M
Matt Smith
Hi all,
I fitted a new Hager CU about a year and a half ago for a neighbour in our area, and all was fine, although the people who live in the flat are very odd and not very bright to be generous ! anyways the board has the split 30mA Rcd's one each side and type B MCB's after them.
I have split ring final cct's across the two halves of the board and lights etc..
Problem I have now is that the Rcd covering 3 x MCB's on one side of board keeps dropping out, it covers water heater cylinder, kitchen ring main and another ring main only, all with their own mcb's too. I reset the rcd upon visiting and it tripped again so I tried each mcb load one by one and water heater fine etc.. and offending item was the kitchen ring tripping the rcd after approx 4-5 seconds !
I checked with person that it's been fine for best part of 18 months and they said yes no problems before now, I am therefore unsure if it's tripping on earth leakage or possibly overloading without taking out the mcb ?
They informed me only thing changed was a washing machine a few months back which I am sure they leak to earth and as would the fridge/freezer which is also on kitchen ring.
On inspection in kitchen I found one old single socket feeding a 4 way extension and onto another 4 way lead into which we have a washing machine, fridge/freezer, toaster, steamer for food cooking, and a kettle too and now and then the microwave ! all from one single socket !!
I tried to explain that this is way too much load for a single socket but she told me it's been no problem for 36 years so far..
she asked me to take away the rcd and put in a main switch on the problem side of the split CU which I explained would be illegal and not to 17th regs then.
Today she came back saying she had bought a new 4 way and yet it still trips out !! I don't think they are getting this...
I can't run new rings to split it up as flat is totally concrete and bursting with grot and junk high up every wall and to be fair I do not want to work any further in the premises as it's a health hazard.
Anybody shed any light on how I can counter the nuisance tripping or advice if you think is washer, fridge compressor etc... all just accumulating earth curent or does 4-5 sec delay to trip sound like overloading ? Thanks all, M.
I fitted a new Hager CU about a year and a half ago for a neighbour in our area, and all was fine, although the people who live in the flat are very odd and not very bright to be generous ! anyways the board has the split 30mA Rcd's one each side and type B MCB's after them.
I have split ring final cct's across the two halves of the board and lights etc..
Problem I have now is that the Rcd covering 3 x MCB's on one side of board keeps dropping out, it covers water heater cylinder, kitchen ring main and another ring main only, all with their own mcb's too. I reset the rcd upon visiting and it tripped again so I tried each mcb load one by one and water heater fine etc.. and offending item was the kitchen ring tripping the rcd after approx 4-5 seconds !
I checked with person that it's been fine for best part of 18 months and they said yes no problems before now, I am therefore unsure if it's tripping on earth leakage or possibly overloading without taking out the mcb ?
They informed me only thing changed was a washing machine a few months back which I am sure they leak to earth and as would the fridge/freezer which is also on kitchen ring.
On inspection in kitchen I found one old single socket feeding a 4 way extension and onto another 4 way lead into which we have a washing machine, fridge/freezer, toaster, steamer for food cooking, and a kettle too and now and then the microwave ! all from one single socket !!
I tried to explain that this is way too much load for a single socket but she told me it's been no problem for 36 years so far..
she asked me to take away the rcd and put in a main switch on the problem side of the split CU which I explained would be illegal and not to 17th regs then.
Today she came back saying she had bought a new 4 way and yet it still trips out !! I don't think they are getting this...
I can't run new rings to split it up as flat is totally concrete and bursting with grot and junk high up every wall and to be fair I do not want to work any further in the premises as it's a health hazard.
Anybody shed any light on how I can counter the nuisance tripping or advice if you think is washer, fridge compressor etc... all just accumulating earth curent or does 4-5 sec delay to trip sound like overloading ? Thanks all, M.
