vacuum trips rcd downstairs

[hutch]

Vacuum trips rcd downstairs but does not trip upstairs, but the weird thing is everything else downstairs works fine and doesnt trip anything?

 

[Doc Hudson]

Welcome to the forum, Are the upstairs sockets RCD protected? Fuse boxes installed on installations designed before Jan 2008 probably don't have upstairs RCD protection. It sounds like you need to get the vacuum cleaner tested to me.

Doc H.

 

[NozSpark]

It may not be the vac though

I was called out to a property with a similar problem,, every time they used a halogen grill the RCD tripped so they got a new element - the problem persisted, the lawn mower made it trip so they got a new one:|

guess what, the fault was still there.

After testing the circuts I found a low IR on a garage spur, the homeowner remembered a burried joint under the patio slabs

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/7030347971_18c7b29628.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6884249298_b52ab195cf.jpg

 

[betty swollocks]

Does it only trip on one socket?

If so try plugging a hair dryer in this socket to see if it trips

 

[matt.leung]

is the upstairs and downstairs protected by the same RCD, or is it a split board?

 

[lineman]

Had this exact fault a couple of weeks ago mate. Vacuum tripping rcd on one socket only. Removed socket from wall and neutrals popped out of terminals. Replacement socket and relevant testing and no complaint since.

 

[betty swollocks]

Had this exact fault on a couple of weeks ago mate. Vacuum tripping rcd on one socket only. Removed socket from wall and neutrals popped out of terminals. Replacement socket and relevant testing and no complaint since.

It's ok lineman I went the day after and sorted it for ya

 

[lineman]

Ah so you're the guy who switched the mcb to the non protected side! Lol

 

[hutch]

yeah plugged the kettle insame socket and it didnt trip.

 

[batty]

Are you sure its not the MCB rather than the RCD most vacuums are double insulated so would not affect RCD's any way unless there was another wiring fault.

 

[hutch]

its double rcd board everything is protected

 

[Theorysparky]

Got a similar fault to go to on Monday

new cct in new conservatory

plug an electric fire in and it trips rcd after 5 mins,,,,on one socket

nothing elses trips the rcd

one of two things,,,,,,

cable loose behind socket or fire faulty,,,,,,hope its the fire...

i can charge for it !!!!

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 23:40 ---------- Previous post was made at 23:38 ----------

I did also ask them to plug a kettle into the socket with a full load of water,,,,it didnt trip....

 

[Doc Hudson]

There could be a small leakage to earth on that circuit due to a poor connection or damaged insulation which is below the RCD trip current, but when the vacuum is running, (a relatively high power appliance), the increased current causes more leakage across the poor joint or cable damage. It may be beneficial to have the RCD tested to verify it is not over sensitive.

Doc H

 

[SteveT]

How about possible build up of leakage, vacuum tips it over the edge

 

[hutch]

Yes that was a split board with one side protected by rcd and other unprotected, now because the garage is on its own consumer unit which has its own 30mA rcd it doesnt need to be protected again at the main board. So if it was protected by 2 rcd's running back to main board you wouldnt know which one tripped plus it would knock all the other circuits outs so that was a correct decision to make.

 

[NozSpark]

There could be a small leakage to earth on that circuit due to a poor connection or damaged insulation which is below the RCD trip current, but when the vacuum is running, (a relatively high power appliance), the increased current causes more leakage across the poor joint or cable damage. It may be beneficial to have the RCD tested to verify it is not over sensitive.Doc H

Especially with a Neutral - Earth fault

 

[Ash]

Had this twice before where it's just one socket, replaced the sockets and everything was fine again.

One of the sockets had a nice scorch on the line terminal, It would trip if you wiggled the plug.

 

[revjames]

vacuum trips RCD? that sucks....

 

[m4tty]

vacuum trips RCD? that sucks...Only upstairs .

 

[Theorysparky]

Got a similar fault to go to on Mondaynew cct in new conservatory

plug an electric fire in and it trips rcd after 5 mins,,,,on one socket

nothing elses trips the rcd

one of two things,,,,,,

cable loose behind socket or fire faulty,,,,,,hope its the fire...

i can charge for it !!!!

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 23:40 ---------- Previous post was made at 23:38 ----------

I did also ask them to plug a kettle into the socket with a full load of water,,,,it didnt trip....

PAT Test on fire L-E Fault

leakage test fail

socket ok,rcd ok ,,,zs ok

nice