New Rcd Board Tripping.

[Mse1828]

Hi People

We have had a new RCD board fitted by an Electrician and every time the kitchen lights are turned on the fuse trips.

The kitchen lights are 4 x 20w spotlights.

We had the old type fuse board before (the one with fuse wire) if that makes sense, and never had a problem.

The electrician is saying whenever he fits a new board it always finds little problems like this, but he is refusing to solve it without charging extra.

Does this sound about right? Is there anything I could do?

Cheers

 

[m4tty]

No its not on mate. The electrician should have fully tested your property before changing the board which would have uncovered the problem before he changed the board.

what are the results on your certificate he issued for the downstairs light?

 

[Technician]

+1 with Matty.  He has done the work and left you without

a serviceable installation.  Did he give you a certificate?

 

[Mse1828]

Thanks for the quick reply.

No he didn't issue a certificate, he checked a couple of the switches, but not all and left.

I presume we should of had some sort of certificate then??

 

[ProDave]

First of all, it's IMPOSSIBLE for the FUSE to "trip" because you don't have any fuses any more [pedantic] fuses blow, not trip [/pedantic]

So it's either the RCD that trips, or an MCB that trips Which is it? (which one will help explain the nature of the fault)

My guess would be the RCD tripping, probably pointing to our good old friend the borrowed neutral.

But either way, the original electrician should have found and fixed this fault.

as to whether it should cost extra, that depends on your contract with him.

Personally I never give a fixed price, I always just give  an estimate, and warn the customer that if faults are found, it may add time to the job to fix them and may add to the final cost of the job. and if it turns out to be a big complicated fault requiring a lot of work, I will talk to the customer first and explain what's wrong, how I propose to fix it and the likely cost of that.

But if he gave you a fixed price, and crucially if that fixed price includes any remedial work necessary, then yes he should come back for free and sort it out.

EDIT: Just read the reply above whlie I was typing. It sounds like if he didn't do any proper testing then. If you haven't paid him yet, withhold all or some of the payment, because the job is not finished until it's tested and certified.

 

[Mse1828]

Sorry, its my description, the RCD switch trips which controls the kitchen lights.

He quoted a price to change the board, which he has done and been paid for.

I would presume that as this wasn't a problem before, but is now, it must be something to do with his workmanship.

 

[ProDave]

Not necessarilly his workmanship.

The problem is there's a wiring fault, quite common in old houses, where that light fitting get's it's Live from one circuit, and it's neutral from another. Or it could equally well be a N-E fault on that particular light.

With the old fuses it made no difference, but the RCD's sense this as a fault condition and trip.

That particular light needs rewiring, or partly rewiring to fix the fault.

It's unusual to have this fault on a kitchen light (but I have found it there before) it's more usual on a landing or hall light.

Someone needs to check this circuit out and fix the fault.

Since he has only done half the job, I hope you got it at a very cheap price?

Normally as you have already been told a competent electrician would test everything thoroughly, and sometimes before changing the fuse box, so you know what problems you will face.

to leave it untested, and non functional, and without a certificate, is the work of a cowboy.

 

[Mse1828]

Thanks for the info.

Someone has mentioned changing the switch for the lights from the "sensitive side" to the "non-sensitive side" of the RCD.

Does that make sense?

 

[m4tty]

That's not sorting the problem just side stepping it lol but could have your lights working temporarily. The circuit needs testing before an electrician can find the fault

Sounds like your spark is a 'wire and fire' merchant who doesnt bother testing as he should have found this before he swapped the boards.

 

[Mse1828]

The lights do work temporarily, sometimes you could turn the lights on 2 or 3 times before it trips.

So it is intermittent but does happen everyday...

 

[Theorysparky]

Try and get the sparky back to fix the fault

if you cant  then come back to us and we will have a brummie spark on this forum who would come out to have a look

It may cost you for his time but he will know what he is doing

how much did you pay for the board change ????

 

[Mse1828]

£300

 

[Theorysparky]

was that for one days work ???

 

[Mse1828]

Doubt it was even a days work to be honest, prob took about 3 hours.

 

[Theorysparky]

Ok then he did not do any testing what so ever

where did you find him ???

don't give us any names of his company I am just interested

he wont come back

best bet is for another spark to fix it

 

[ProDave]

Well it's certainly a lot less than £100 for the new board, so over £200 labour for 3 hours work and leaving it non working is taking the P....

Get him back to earn his money and fix it for free.

 

[Theorysparky]

that was the first of of 2 cu changes that day

whats the point of us doing it properly ????

 

[Mse1828]

As regards to testing he got the wife to try the switches upstairs and he tested downstairs, the wife reckons he only tested the living room/hallway.

As to where we found him, well its kind of a long story, he was subcontracted by a builder who is doing some work for us, so I don't even know his company name.

Im also concerned about this certificate though, should we have received one?

 

[OnOff]

Does this so called electrician advertise? Does he say he's a member of a scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, STROMA etc? If so you have possible recourse through his "governing body". TBH he sounds a bit fly by night.

But, the main thing of concern is that the installation and problems thereafter suggests he didn't carry out the necessary pre and post installation tests to ensure correct and possibly SAFE operation!

YES, you hould have received an ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION CERTIFICATE no ifs no buts.........

You need to have this checked promptly by a proper electrician.

 

[Theorysparky]

my concern now is the builder !!!

if this is his spark then I would be worried