RCD Tripping - Boiler Control Box

[imprints]

Hi Guys,

Hope someone can shed some light on a recent problem:

We have attended a problem whereby an RCD was tripping in a property due to a capacitor (suppressor) in a boiler control box shorting. We have removed the capacitor, and now all seems well.

The questions are,

Does anyone know the purpose of the capacitor?

What would have been the likely cause of the shorting problem?

If we should replace the part, where is the best place to source this from?

The boiler is a Main Olympic 38/50 B
GC No. 41-789-20

Thanks for any guidance....

 

[Marvo]

I would guess it was thereto supress any spikes or surges caused by switching of the load. It may have also been some sort of built-in power factor correction or to make the boiler compliant with local EMC directives such as IEC 61000.
If it is one of the above then the boiler will probably run fine without it but capacitors are cheap so why not just fit a generic replacement part then there's no worries about the consequences of removing it.

 

[telectrix]

agree with marvo, but generally when these anti-spike capacitors fail they blow apart. just read off the values uF and voltage and get a replacement from any electronics suppliers ( ebay is a good source)

 

[imprints]

Thanks

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Thanks

 

[spark 68]

Just a quick note, any capacitor connected across the mains, or L or N to E, must be an approved class X2 type, as well the same value, and by default the correct voltage.

 

[Rajan Shakti]

is rcd having any load current specification