RCD trip out

[Simon Hall]

I've been called to a job for a friend as his swimming pool pump keep tripping the RCD, it took me a while to work out how the other electrician had wired it but of what I see, it's a bit of a mess. I'll do my best to explain for the pool I can see 3 MCB's used 1st is a 6A type b in to a time clock in 1.5mm2 then that goes into a contactor then there is a 32A type c in 6mm2 that goes into the contactor then SWA to the pool. Then the last one is a 10A type c in 1.5mm2 that goes to a switch then in SWA to the pool to the plug where the pump plugs into, this is when the RCD trips. I've tested the cables and they are, R1-R2 1.32ohms insulation resistance is all around 100Mohms. Ze is 0.19ohms Zs is 1.21ohms PFC is 1.22KA and the RCD trips within the permitted times, the pump is PSH mini.2 50m 0.37KW. I've never worked with swimming pools before it's a bit out my comfit zone I'm just trying to help a friend. Also the pump works fine for hours when pugged into another RCD protected circuit.

 

[Octopus]

Whats the best answer

An honest one!

 

[trev]

ok mate here you go

If you leave a 17th eddition consumer unit with its rcd taken out and replaced with a main switch so that basically you now have 2 main switches side by side one where it always is and the other where the rcd went so it stopped tripping and you could go home as it was the second job of the day, 10 hours into the day with a 2hr drive back. Is that ok

In my opinion no it is not. You've been called out (well obviously not you personally but the bloke who is responsible) to fix a problem and you have not done so. What I'd do is leave the RCD in place, find the faulty circuit and temporarily disconnect it until I had the time to go back to trace and eliminate the fault.

 

[1stfix2ndfix]

Cheers trev he has been doing it for 40 years so I shouldnt be questioning him really but he will never no so no harm done.

murdoch mate look where being honest got me last time! but yes i am him, hopefully i didnt offend davesparks when i was him

 

[Simonslimline]

Cheers trev he has been doing it for 40 years so I shouldnt be questioning him really but he will never no so no harm done.

murdoch mate look where being honest got me last time! but yes i am him, hopefully i didnt offend davesparks when i was him

I disagree with you on this. I think it is very important to ask questions if you are not sure. Its the only way to learn.

 

[1stfix2ndfix]

Lets see who can ask the stupidest yet genuine questions on the trainee forum

 

[Simonslimline]

Lets see who can ask the stupidest yet genuine questions on the trainee forum

Fire away with any questions you have, nothing will be seen as too stupid and no one will have a dig. The trainee section is in place for these reasons.

 

[Guest77]

Lets see who can ask the stupidest yet genuine questions on the trainee forum

We won't look too far past yourself

 

[Guest77]

Cheers trev he has been doing it for 40 years so I shouldnt be questioning him really but he will never no so no harm done.

murdoch mate look where being honest got me last time! but yes i am him, hopefully i didnt offend davesparks when i was him

WowI have met a legend on the site, along side, tooley, old jag lover, and jrc you are the most famous here lofty, can I have your autograph :biggrinjester:

 

[1stfix2ndfix]

Well I haven't been banned yet so it looks promising. Hopefully ur gonna take me under your wing and answer my questions no mater how confusing or annoying they are and others will follow suit. We're have to see as I don't think others see me a a legend lol but we're wait and see. All I wanna be is a knowledgeable sparks no a nos a little

 

[shanky887614]

personally in this case I would clamp it to check for earth leakage.

it might not be a fault on the wiring but a couple circuits leaking to earth.

if this was tripping the rcd I would swap it for a mainswitch for the duration of the test to find which circuit is at fault.

a house should always have rcd protection because I doubt they would have earthed containment from board to fitting or be more than 50mm in the wall