Storage Heaters Tripping RCD

[s7t7e7v7e7]

Hi all, I have a customer who when they get up in the morning the RCD has tripped on the storage heaters CU. The storage heaters have stored some heat so the RCD has tripped during the charge. They reset the RCD (Approx 6.30am) no problem and the heaters all continue until 7.00 am when eco7 finished. Sometimes they trip a couple of nights in a row and sometimes 2 or 3 nights will pass with no tripping. I have checked the CU and the 20a DP's and the heaters but can not seem to find anything wrong, at the time everything checks out OK or so it would seem. The lady claims that she has not adjusted the heaters in between tripping it just seems very random. Any sugestions or thoughts on the next possible step. It would be easy to change the lot but expensive so I would like to try and narrow it down a bit although customer is being a bit awkward as I suggested turning off one heater at a time to try and get a little closer to the potential problem but she did'nt like that idea as she reckons its to cold. I dont know you try and help some people. Anyway any help please would be great

Cheers Seve.

 

[Spazz]

Earth fault loop test to start


And then go from there

 

[needasparks]

Did at any point in writing on here the thought of testing them to find the culprit. By saying that i am assuming you are an electrician so forgive me if that is not the case.

 

[Spazz]

Thanks

I just did a google search and only Maplin came up

 

[s7t7e7v7e7]

Yes as stated they have been tested and all ok

 

[needasparks]

Yes as stated they have been tested and all ok

But you say you looked in the cu and at the dp switches and did not mention tested.

 

[s7t7e7v7e7]

Yes sorry trying to get as much info out as poss. Heaters have been checked (Tested) and everything ok. Been thinking of re-testing and perhaps stripping the heaters down completely ???? I'm assuming that when the heaters heat up obviously expansion takes place and something might just be causing a fault that when tested is not detecting. Mind seems to be going blank, cant think straight, fed up, hate storage heaters anyway.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

IR tested circuit? Somewhere betwixt 0 and 200,000 Of you finest Ohms, it will trip RCD. I think.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Yes sorry trying to get as much info out as poss. Heaters have been checked (Tested) and everything ok. Been thinking of re-testing and perhaps stripping the heaters down completely ???? I'm assuming that when the heaters heat up obviously expansion takes place and something might just be causing a fault that when tested is not detecting. Mind seems to be going blank, cant think straight, fed up, hate storage heaters anyway.

Lol made me laugh!

 

[SPARTYKUS]

They are rubbish, I hate them too. But theres nothing to them electrically. My money is on a circuit fault

 

[s7t7e7v7e7]

Thanks all, I'm probably just overlooking the obvious. It was late in the day when I went round. i will go in fresh next week no doubt its staring me in the face. some weeks are better than others, also customers dont always give you all the facts first time around, something extra always leaks out later.

Cheers...Steve.