Rcd Tripping On Dual Board

[Williamshoeste]

Hi,

ive added some outdoor led lights to the downstairs lighting circuit. there are a few 24v lights which are powered by 3 x led drivers (15w, 15w, 20w)

there's a few PIRs controlling the lights as well.

Ive protected them with their own rcd 30ma spur and a 1amp bs1362. the lighting circuit is off a b6 on the side of the board that's not protected by the rcd.

i connected at the board with live, neutral and earth into the same terminals as the existing circuit. neutral is definitely on the side not protected by the rcd.

but then last night at around 1am, the rcd for the socket side of the board tripped. i haven't a clue why this would happen.

are the led drivers playing havoc? the lights are split between front and back of the house so they wouldn't all come on at the same time and i've spent the morning trying to replicate the fault but to no avail.

it's weird because the rcd spur for the new lights didn't trip but the sockets did. ild have thought if there was a problem with my new lights the rcd spur would trip or tiny fuse blow.

any ideas? many thanks if you can help it's a bit of a puzzler.

 

[telectrix]

sounds coincidental and not a fault of the new lights.

 

[Mickeyb]

Not straight forward unfortunately. Split boards can be troublesome. The issue might be your drivers or it might be that your sensing device in your 30mA rcd, protecting the outside lights is activating the rcd protecting the sockets.
My question is, do you need 30mA rcd protection on your outside lights if they are fixed items and not supplying socket outlets outside. I would think you will be tortured with tripping for no/very little reason.

 

[Baddegg]

All new lights in domestic need 30ma rcd protection now....

 

[Strima]

All new lights in domestic need 30ma rcd protection now....

^^411.3.4 for those that are interested.^^

 

[DefyG]

411.3.4

Unfortunately 411.3.4 starts with 'Within' and it could be argued garden lighting is NOT 'within' domestic (household) premises and consequently doesn't need a RCD to satisfy the regs!
Did the lights come on at 1am (presumably they would have on on the non RCD protected side of the CU) or did the other RCD just trip?
As it seems a totally independent circuit, my thoughts are same as Telectrix #2 Coincidental!

 

[Baddegg]

Unfortunately 411.3.4 starts with 'Within' and it could be argued garden lighting is NOT 'within' domestic (household) premises and consequently doesn't need a RCD to satisfy the regs!
Did the lights come on at 1am (presumably they would have on on the non RCD protected side of the CU) or did the other RCD just trip?
As it seems a totally independent circuit, my thoughts are same as Telectrix #2 Coincidental!

A good argument @DefyG.....not sure I’d want to argue that interpretation of it in a court though should the worst happen?

 

[Andy78]

Unfortunately 411.3.4 starts with 'Within' and it could be argued garden lighting is NOT 'within' domestic (household) premises and consequently doesn't need a RCD to satisfy the regs!
Did the lights come on at 1am (presumably they would have on on the non RCD protected side of the CU) or did the other RCD just trip?
As it seems a totally independent circuit, my thoughts are same as Telectrix #2 Coincidental!

Surely then the special location for outside lighting would apply, which requires RCD protection ? ?

 

[DefyG]

You must have a different book to me, my regs book 714.411.3.3 (Additional Protection) doesn't mention 'gardens' in the list.

 

[Bob Geldoff1234]

The answer to the OP's problem is to IR test the RCD side that is tripping and see if there's any faults showing?

 

[Andy78]

You must have a different book to me, my regs book 714.411.3.3 (Additional Protection) doesn't mention 'gardens' in the list.

Well that's me educated for today. I thought RCD protection applied across section 714.

I would definitely argue that domestic premises would include gardens though.

 

[Strima]

Unfortunately 411.3.4 starts with 'Within' and it could be argued garden lighting is NOT 'within' domestic (household) premises and consequently doesn't need a RCD to satisfy the regs!

Try arguing that in court.

 

[DefyG]

Try arguing that in court.

Its in black and white but a good barrister would no doubt persuade others it wasn't!

 

[ipf]

You must have a different book to me, my regs book 714.411.3.3 (Additional Protection) doesn't mention 'gardens' in the list.

It doesn't mention air raid shelters either.
As regards your 'within' point, where are garden lights fed from?

 

[DefyG]

LED Driver I presume as the OP says they are 24v?