RCD keeps tripping

[JakeC]

Hi, I'm new the forum seeking some advice

My parents have just had their rewireable fuse board updated and some spotlights installed on the landing.

The problem is the RCD keeps tripping out (only sometimes) when the landing lights are switched on. Now I know you will be thinking borrowed neutral but I've checked the 2 way switch and the cable is 3 core and earth from the downstairs to the upstairs switch...

The upstairs and downstairs have been put on the same RCD also to double check this..

Now in one of the bedrooms the light has 4 bulbs and one has been blown for awhile. I put a new bulb in today and when the bedroom light is on, if you turn the landing light on it trips everytime.. Take 2 bulbs out and it doesn't.

The bedroom bulbs are 4x 25watt and the landing light bulbs are 3x 50watt.

The RCD is 63amp 30mA.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[topquark]

Borrowed neutral wouldn't cause an intermittent trip. Have you IR tested the circuit? Sounds like a possible short in the bedroom light.

 

[JakeC]

I'll have to find out I assume it was done. I have checked the ceiling rose which was abit of a mess but sorted it all out and no problems there.

Please admire.. ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting lol

 

[rayman]

test the rcd on half trip might be duff rcd.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Hi, I'm new the forum seeking some advice

My parents have just had their rewireable fuse board updated and some spotlights installed on the landing.

The problem is the RCD keeps tripping out (only sometimes) when the landing lights are switched on. Now I know you will be thinking borrowed neutral but I've checked the 2 way switch and the cable is 3 core and earth from the downstairs to the upstairs switch...

The upstairs and downstairs have been put on the same RCD also to double check this..

Now in one of the bedrooms the light has 4 bulbs and one has been blown for awhile. I put a new bulb in today and when the bedroom light is on, if you turn the landing light on it trips everytime.. Take 2 bulbs out and it doesn't.

The bedroom bulbs are 4x 25watt and the landing light bulbs are 3x 50watt.

The RCD is 63amp 30mA.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[ezzzekiel]

earth fault on lighting - ir tests will show it up, judging by picture i would inspect all lighting points involved

 

[topquark]

Lovely (I hope that's the before picture )! If it's not a fault at that fitting then you could check the others on the route back to the CU, with the circuit isolated. I'm assuming that the extra load of another two lights in that bedroom is enough to exceed the threashold.

If it was me I'd be getting the "electrician" back to sort it out.

It's usually a good idea on a two rcd board to have upstairs lights and downstairs sockets on one rcd and downstairs lights and upstairs sockets on the other. In the event of an RCD tripping you can still utilise the sockets for a lamp, either upstairs or downstairs.

 

[JakeC]

Correct me if i'm wrong but spotlights aren't earthed?

 

[topquark]

Correct me if i'm wrong but spotlights aren't earthed?

Not sure what you're asking there. Spotlights may or may not be earthed, it can depend on the class of equipment, most are earthed as they are either metal fittings or have built in transformers requiring a functional earth.

 

[ezzzekiel]

even if they werent earthed there will be an earth core there somewhere and judging by the picture god knows where its terminated

 

[topquark]

even if they werent earthed there will be an earth core there somewhere and judging by the picture god knows where its terminated

Not sure I'd even want to rely on the core colours there ezzze

 

[telectrix]

that's got to be the neatest job zippy and bungle have ever done.

 

[JakeC]

The picture is the ceiling rose of the bedroom, been like that for donkeys years lol.

What i mean by the downlights not being earthed. They are chained in 2 core flex with no place to even fit an earth (I pulled one out)

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Correct me if i'm wrong but spotlights aren't earthed?

either mains class 1s which require a cpc..or selv..seperated extra low voltage: no cpc on the secondary side...or felv: functional extra low voltage usually requires a functional earth to operate...such as some RCDs, RCBOs...BT etc........
as further to this i shoukd add that an RCD requires an earth path to opperate...

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Sounds like there is a N-E fault somewhere....probably when the landing light is switched on some of the return current goes back via the earth fault.

 

[JakeC]

An update..

Sorted out the rats nest of wiring in the light (still tripped)...

Took out the bedroom light and it no longer trips so possible dodgy light fixture?

Although not sure why switching on the landing light would cause it to trip. I'll stick a cheap pendant on tomorrow see if it's better.

Apparently all the IR results were ok