but as I understand it, light switches would only have/switch live wires?

Im struggling to understand how a faulty light switch would trip the earth leakage, and not the relevant light breaker? (assuming there was a short cct or overcurrent somewhere)
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Not sure myself. It definitely only had live( red wires).

The second passage way switch, makes a buzzing sound.

But I will change the two switches today. And over the course of the year, change the all the light switches in the house.
 
I need 6 (2 lever switches), 2 (1 lever switch) and 1 (3 lever) to replace all the switches.

I just googled, my price of R56.99 (for 2 lever) I paid yesterday at my local build it, appears to be the cheapest.
 
I am not saying you wrong. But it definitely only trips when using that light switch. I tested all the other light switches, nothing.
 
rh1 said:
I am not saying you wrong. But it definitely only trips when using that light switch. I tested all the other light switches, nothing.
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likely wasn't at the switch, unless the screw damaged one of the wires plastic and they are touching as you switch on and off loose switch meaning the wires also moves since the switch is plastic and no route to ground and the switch only breaks the live ie there is just a single live wire on the switch the wost that a failing switch can cause is the light stays on or off not cause trips

like others said it could also be earth leakage breaker failing being too sensistive
had a problem like this once after having one trip that i could not pin-point and suddenly it got worse tripping more regularly
naturally after having all the breakers off unable to get the earth leakage to stay up it was easy to pin-point faulty earth leakage breaker

swopped out the breaker and trips was gone
 
leon.davibe said:
likely wasn't at the switch, unless the screw damaged one of the wires plastic and they are touching as you switch on and off loose switch meaning the wires also moves since the switch is plastic and no route to ground and the switch only breaks the live ie there is just a single live wire on the switch the wost that a failing switch can cause is the light stays on or off not cause trips

like others said it could also be earth leakage breaker failing being too sensistive
had a problem like this once after having one trip that i could not pin-point and suddenly it got worse tripping more regularly
naturally after having all the breakers off unable to get the earth leakage to stay up it was easy to pin-point faulty earth leakage breaker

swopped out the breaker and trips was gone
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The switch that is currently tripping makes a buzzing sound when you try to use it. Since we stopped using it, there has been no tripping, was planning to do change it today, but had to sxhool clothes shopping. Will do it tommorrow.
 
I think his garage light is on one of the plug circuits. He previously mentioned he got all the lights on and 1 plug circuit.
 
You guys are correct, my wife use the spare bedroom light switch, and it tripped the earth leakage. So will have to gwt a replacement.

What would be a reasonable labour fee for an electrician to change it?
 
gamerza said:
I think his garage light is on one of the plug circuits. He previously mentioned he got all the lights on and 1 plug circuit.
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Nope on a light circuit. My solar system which is in the garage had a fault. I switch everything on, only for the earth leakage to trip.

And then I tested all the circuit breakers.
 
I can understand If a single problem pops up and the earth leakage trips

You troubleshoot the problem circuit And eventually find a single problem solve the problem and all is good

If you suddenly get gremlins one after another and trips on different circuits

Then I would lean towards faulty earth leakage

The button buzzing is likely the copper rocker not making constant proper contact and thus arcing

I doubt it would or should trip the earth leakage or other breaker

Edit: is the solar install old ie nothing has changed on your wiring recently?
 
leon.davibe said:
I can understand If a single problem pops up and the earth leakage trips

You troubleshoot the problem circuit And eventually find a single problem solve the problem and all is good

If you suddenly get gremlins one after another and trips on different circuits

Then I would lean towards faulty earth leakage

The button buzzing is likely the copper rocker not making constant proper contact and thus arcing

I doubt it would or should trip the earth leakage or other breaker

Edit: is the solar install old ie nothing has changed on your wiring recently?
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Solar was installed in Aug 2022. No changes to the electrical system since then.
 
I had to replace my earth leakage switch once upon a time. Always had random trips and especially during electrical storms. Had the sparky check things but couldn’t find any fault and last resort was to replace switch which solved the problem. My lights stay on if earth leakage trips FYI.
 
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