Nuisance Electricity Tripping
#31
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
Ooops, yes.
I have that issue with one circuit. It only feeds two pairs of sockets, and I have replaced both sockets and the RCD breaker, and the problem still persists. My electrician says it is likely a manufscturing flaw in the cable or a bad instalation - a nail or screw through the cable somewhere. But I am not interested in having the house torn apart to have a new cable installed.
I have that issue with one circuit. It only feeds two pairs of sockets, and I have replaced both sockets and the RCD breaker, and the problem still persists. My electrician says it is likely a manufscturing flaw in the cable or a bad instalation - a nail or screw through the cable somewhere. But I am not interested in having the house torn apart to have a new cable installed.
#32
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
Last edited by Pulaski; Oct 8th 2017 at 2:01 pm.
#33
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
In America the original wiring installed in a new house is held in place inside the timber-framed "stud" walls using clips or staples, and often passes through fairly tight holes drilled through the studs, so there is almost no chance that a new cable could be "pulled through" At a minimum it would mean two sizeable holes cut in the plasterboard walls in the garage.
https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b1/8a/76/b...ng-the-box.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b1/8a/76/b...ng-the-box.jpg
Last edited by missile; Oct 8th 2017 at 2:10 pm.
#34
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
Like the 12kW immersion heater in my house in London wired in to a spur from a 13A socket ..... connected to the lighting circuit! I discovered that when I noticed one day that the 13A surface-mount socket was quite warm!
#35
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
Conduits can be used in America, but they very rarely are. After owning houses in the UK and the US, I know from personal experience that there are many occasions when reality deviates from "how things ought to be done".
Like the 12kW immersion heater in my house in London wired in to a spur from a 13A socket ..... connected to the lighting circuit! I discovered that when I noticed one day that the 13A surface-mount socket was quite warm!
Like the 12kW immersion heater in my house in London wired in to a spur from a 13A socket ..... connected to the lighting circuit! I discovered that when I noticed one day that the 13A surface-mount socket was quite warm!
Last edited by missile; Oct 8th 2017 at 3:36 pm.
#36
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 174
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
The RCD is not a MCB , the amps are a rating for the maximum potential to run through the RCD it's not as with the MCB a current rating for it to blow, presuming the RCD is tripping when they are away as has been said they are not drawing huge current anyway, the RCD simply measures leakage to earth
As the consensus of opinion is that I should uprate the RCD to 32 amp, I have been out looking for one.
There appears to be 25 & 40 - but no 32 amp.
I have bought a standard 32 amp bipolar circuit breaker as I thought it was not sensible to uprate to 40 amp.
But as I don't really understand your comment (in terms of practical usage), I'd appreciate your comments on whether this will suffice for job, situated as it will be in the position of the old 25 amp RCD immediately next to the first breaker (25 amp) to which the incoming mains are connected.
Surely it will stop the nuisance tripping but will it switch off if there is a short to earth anywhere ?
Failing that, I'll take it back for a refund and order a 32 amp RCD from England.
Thanks to all for their valuable contributions to my question.
#37
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 174
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
As the consensus of opinion is that I should uprate the RCD to 32 amp, I have been out looking for one.
There appears to be 25 & 40 - but no 32 amp.
I have bought a standard 32 amp bipolar circuit breaker as I thought it was not sensible to uprate to 40 amp.
But as I don't really understand your comment (in terms of practical usage), I'd appreciate your comments on whether this will suffice for job, situated as it will be in the position of the old 25 amp RCD immediately next to the first breaker (25 amp) to which the incoming mains are connected.
Surely it will stop the nuisance tripping but will it switch off if there is a short to earth anywhere ?
Failing that, I'll take it back for a refund and order a 32 amp RCD from England.
Thanks to all for their valuable contributions to my question.
There appears to be 25 & 40 - but no 32 amp.
I have bought a standard 32 amp bipolar circuit breaker as I thought it was not sensible to uprate to 40 amp.
But as I don't really understand your comment (in terms of practical usage), I'd appreciate your comments on whether this will suffice for job, situated as it will be in the position of the old 25 amp RCD immediately next to the first breaker (25 amp) to which the incoming mains are connected.
Surely it will stop the nuisance tripping but will it switch off if there is a short to earth anywhere ?
Failing that, I'll take it back for a refund and order a 32 amp RCD from England.
Thanks to all for their valuable contributions to my question.
Further research on the web suggests this could be a fatal error so I guess I'll return it and upgrade to a 40 amp RCD.
That has to be the safer option.
#38
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
The RCD detects leakage to earth, it's not a MCB which is effectively a modern fuse, the rating of 25 amps on an RCD is the load it can carry up to, the milliamp rating is what controls the tripping of the RCD, normally a 25amp RCD will be 30mamp trip, you could try a RCD with a higher trip rating, if there was a direct short to earth or live to N then the MCB would trip which as I understand it they are not
#39
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
Actually the clue may be in the OP. Where it says that the trip occurs when the OP is away and only the fridge/freezer and pool are in use. FFS are notorious for insulation problems when they get older and pool pumps do get a lot of exposure too.
#40
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
That's not what OP said, it happens when they are there as well as when they are away, incidentally the reason I asked OP and the phases coming into the house was I assumed he would be like us, we have 3 phases coming in and just use the phases separately so are still on 230v.
If they are on single phase and the supply is phased like the UK there is a chance a neighbours supply can trip his RCD
If they are on single phase and the supply is phased like the UK there is a chance a neighbours supply can trip his RCD
#41
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
That's not what OP said, it happens when they are there as well as when they are away, incidentally the reason I asked OP and the phases coming into the house was I assumed he would be like us, we have 3 phases coming in and just use the phases separately so are still on 230v.
If they are on single phase and the supply is phased like the UK there is a chance a neighbours supply can trip his RCD
If they are on single phase and the supply is phased like the UK there is a chance a neighbours supply can trip his RCD
#42
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
The problem could be caused by an earth leakage anywhere in the property, the wiring etc and not necessarily an appliance.
#43
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
OK Mike I get your point, I was also going to add it's possible, in fact more than likely that it's caused by an intermittent wiring fault but Fred has got there first, this was the reason I first asked about if it happens when it's damp/raining etc
#44
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 174
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
Just to clarify, this was in my original post:
"It is possible that this fault is somewhere in our installation but we think it unlikely due to the random nature of the tripping. Sometimes it can be 2 months or more between “trips” but also it can be just 5 minutes, day or night, irrespective of what electrical devices are connected or working."
Hence whenever we go away, everything like fridge, heater etc. is unplugged.
Yes the pool pump is running - but that's about it !
The random nature is the problem - 10 minutes, 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months - when all of the usual stuff is connected.
Interestingly, you cannot get a 32 amp RCD trip around here.
I even tried C.E.F. - and they said it does not exist in Spain.
Of course, no problem in England - about £20 + vat.
C.E.F. quoted 74 euros for a 40 amp RCD !!!
#45
Re: Nuisance Electricity Tripping
Have you tried Ebay, lots of stuff and some sellers ship to Spain