Fault on RCD Trip

[binky]

Knowing what idiots site monkeys can be, I would be inclined to have your house / neighbours house fully inspected ie a Periodic Inspection Report. This will reveal any anomilies with your system, and will include testing of the RCD. This may not reveal an actual cause of the issue, but at least you will know your system is good (or not). In my experience when you have a strange fault, you need to right back to basics and start from scratch.

You could also try something else first:-

1/ Switch off circuits controlled by RCD and ask neighbour to start lawn mower if it trips I would suspect RCD but still be concerned how its being affected by neighbours.

2/ As above but if RCD does not trip, turn on one circuit and start mower again. If rcd trips make note and repeat for other 3 circuits. If RCD only trips when one particular circuit is energised, then there is likely to be a fault with that circuit. If it trips across more than one circuit, then fault lies with RCD or something else in system.

Either way expect a good days head-scratching and much deep thought

 

[Sidewinder]

You could be looking at a DNO fault here.

The installs are almost certainly PMS/TN-C-S.

STEPS you're needed!

God I never thought I'd say that!!! ROTFWL

You may have an issue with the CNE conductors between the two premises.

Are you both on the same phase, you MUST be for this to happen.

As has been suggested try his mower etc. on your install in an RCD supplied outlet.

Where does he plug these in direct into a socket connected to his main board, or to one connected to a sub-main? e.g. garage/shed.

Is the PME earth exported.

We may be about to prove Steps right and prove that the OP's DNO is breaking the law!

Let's go guys and keep it civil please....

:run

 

[steptoe]

its a PME earth pulling a fault through the rod.

you obviously have a better earth than your neighbour so are pulling his leakage into your neutral through his earth, thus causing an imbalance in your neutral/line current and your RCD is simply getting "confused"

this is a very mild example of what I tried to explain a long time ago about how you can pull your neighbours fault into your install on PME.

I would stagger a guess the PME has been exported, although Im not 100% if this would have any bearing on this present situation. would need more detailed info TBH,

the problem here is that inherently lawnmowers etc are class II and dont have any earth, could even be something as simple as the extension lead lying on the grass leaking.

 

[steptoe]

You could be looking at a DNO fault here.The installs are almost certainly PMS/TN-C-S.

STEPS you're needed! WHAT?????

God I never thought I'd say that!!! ROTFWL

You may have an issue with the CNE conductors between the two premises.

Are you both on the same phase, you MUST be for this to happen.

As has been suggested try his mower etc. on your install in an RCD supplied outlet.

Where does he plug these in direct into a socket connected to his main board, or to one connected to a sub-main? e.g. garage/shed.

Is the PME earth exported.

We may be about to prove Steps right and prove that the OP's DNO is breaking the law!

ITS NOT ABOUT PROVING ANYONE RIGHT, ITS ABOUT HAVING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING

Let's go guys and keep it civil please....

:run

THIS, I feel would/may.could be very interesting,

anyone nearby?

DOG I'd love something like this to get the old grey matter going......

 

[steptoe]

I have a head scratching fault on my RCD Trip. When ever my neighbour two doors along uses his lawn mower/strimmer my RCD trips in the kitchen, this has been happening regularly for 4 years now. I have had another electrician test my board and states that this can't happen, but it does regularly. Any ideas at all?I am at a loss really so any help would be appreciated. :_|

what exactly do you mean by this?

do you have a separate RCD fitted in your kitchen for something? (feeding your shed or outside socket?)

 

[binky]

Looking at the CU when contractors can't be ars*d to lable sockets as up and down, you have to wonder what the quality of work is like.

If fault is what Steps says (which sounds very likely) how would we go about proving the point??

 

[Sidewinder]

Sorry Steps, you are right AGAIN!

It is NOT about proving people right or wrong.

IT IS about getting to the bottom of these confusing issues.

I think you've hit the nail on the head so to speak.

 

[steptoe]

Looking at the CU when contractors can't be ars*d to lable sockets as up and down, you have to wonder what the quality of work is like.If fault is what Steps says (which sounds very likely) how would we go about proving the point??

clamp meters on L & N and milli amp meter on E

I think we would be good to determine if the earth has in fact been exported, that alone may be a major reason (on reflection), it may be rodded as well as exported, even more imbalance.

but the first instance(as has been mooted previously)would be a simple RCD swap and a ramp test as a minimum, and reasonably cheap exercise,

 

[ADS]

Seriously, how is any of this going to cause an imballance in the OPs RCD and cause it to trip?

 

[Sidewinder]

Backfeeding of earth leakage being exported to the incoming side of the OP's RCD due to DNO fault for one.

 

[steptoe]

Seriously, how is any of this going to cause an imballance in the OPs RCD and cause it to trip?

understanding of how earthing systems work may be of good benefit,

more a practicle knowledge rather than just how the system delivers its connection.

 

[AAAMUSEMENTS]

Is it too soon to pass round the opcorn ?

 

[sparkytim]

I have PMd the OP he may be not be to far away for me or Chuck Norris Man

 

[steptoe]

I think so.

this is just getting good.

 

[steptoe]

I have PMd the OP he may be not be to far away for me or Chuck Norris Man

good show,

TOO far for me,

unless you can get me a cheap motel and an even cheaper 5dolla,,,,....

 

[ADS]

Backfeeding of earth leakage being exported to the incoming side of the OP's RCD due to DNO fault for one.

And where exactly is this backfed current going when heading up his incomming neutral and through his RCD - bearing in mind basic circuit theory

 

[ADS]

understanding of how earthing systems work may be of good benefit,more a practicle knowledge rather than just how the system delivers its connection.

Questioning someones knowledge again - I thought you'd been warned?

Just explain in plain English how what you are saying would happen

 

[steptoe]

Questioning someones knowledge again - I thought you'd been warned?Just explain in plain English how what you are saying would happen

warned about what?

knowing that electricity will always take the path of least resistance.

 

[ADS]

warned about what?knowing that electricity will always take the path of least resistance.

Warned about sticking to the topic and not get personal.

There is no PATH up the incomming neutral, and through the RCD, for the 'electricity' to follow - it doesn't lead anywhere.

The only way it could possibly happen is if there was a neutral/earth fault on the RCD protected circuit - that would create a path

 

[steptoe]

Warned about sticking to the topic and not get personal.There is no PATH up the incomming neutral, and through the RCD, for the 'electricity' to follow - it doesn't lead anywhere.

The only way it could possibly happen is if there was a neutral/earth fault on the RCD protected circuit - that would create a path

PME IS N&E on one rod.

do you actually understand how earthing works?

comments like this are what make me reluctant to answer such questions.

and some people may wonder why there was so many replies before I commented.

sorry, but this sort of thing is why I have decided to sit back much more.