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nate1880

Hi Folks,

I'm new to this forum. Got a bit of a head scratcher for you all.

I have recently installed a new dual rcd consumer unit in a retirement home apartment It is about the 20th apartment we have done with no previous problems whatsoever.

On energizing the consumer unit I switched on the main switch, then both rcd's.
One by one I switched on the breakers and everything was fine, went in to each room operating the light, the lights all worked correctly but when I got to the kitchen light and operated the switch the rcd on the opposite side to the one protecting the lighting circuit tripped??

I flicked it back on, tried operating the test button for both RCD's, RCD 1 the one not protecting the lighting circuit would not operate, RCD 2 the one protecting the lighting circuit operated fine.

So I thought, ok dodgy RCD, so replaced the RCD, same problem occurring.

I have thought of everything , there is no damaged cables, no 'borrowed neutrals', the consumer units internal links are all wired correctly, everything looks correct but something is a miss & I cannot think for the life of me what?

Now the RCD will not even hold at all, flick the main switch on, flick on RCD1 & it's trips instantly. With no load.

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.
 
Classic symptoms of a N-E fault. It's surprising it didn't show up when you tested the circuits before switching them on.
 
As DW mentioned, might be best to get the wires back out of the board and test each cct. Don't think I have ever changed an RCD under such circumstances as there are plenty of ways to find out whether it really is the RCD or a fault on the wiring or appliance
 
Crossed/borrowed neutrals maybe, the RCD tripping might be marginally faster than the other one. Could also be N-E insulation value but you'd have picked this up on the dead tests before powering up surely. The chances of it being a fault with the actual RCD is extremely slim and running an RCD test would be better proof of correct function than just replacing.
 
Last edited:
Hi Folks,

I'm new to this forum. Got a bit of a head scratcher for you all.

I have recently installed a new dual rcd consumer unit in a retirement home apartment It is about the 20th apartment we have done with no previous problems whatsoever.

On energizing the consumer unit I switched on the main switch, then both rcd's.
One by one I switched on the breakers and everything was fine, went in to each room operating the light, the lights all worked correctly but when I got to the kitchen light and operated the switch the rcd on the opposite side to the one protecting the lighting circuit tripped??

I flicked it back on, tried operating the test button for both RCD's, RCD 1 the one not protecting the lighting circuit would not operate, RCD 2 the one protecting the lighting circuit operated fine.

So I thought, ok dodgy RCD, so replaced the RCD, same problem occurring.

I have thought of everything , there is no damaged cables, no 'borrowed neutrals', the consumer units internal links are all wired correctly, everything looks correct but something is a miss & I cannot think for the life of me what?

Now the RCD will not even hold at all, flick the main switch on, flick on RCD1 & it's trips instantly. With no load.

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

As it's still tripping I'd suggest not....:wink_smile:
 

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