RCD MCB Tripping, fault finding
RCD MCB Tripping, fault finding – An RCD trips when there is a leakage from either or both the live and/or neutral conductor to earth.
The Residual Current Device checks’ any residual current as the current in the live and neutral circuits should be the same at all times, if not then there is a leakage, this could be faulty appliances or installation wiring.
Typically in a household, this will be a leakage of up to 30 mA. Leakage could be caused by YOUR finger on either live or neutral hence they are nifty devices there to help keep you and your family safe as and RCD trips much faster than an MCB.
RCD MCB Tripping, fault finding is a task that should be carried out by a professional electrician so if you live in the Plymouth area consider calling upon the services of Plymouth Sparky Dave.
Dave is an expert in finding fault with RCD MCB Tripping, fault finding is his thing.
The description of such devices is below.
Fuses, MCBs, RCDs, and RCBOs are all devices used to protect users and equipment from fault conditions in an electrical circuit by isolating the electrical supply. With fuses and MCBs, only the live feed is isolated; with RCDs and RCBOs both the live and neutral feeds are isolated.
Fuses
A fuse is a very basic protection device that is destroyed (i.e. it ‘blows’) and breaks the circuit should the current exceed the rating of the fuse. Once the fuse has blown, it needs to be replaced.
In older equipment, the fuse may just be a length of appropriate fuse wire fixed between two terminals (normally screw terminals). These are becoming rarer as electrical installations are updated – the presence of such fuses usually indicates that it is about time that the installation is updated.
Modern fuses are generally incorporated within a sealed ceramic cylindrical body (or cartridge) and the whole cartridge needs to be replaced.
Cartridge fuses are used in older type consumer units, fused sockets, fused plugs, etc.
Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)
An MCB is a modern alternative to fuses used in Consumer Units (Fuse Boxes). They are just like switches that switch off when an overload is detected in the circuit. The advantage of MCBs over fuses is that if they trip, they can be reset – they also offer a more precise tripping value.
Residual Current Device (RCD)
Modern alternatives (better) to Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers and fuses in the Consumer Unit. RCDs are tripped if they detect a small current imbalance between the Live and Neutral wires above the trip value – this is typically 30mA.
RCDs can be wired to protect a single or several circuits – the advantage of protecting individual circuits is that if one circuit trips, it will not shut down the whole house, just the protected circuit.
RCDs are available in at least 4 basic configurations:
As hard-wired in units, where both the inputs and outputs are wired into the unit – ideal for a workshop etc where all the sockets within can be protected. Each circuit taken from the RCD is protected by an MCB of an appropriate value.
As protected outlets – normally a protected socket can be fitted as a direct replacement for a standard, no protected outlet socket.
As a plug-in unit that can convert any socket into a protected circuit – this gives good flexibility as, for example, a lawnmower or a hedge trimmer can be plugged in at different times. However, as the individual appliance could still be plugged into an unprotected socket, you need to remember to fit the
a plug for wiring on to the lead of an individual appliance, this does make it less flexible than the plug-in unit above but it does ensure that the piece of equipment is always protected. One very usefully use to to fit it to the end of an extension cable, then whatever you plug into the extension lead is protected.
Residual Current Breaker with Overload protection (RCBO)
An RCBOs combines the functions of an MCB and an RCD in one unit. They are used to protect a particular circuit, instead of having a single RCD for the whole building. Generally, these are used more often in the commercial building than domestic ones.
RCD MCB Tripping, fault finding is a task that should be carried out by a professional electrician so if you live in the Plymouth area consider calling upon the services of Plymouth Sparky, experts at fault finding.