17th Dual RCD Mcb order and have a strange fault Help!! lol

[paul0547]

Right here we go,

This is my first post on here . Installed a Wylex 17th Edition 15 way board at my own house. I put all the power on one side and lighting on the other. I'm not sure if this is how everyone else does it but im new to 17th boards so if you do otherwise please say. So... I turned it on as I normally do trying one Mcb at a time to see if any trip the RCD. All the lighint circuits are fine. But two of the rings trip it on the power side. So I unplug everything on the rings and turn it on. Seemed to be ok. Turned the living room tv on and it tripped. After fafing about all circuits are fine until put under a bit of load. Going around with a power drill any circuit on that RCD trips. The house is a older house and wiring my not be great but it has an extension on the back which I wired properly even that trips it.

Could this be due to having power all on one side and lighting on the other?
I know the neutrals are all in the correct bars.
Faulty RCD or just to much load for one side and needs to be spread over both the rcds?
My first idea around the problem is to upgrade the troubled RDC from 80amp - 30ma to 80amp - 80ma. So basically a less sensitive RCD?

Any Ideas?? Do you think my solution will work?

 

[malcolmsanford]

Paul are you a sparks??

Because I'm sure you have done something that is obvious, but did you test any circuits before you changed the board

 

[needasparks]

This is a wind-up right ?

Please put it back in the box and take it back to the shop, you could then call your inspecting engineer and ask him what he thinks.

 

[Richard Burns]

Certainly looks like a linked/borrowed neutral problem, but what were your IR readings on the ring?
Normally circuits are split across the board upstairs power and downstairs lights and vice versa.

The RCD protection is there to prevent fatalities increasing the tripping current would bring it over the fatal level. RCDs do not come in 80mA, do not try this.

 

[paul0547]

No im not a sparks but I enjoy electrics. I tested them with a continuity tester but I suppose they are not always accurate..

 

[trev]

Paul, since you are not an electrician I'm assuming that you are also not a member of a domestic installer scheme in which case, are you aware that by carrying out this work you have contravened the building regulations and put yourself and others in danger?

 

[malcolmsanford]

He maybe in Scotland Trev,

but I think now the only advice I can give is you need help Paul so post your location and one of the lads will PM you and offer to sort this out for you

 

[paul0547]

OK ill get a sparks around to sort it out.

 

[trev]

He maybe in Scotland Trev,

Of course. Memo to self, engage brain before allowing typing
Cheers Malcolm

 

[IQ Electrical]

Omg wtf lmao.

 

[trev]

Paul, whereabouts are you? There are members of the forum all the way around the country and in Malcolm's and Engineer54's all over the world. I'm sure that one of us would be willing to help you out

 

[richy3333]

Paul, take the advice of help as your and your families safety is paramount

 

[paul0547]

Thanks Richard!!! I found the fault. I was over confident in my own wiring and did not test the ring I added on. Was not getting continuity on the ring. So split the ring in half worked my way back to the problem. Was human error put the load of a spur into the mains side of the spur so it was constantly on. Which was causing the constant tripping. Thanks for the positive helpful comments! Dont worry trev I am going to get in signed of straight away... You live and you learn.....

 

[Mark_Burgess]

It would take one hell of a brave man to sign that off!

 

[paul0547]

There is nothing wrong with it! 25mm tails 16mm earth 10mm to both main gas and water. All rings are correct. Cable sizes are spot on and local means of isolation where needed throughout. Done cross bonding in bathrooms for extra precaution. Labled correctly I could go on... I worked with an electrical company for 6 years. Its just the first cu I have even done... I have not got around to doing the full course yet.