Sanity check - replacing MCBs with RCBOs

[drjarmin]

Hi All

Wanted to get feedback on this idea.

I have 3 fuse boards which trip frequently whenever there is a lightening storm nearby. My electrician friend has suggested he swaps all the MCB's with RCBO's so that individual circuits trip rather than the whole board. Each board currently has a main RCB for protection - the proposal is to replace it with a 63A MCB.

1. Is this a good idea? I can't see a downside other than cost.

2. Any other thoughts on how to stop these boards tripping everytime there is a burst of lightening nearby?

Thanks!

 

[Knobhead]

Get another electrician before you get robbed blind.

 

[drjarmin]

Hi Tony

Do you mind to expand on that?

Thanks

 

[Plonker 3]

What actually trips, the fuses or the RCD switches?

 

[drjarmin]

Always the RCD. There is one per board. Can trip as often as 20 times in a night if there is a heavy thunderstorm.

 

[Octopus]

Always the RCD. There is one per board. Can trip as often as 20 times in a night if there is a heavy thunderstorm.

and how often does this occur?

 

[drjarmin]

and how often does this occur?

This year probably 20-25 times so far.

 

[telectrix]

i'd be getting a competent electrician to test the RCDs.

 

[Octopus]

This year probably 20-25 times so far.

In the UK??

 

[dingledong]

Sure there is not a fault in the house ? I would get an electrician in

 

[Farmelectrics]

Get an eicr done and take it from there

 

[telectrix]

IR tests and ramp tests would probably help. and... when there's a storm, there's usually rain. rain is wet. wet causes RCDs to trip.

 

[Bobster]

Rain getting into an outside light fitting?

 

[Knobhead]

Hi All

Wanted to get feedback on this idea.

I have 3 fuse boards which trip frequently whenever there is a lightening storm nearby. My electrician friend has suggested he swaps all the MCB's with RCBO's so that individual circuits trip rather than the whole board. Each board currently has a main RCB for protection - the proposal is to replace it with a 63A MCB.

1. Is this a good idea? I can't see a downside other than cost.

2. Any other thoughts on how to stop these boards tripping everytime there is a burst of lightening nearby?

Thanks!

Unless it’s a DP MCB it’s a dumb idea.

What testing did you’re “electrician friend” carry out before recommending replacing the existing MCB’s with expensive RCBO’s. Which if SP provide less protection than you have now. Only very expensive DP or SPSN RCBO’s give real protection.

Hi Tony

Do you mind to expand on that?

Thanks

I don’t believe your “electrician friend” exists.


A photograph of this set up would help.

 

[drjarmin]

In the UK??

No, I'm in Hong Kong

 

[drjarmin]

Rain getting into an outside light fitting?

One of the boards does have lighting outdoors and this circuit was found to have a fault. I checked some of the lamps and indeed the rubber was starting to perish and there was water.

However, there are two other boards. They also trip but less frequently. Each board comes from a separate meter.

 

[Knobhead]

This just gets better. The OP is in Hong Kong!

I’m surprised more of you don’t use the search previous started threads on EF.

>Edit<

Just read #15 after searching previous posts.


OP your "electrician friend" spends a lot of time on holiday.

 

[drjarmin]

Unless it’s a DP MCB it’s a dumb idea.

What testing did you’re “electrician friend” carry out before recommending replacing the existing MCB’s with expensive RCBO’s. Which if SP provide less protection than you have now. Only very expensive DP or SPSN RCBO’s give real protection.



I don’t believe your “electrician friend” exists.


A photograph of this set up would help.

Here is the current state of one of the boards. I can't get 6A RCBOs here so have ordered some from TLC which are arriving tomorrow. All the other MCBs have been replaced.

I can't speak to the testing the electrician did. He is UK certified (ex NHS). He came round and said there was earth leakage on the circuit which in turn leads to a distribution board outside with 3 further circuits (2 for lighting, one to power the garden shed). He recommended moving to RCBOs. I didn't know they existed until he mentioned them and I'm certainly not doing the work myself.

The problem is he repeatedly doesn't show up and doesn't return / answer calls. The picture is how he left my board on Monday saying he'd be back on Tuesday and hasn't reappeared. This is not an uncommon pattern and has been going on for months. Two reasons I've stuck with this situation - 1. He rewired the house and installed that board (and the other two) so should know the layout better than anyone else and 2. I am trying to find someone else to finish this off but it isn't easy. Haven't managed to find anyone who will pick up the work despite trying for months. The local practice is simply to rip everything out and start from scratch. There is no appetite to pick up from where someone left off.

Hence my question is this even the correct way to go!

 

[trev]

I'm sorry but the proposed method of "solving" this problem is ridiculous, you've already found the cause of the tripping on one board and you're not an electrician so how come your "electrician friend" couldn't locate it?
Get someone in who knows what they are doing and so will be able to find the reason for the other boards tripping and come up with a sensible, cost effective method of resolution. If you're determined to throw good money away I'll come over with my test gear as long as you are prepared to pay the exorbitant fees for travel accommodation and subsistence as well as my very reasonable fee for my professional services.

 

[telectrix]

I'm sorry but the proposed method of "solving" this problem is ridiculous, you've already found the cause of the tripping on one board and you're not an electrician so how come your "electrician friend" couldn't locate it?
Get someone in who knows what they are doing and so will be able to find the reason for the other boards tripping and come up with a sensible, cost effective method of resolution. If you're determined to throw good money away I'll come over with my test gear as long as you are prepared to pay the exorbitant fees for travel accommodation and subsistence as well as my very reasonable fee for my professional services.

you missed out the 1st class flight fare, and the 2 weeks holiday in the seychelles on your way home.

 

[trev]

you missed out the 1st class flight fare, and the 2 weeks holiday in the seychelles on your way home.

All under the travel, accommodation and subsistence heading mate, I can do without the Seychelles holiday because lying on a beach for a fortnight doesn't really appeal to me.

 

[drjarmin]

I'm sorry but the proposed method of "solving" this problem is ridiculous, you've already found the cause of the tripping on one board and you're not an electrician so how come your "electrician friend" couldn't locate it?
Get someone in who knows what they are doing and so will be able to find the reason for the other boards tripping and come up with a sensible, cost effective method of resolution. If you're determined to throw good money away I'll come over with my test gear as long as you are prepared to pay the exorbitant fees for travel accommodation and subsistence as well as my very reasonable fee for my professional services.

There is obviously an implication here that I'm doing the work myself and claiming advice from an 'electrician friend'. Absolutely not the case. I have never had any training and am not stupid enough to start playing with lethal voltages.

I am really unhappy about this situation and have come here to find advice as an approach to sorting it out. I have contacted a number of local electricians who refuse to take on the job because of my location. I am seriously considering flying someone out from Europe to get this job finished once and for all but that isn't necessarily an easy task in itself. I have a family in the house and having power cuts repeatedly isn't good for my daughter who is waking up in the middle of the night in a 30+ degree room due to no power and has an early start in the morning.

I'm respectfully asking for some helpful advice here. Any help to sort out a very frustrating and to date expensive problem is appreciated. Not sure where else to turn at the moment.

 

[drjarmin]

>>How do I post a picture here? It only gives me the option of a URL, not a local file.

Ah, found I don't have permission to post attachments. I'll PM one of the board admins.

 

[trev]

Because of a few external problems recently there has been an embargo put on people regarding posting pictures. Post them on photobucket or somewhere similar and post links.

I posted the words "electrician friend" the way I did not because of what you have written but because I don't think this person is an electrician as any electrician worth his salt would/should have come up with a more reasonable solution.

I apologise if it came across as criticising you.

 

[drjarmin]

Because of a few external problems recently there has been an embargo put on people regarding posting pictures. Post them on photobucket or somewhere similar and post links.

I posted the words "electrician friend" the way I did not because of what you have written but because I don't think this person is an electrician as any electrician worth his salt would/should have come up with a more reasonable solution.

I apologise if it came across as criticising you.

No problem! Actually there was another comment suggesting he didn't exist. I can understand some users do post here with a view to doing the work themselves but this is definitely 100% not the case now. I've taken a week off work to try to get this resolved and my guy has let me down again leaving me scrambling to find a plan B.

Can someone tell me why RCBOs is not a way forward? That is what he recommended and I have gone out and bought all except the 6A ones that are being shipped from the UK (along with new lights for the garden).

Thanks for the photobucket tip. I've created an account so here is the state of the board as left on Monday. He said he'd finished off, install the 63A mcb and tidy the neutrals and earth's on Tuesday....

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[trev]

Can someone tell me why RCBOs is not a way forward?
Because what he's saying is that rather than solve the problem he's saying you'll lose one circuit rather than them all which is ridiculous. If things are tripping then the root cause of it MUST be found rather than just put a sticking plaster over what is essentially a gaping wound.

 

[trev]

That board is a mess mate, it backs up my statement earlier that your electrician friend is not what he claims.
My offer still stands, I'll compromise and travel business class but you'll be left with a safe, easy to use installation at the end of it

 

[Knobhead]

To see one of the DB's have a look here http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...m/35925-help-fuse-board-gone-nuts-lights.html

 

[Rockingit]

To the OP, I don't think for one moment that you're being serious, but just in case you are, I've spent most of my life flying all over the world doing electrical and related work, pm me if you want to book a slot in my diary. As I remember, HK has this strange blend of UK and Chinese methods, and I'd guess that even now most work has to be done to UK standards to conform to what existed before?

 

[trev]

To the OP, I don't think for one moment that you're being serious, but just in case you are, I've spent most of my life flying all over the world doing electrical and related work, pm me if you want to book a slot in my diary. As I remember, HK has this strange blend of UK and Chinese methods, and I'd guess that even now most work has to be done to UK standards to conform to what existed before?

Oi! Get lost, I had first dibs on it!