RCD Tripping ?

[green-hornet]

This is a strange one.

New rewire, all tests come out great, end to end insulation everything ok.

However I was called up to the house today because everytime they switched the kettle on it trips the rcd,

easy job I thought until I got there and sure enough switch the kettle on and the rcd trips! However it is not the rcd protecting that circuit?

Its the opposite side.

I removed all lives from the mcb,s and left earth and nuetrals connected, and it still triped.

I can only think there must somehow be a crossover on the nuetrals, but no test I have done has shown up any, going back tommoro for a proper strip down. If anyone has any thoughts I would be gratefull.

 

[Zeespark]

GH could the kettle itself be at fault?

AndyGuinness

 

[green-hornet]

Thats why I initially thought it was going to be an easy call out.

The kettle tests out fine no problems at all.

 

[Theorysparky]

ITS THE KETTLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pat test it

if all your rcd tests were fine then its not your problem

chargeable my friend

 

[Zeespark]

Then I would be tempted to rewire both sides of the RCD's.

AndyGuinness

 

[revjames]

N-E fault on kettle element

 

[green-hornet]

I have a pat tester and the kettle was fine even under load test.

A pair of hair strighteners were plugged into various circuits with the same out come.

I have a nasty feeling about this one.

 

[Theorysparky]

before you do any major work on the consumer unit there are a few things to try...

try the kettle on the other rcd if it is a dual board

try using an iron on that socket or anything else to generate that much wattage use

even if the kettle tests ok doesnt me its good

did you use a pat tester ??????

 

[revjames]

Hmmmm OK but best to make the obvious things 100% eliminated.

 

[Theorysparky]

I have a pat tester and the kettle was fine even under load test.A pair of hair strighteners were plugged into various circuits with the same out come.I have a nasty feeling about this one.

oh !!!

GH that is a vital bit of info you missed out on your original post !!!!!

were they GHd's buy any chance ? :coat

same problem on both rcd s ???

could be the rcd wired incorrectly by the manufacturer ???

 

[nicks electrix]

The other day i was called out cause the oven kept tripping the rcd. I did an rcd test all fine, I did a continuity test between the cooker live conductors and cooker earth, no continuity. It worked out that the hotter the oven gets the less resistance there is between the live conductors and earth and this was a brand new cooker and electrically tested.

 

[NozSpark]

Could there be a N link in the CU that you might have over looked??

 

[revjames]

I had a problem last week, I did some mods to a CU and put ccts on RCD. On one circuit, every time I plugged the ELI tester in, even before pressing the button, the RCD tripped. Turned out to be neutrals mixed up.

 

[green-hornet]

Could there be a N link in the CU that you might have over looked??

This is the only thing I think could cause the problem but everything is ok, I even rewired the cu testing end to end as I went along.

The thing that gets me confused is that the RCD that trips is not the RCD for that circuit. Its the opposite RCD.

 

[Evans Electric]

I'm going with mixed neutrals , Greeny, Interested to hear the outcome though.

Deke

 

[revjames]

Are we talking about common RCDs with MCBs or RCBOs?

 

[green-hornet]

Yes revjames, its a dual 17th board split with two rcd's each with 6 circuits.

I can only think of a mixed or joined nuetral, but I did the rewire and the continuity checks today did not show anything up.

its a very strange one and no doubt there will be a simple solution (when I find the bugger).

 

[NozSpark]

Or maybe.....

RCD2 gets its neutral from RCD1's outgoing neutral bar???

 

[batty]

So has it always done it from start or just started doing it. What make cu is it?

 

[green-hornet]

Just started Batty and its a crabtree