lighting cct trips after 2-3 hrs

[paul copeman]

hi all

i have a cct in a pub that trips after 2-3 hrs

breaker can be reset immediately and works fine for another 2-3 hrs then trips again

ive checked wiring at all lights on cct, disconnected lights and run IR tests on wiring

thought i found the problem when i pulled out a lamp and the screw cap stayed in its holder i.e glass broke off in my hand but problem still persists

trouble is it cct seems fine when i am on site and then trips after a couple of hrs

cct is supplying 7 bulkhead fittings 6 GU10 spotlight fitting (3 GU10 on each) and metal halide flood lights on a 6A breaker

which ithought wasa abit much so i removed some of the lamps from the spots and still problem persist

any help pls????

 

[Robin Spark]

Whats the wattage on the metal halide floods, are the GU10's 50 watts and what sort and rating bulheads? Also did you measure the running current with a clamp meter if you have one?

 

[paul copeman]

GU10 are a mixture of LEDS and 35W bulkheads are60W and floods i cant get to properly as they are too high but id say 400 or 500W

dont have a clamp meter so couldn,t measure like that im afraid

 

[Robin Spark]

I would probably be looking at your circuit is overloaded by the floods. Could you borrow a clamp meter from someone?

Possibly could change 6amp to 10amp breaker if cable is 1.5mm,

also as a thought what breakers are next to this in the consumer unit? are they carrying a lot of current as well making the breaker warm and causing the thermal trip to operate?

Try and relocate breaker in the board if you can.

 

[steptoe]

^

my first thoughts also without actually seeing the circuit,

Im not sure if simply changing from a 6 to 10 is OK.

you need to actually look at the circuit and decide if that is a suitable solution.

 

[paul copeman]

cant change to 10A as is only 1mm cable

im gonna try disconnecting floods tommorow if i can get to junction box see if its them

they may have water in them

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Are you sure their is nothing else on this circuit. I have found odd stuff like the hand drier in the gents connected to the lights, thats why the circuit only blows every 3-4 hours ( sometimes days )

 

[Robin Spark]

Are you sure their is nothing else on this circuit. I have found odd stuff like the hand drier in the gents connected to the lights, thats why the circuit only blows every 3-4 hours ( sometimes days )

Cant stand it when blokes dont wash their hands after using the loo! So perhaps this is either a quiet pub or full of stinky beggars who dont know personal hygeine!

 

[paul copeman]

tell me about it slpishod

i all the outside lighting 2 uplighters for willow trees and 3 lamposts on a three pin plug this morning

ill have to have a good look into it

didnt have much time today so if i get to go back to it tommorow ill check all wiring make sure nothing else is connected

 

[steptoe]

smoking area,

maybe fine till more than one of the heaters is called into action at once?

cant stand it when non smokers make me stand outside.!

 

[Robin Spark]

tell me about it slpishodi all the outside lighting 2 uplighters for willow trees and 3 lamposts on a three pin plug this morning

ill have to have a good look into it

didnt have much time today so if i get to go back to it tommorow ill check all wiring make sure nothing else is connected

Paul, can you decipher your post into English please mate

 

[paul copeman]

i mean't i found 2 uplighters and 3 lamposts wired to a three pin plug

 

[a1]

Any chance of some pics please Paul - Just being a nosey bar steward, that's all mate.

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 23:29 ---------- Previous post was made at 23:28 ----------

If and when you go back I mean, mate.

 

[paul copeman]

sorry admin i disconnected it in order to sort it out properly

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 23:35 ---------- Previous post was made at 23:33 ----------

all SWA were going to a connector block which was then wired to a three pin plug in T+E and not even on an RCD or anything