Rcd not tripping and ramp test more than 30ma

Risteard · Feb 22, 2016

itselectric said:
Then the label is a waste of time, but I do take your point.

Not really, because they should be regularly tested.

But if an RCD fails to operate when tested then it is not recommended to keep pressing the test button and retesting until it passes. The RCD has failed.

PEG · Feb 23, 2016

Risteard said:
Not really, because they should be regularly tested.

But if an RCD fails to operate when tested then it is not recommended to keep pressing the test button and retesting until it passes. The RCD has failed.

If the current stream of politicians wittering about the EU,have only taught us one thing,it is some things get worse,the more you press them...:smilewinkgrin:

telectrix · Feb 23, 2016

PEG said:
If the current stream of politicians wittering about the EU,have only taught us one thing,it is some things get worse,the more you press them...:smilewinkgrin:

wittering. i like that word.on a par with chuntering and blathering. all words that remind me of geordies. :lipsrsealed2:

YoungScud · Feb 23, 2016

PEG said:
If the current stream of electricians wittering about the EU,have only taught us one thing,it is some things get worse,the more you press them...:smilewinkgrin:

Fixed it for you

Dave OCD · Feb 23, 2016

telectrix said:
wittering. i like that word.on a par with chuntering and blathering. all words that remind me of geordies. :lipsrsealed2:

Got a small job for a retired Geordie sparks tomorrow, he always gets me in for bits and pieces as he's nearly 80 now. This fella has a bit of a stammer, reminds me of a Geordie version of Arkwright. :biggrin:

PEG · Feb 23, 2016

Dave,are you far enough down-country,to tell him"wats th urry? tamarras not touched yet,my larver..."

A particular favourite of mine,told to my mother-in-law,by a St.Ives roofer,concerning her leaking porch roof...

He returned 4 months later...and without a shred of irony,asked her to put the kettle on :shocked3:

marc8 · Feb 25, 2016

Hi All

got call 2 days ago customer saying cooker was not working, it had tripped a couple of times & the fact that they were all RCBO's but unusually another RCBO also tripped, I mentioned that they are separate except for the common N connection as single pole.

But really interesting part was that I pressed the test button & nothing happened it did not work, isolated circuit removed cooker switch & as I removed found burned wires & almost touching through, separated wires & established power again to test RCBO working fine no problem.
it seems under certain conditions that the RCBO will not operate think the coil must have been must have been saturated for the test button not to work.
full range of tests for the circuit & ok, when i disconnected the cooker cables from the high level JB sticking out of wall so I could restore power until I cooker run new cable in. light not tripping also but did mention if someone had pinched a Neutral that this could cause it but will test for that when I go back.

Golden_Boy · Feb 26, 2016

davesparks said:
I'd be inclined to think that there is a fault somewhere causing this if the test button works.

The test button connects a resistor of approx 4k into the circuit to cause an imbalance of about 60ma. So it will trip pretty quickly.
If you measure between the line and neutral with the button pushed in you can measure the applied resistance ( disconect it all first though !! )

[ElectriciansForums.net] Rcd not tripping and ramp test more than 30ma

Skimpy Wan · Feb 26, 2016

On this principle. Would it therfore also confirm a faulty RCD if the test button didn't work and when tested, as shown in the picture, no resistance is given?

Dave OCD · Feb 26, 2016

PEG said:
Dave,are you far enough down-country,to tell him"wats th urry? tamarras not touched yet,my larver..."

A particular favourite of mine,told to my mother-in-law,by a St.Ives roofer,concerning her leaking porch roof...

He returned 4 months later...and without a shred of irony,asked her to put the kettle on :shocked3:

Hahaha yes mate, I've been known to mention kettles if no offers are forthcoming after half an hour at the job.

Leesparkykent · Feb 26, 2016

Dave OCD said:
Hahaha yes mate, I've been known to mention kettles if no offers are forthcoming after half an hour at the job.

One of the sparks I worked with during my apprenticeship once unscrewed the plug top on the kettle in front of the customer and looked at me and said the fuse seems to be good lol

Dave OCD · Feb 26, 2016

Leesparkykent said:
One of the sparks I worked with during my apprenticeship once unscrewed the plug top on the kettle in front of the customer and looked at me and said the fuse seems to be good lol

Excellent ! Can you remember if the extreme hint got the required result Lee ? :biggrin:

Leesparkykent · Feb 26, 2016

Dave OCD said:
Excellent ! Can you remember if the extreme hint got the required result Lee ? :biggrin:

Lol yeah It did actually haha. He used to do and come out with all sorts of stuff lol. He didn't take any sugar in his tea so when the customer's asked if he did after offering him a brew he would say no its ok there will be enough sugar on the biscuits lol.

Andy78 · Feb 26, 2016

I always chuck a cheeky hint in if they are a bit slow on the offer. "I'm just about to have the power off but I can wait 5 minutes if you were about to get the kettle on" Usually does the trick.

Golden_Boy · Feb 26, 2016

Skimpy Wan said:
On this principle. Would it therfore also confirm a faulty RCD if the test button didn't work and when tested, as shown in the picture, no resistance is given?

If the internal resistor is open circuit or the test button is not making contact then the test button would not work. However the RCD may still be OK. Thats why the tests are so important.