Testing RCD at consumer unit

[sivoodoo]

Could someone briefly describe how to test the RCDs at the consumer unit, I allways test at the socket outlets (safer) and have my assessment tomorrow and I cant believe Ive not tested an RCD at the board before.

Any pointers, links etc

Thanks

 

[Spudnik]

Just test it at the socket.

 

[sivoodoo]

Thanks Jason I would always test at a socket outlet. Ill tell him its safer for all concerned to do it at the socket as I believe you need three hands using probes and trying to press the test button and read the result and jumping out of your skin when the device CLICKS!
Cheers.

 

[Des 56]

Use an RCD tester with a 3 lead
Crocodile clip the earth lead to the earth bar ( thats not complicated so far )
Clip the neutral to the relevant neutral bar ( thats not complicated either )
Live lead to a high rated MCb on the relevant RCd,switch the juice on and press buttons

Seriously,the socket plug connections are just transfered to the dist board
It can be the best place to do the test,especially with twin RCD consumer units,it saves a lot of walking

 

[sivoodoo]

Des 56 your a star!

I could have worked this out but my brain is flapping like an old woman tonight, im going over too much for my assessment, seriously thinking beer, but Ill try and refrain!

 

[Des 56]

Dont have hangover,he might just breathylise you


You would then be the first to fail an assessment on that score
Me I drink to take my mind off the assessments then drink again after to celebrate 12 more months without morte of the nonesense

 

[Spudnik]

If you are testing RCD at the board then just use the outgoing terminals of the RCD.

No need to faff with the MCB's

 

[sivoodoo]

If you are testing RCD at the board then just use the outgoing terminals of the RCD.

No need to faff with the MCB's

Would this be the two lead method?

 

[Spudnik]

Use the three leads with your tester.

LN on the RCD and croc on the earth bar.

 

[Des 56]

If you are testing RCD at the board then just use the outgoing terminals of the RCD.

No need to faff with the MCB's

Old chinese proverb
Don't test LaRCD at the terlimans len overcurrent is near
He who lefusesl shall folever put 1 flinger up to those who said thus

 

[Spudnik]

Old chinese proverb
Don't test LaRCD at the terlimans len overcurrent is near
He who lefusesl shall folever put 1 flinger up to those who said thus

Errr..... ok?

 

[sivoodoo]

Exactly?? ....you been drinking Des?

 

[acvc]

Are you guys saying that if you were testing the rcd protection on a radial, say a shower fed from its own rcd, then you wouldn't test it using the three lead method at the shower end?

Or, as you have suggested, if the continuity, polarity, ins.resistance were all ok, would it be safer to test at the rcd itself, because you're not faffing about with live concuctors and probes/croc clips hanging off them?

What's best practice here?

 

[tuckermot]

Hi avcv
I would test at the shower end if i was filling in a eic or a pir cert but if i just wanted to prove the rcd was working i would also probe line and neutral on load side of ccu rcd with croc clip on cpe ( earth bar ) there is many ways of doing rcd testing and other electrical testing just find what is a safe and is comftable way for you and stick to it !!me personally i use a link lead on most of my testing this involves not having to drop any wires out of mcbs ect and just cliping on to cpc (earth bar ) and neutral bar and probing mcb for insullation continuity testing ! i know you will get parallel paths this way but i will drop the cables out of ccu and test individualy if my test results are not right or revert back to good old ohms law to back up the measured readings and apply factors as required

hope that helps !!