blagdon pond electrics

[julesm]

i recently installed this Blagdon Powersafe Armoured Cable Kit --- Pond Pumps Direct , for outside pond electrics. It has been working find, but now whenever i plug in and turn on the circit breaker kicks in and trips the house. Does anyone know why this is happening??

 

[julesm]

Er, an electrician with the knowledge and appropriate equipment to undertake some tests!

u are completely missing the purpose of this thread. i am interested in learning how this all works, rather than just paying a electician to fix it

 

[julesm]

i have completely dismantled the kit. where the first wire was connected to the outside wire there was some moisture in the "water proofed fitting".

it has now dried out, but still when i plug the 1st wire, via the rcd, it still trips, even though it is not connected to anything. literally it is the plug, via rcd, and 5m wire with the n/e/l exposed, not connected to anything still trips it. when i plug an appliance in via rcd it works ok.

so if water got into the wire and it hasnt dried out, would be trip the system?? anyone

 

[pushrod]

See post 13 try a hairdryer,

 

[Knobhead]

Just one question julesm, do you have an insulation tester?
I’m not knocking your enthusiasm, but without that expensive bit of kit you’re on a hiding to nothing. An experienced electrician will also know where to look.

 

[Octopus]

u are completely missing the purpose of this thread. i am interested in learning how this all works, rather than just paying a electician to fix it

So you expect to get free information??
Could it be that the kit is faulty?
Have you tried Blagdon technical support?? - they sell a kit for homeowners to do it themselves so can they help you?

 

[Knobhead]

u are completely missing the purpose of this thread. i am interested in learning how this all works, rather than just paying a electician to fix it

Hmm, I think you shot you’re self in the foot with that statement julesm. But you bought the kit to save on getting an electrician to do the job properly, now your stuck with the aftermath. Sorry but as far as I’m concerned your on your own!

 

[julesm]

Hmm, I think you shot you’re self in the foot with that statement julesm. But you bought the kit to save on getting an electrician to do the job properly, now your stuck with the aftermath. Sorry but as far as I’m concerned your on your own!

no, i didnt buy the kit to "save on getting an electrician". i bought it as was under the impression this would do the job and electricain wasnt needed. if u dont want to help that is fine

 

[julesm]

Just one question julesm, do you have an insulation tester?
I’m not knocking your enthusiasm, but without that expensive bit of kit you’re on a hiding to nothing. An experienced electrician will also know where to lo
ok.

no i dont

 

[Geordie Spark]

no, i didnt buy the kit to "save on getting an electrician". i bought it as was under the impression this would do the job and electricain wasnt needed. if u dont want to help that is fine

I don't think there's a lot anyone can do to help without actually being "on site" and seeing exactly what the problem is, but even then it could well be that there is nothing to be "seen" and the fault can only be found by using some test instruments.

Therefore, you have 3 options:
1. Contact the manufacturer for their advice.
2. Call an electrician to come out to fix it
3. Carry on as best you can.

 

[julesm]

So you expect to get free information??
Could it be that the kit is faulty?
Have you tried Blagdon technical support?? - they sell a kit for homeowners to do it themselves so can they help you?

no
of course its possible
yes, web support only

 

[julesm]

update (for the benefit of any other blagdon diy elec kits users that may stumble on this website when searching for solutions to similar problems - free information, murdoch gfy ha ha ). after plenty of searching the problem was water in the first yellow connector, between the inside wire and armoured cable. the pre packed seal to this connector was loose and not water tight. could either have been incorrectly setup in factory or somehow became loose during installation.it took a few days to dry out and worked ok again when no water. i reassembled all the parts and connections and has been working fine since, despite some heavy rain last week. thanks to all here that helped.

 

[pushrod]

Hoped you re water proofed that connection

 

[Des 56]

You have arrived at a satisfactory resolution of the problem,at least satisfactory to yourself

Trial and error has been your method and you are pleased with the outcome

After reading through this thread
I would advize anyone else who may have a similar faulty system to engage the services of a competent electrician to thoroughly test the system for safe continued use

A working system does not always equate with a safe working system
You have decided to self repair and dispense with critical testing for safe use,thats your own decision,but its not good advise, to return here giving warnings to unimformed people, who may not understand the difference between safe use and use

With faulty electrical systems the worst variety of potential dangers, is when the judgement by a non electrician that "it works" so it must be ok
Working and safe working are two sides of a very different animal

 

[julesm]

You have arrived at a satisfactory resolution of the problem,at least satisfactory to yourself

Trial and error has been your method and you are pleased with the outcome

After reading through this thread
I would advize anyone else who may have a similar faulty system to engage the services of a competent electrician to thoroughly test the system for safe continued use

A working system does not always equate with a safe working system
You have decided to self repair and dispense with critical testing for safe use,thats your own decision,but its not good advise, to return here giving warnings to unimformed people, who may not understand the difference between safe use and use

With faulty electrical systems the worst variety of potential dangers, is when the judgement by a non electrician that "it works" so it must be ok
Working and safe working are two sides of a very different animal

just seen you post des, hilarious. you are making plenty of presuppositions there.

More than 1 electrican was consulted and the manufacturer eventually confirmed the problem and resolution. no more problems since the initial instalation.....apart from the odd spark and cracking noises when it rains

 

[ackbarthestar]

it hasnt rained much over the last few weeks since its been installed, working fine. today it has been tipping down and its stopped working. so makes sense that if water getting in would cause it to trip then very high probability this is what has happened.

So what you are saying if you leave it out in the rain it trips the RCD? So it can't be the pump then!

Having said that, the smaller garden pumps are rubbish, I have changed loads of them over the last couple of years, but I'm surprised that the Blagdon pump would fail, the main problem with them is that the hard water causes a deposit on the magnetic surface which causes it to jam.