Weird RCD behavior

[Nitromad]

Hi
first post so forgive me if in wrong place or the likes.

i work at a steam railway we have a "toilet block" for public use i been asked to check the lights ,switches etc are in "good order" as we open to public very soon i pressed the test button on the rcd it tripped as it should do but once i reset it power didn't restore right away it took 30+ seconds.
i tried holding test button right down for few seconds then resetting i got the same delay in restoring power.

i not known a RCD to act like this, but i was told it would trip throughout the open session.
just hoping someone had some ideas before i go and dig into this

thanks
Gav

 

[mwatsonxx]

deleted

 

[Nitromad]

duly noted i will tell my manager we need a sparky to keep our insurance

 

[SimonH2]

Is it possible that the lights are on occupancy sensors - and these take some time to "come to life" when powered up ?

 

[oldbutnotdead]

You don't need to be dragging a fully qualified spark in to test RCDs as per the manufacturers' spec (can't remember if it is monthly or every 3 months). What you will need (and used to be specified in the public entertainment licence) is a formal inspection of the electrical installation (by qualified personnel) on an annual basis such that everything gets checked every 5 years (so critical stuff is done every year, lower-level stuff is done on a rolling programme).

My guess would be the same as SimonH2- there are 'intelligent' devices controlling the lighting that don't power up instantly.

Your periodic testing of the RCDs is very good practise- I'd recommend documenting them (doesn't need formal paperwork, though a bit of paper with all the RCDs listed and a box to tick when the TEST button trips the RCD is the easiest way to do it. If the TEST button doesn't trip the thing then take the circuit out of service and notify the adults)

 

[SimonH2]

Yes, you need to record tests. If the brown stuff hits the fan, then the first question will be "when was it last tested ?", and the second will be "got any evidence for that ?". It doesn't need to be fancy, as above, just a checklist you can pull out and say that "on <date> the RCDs were tested and operated correctly, and no obvious damage was seen - here's the check sheet".

 

[mwatsonxx]

You don't need to be dragging a fully qualified spark in to test RCDs as per the manufacturers' spec

deleted

 

[oldbutnotdead]

So who else is goingto do it?

Didn't mean test to full extents (ie with a proper ramp test, trip current etc)- that should be done as part of the annual inspection by suitably qualified persons. Going round every month/3 months (whatever it says on the box) and checking for disconnect on prodding the TEST button can be done quite adequately by the OP or anyone else who can walk and chew gum simultaneously. Bit like the weekly test of the fire alarm system can be done by a minion with a smoke pole (or a stepladder and a fag) for smoke detectors- annual test/service needs to be by qualified persons with diagnostic kit to ensure that smoke and heat heads still have the required sensitivity. Don't be suckered in by scare PR (peddled by various service companies)- a 'suitably qualified' person for routine tests in many cases is a person who can recognise that the RCD has not tripped when the TEST button was pressed and has a clearly defined set of actions to take in case that happens.

 

[Nitromad]

thanks for replies.

no "smart" switches or lights ,the lights are standard ballast controlled tube lights and pull cord switches.i am back at railway tomorrow i will put a voltage test on load side of RCD if it don't show voltage straight away after resetting then i can it naff and get it replaced ,sound good ?

bit of background:
the railway does have a member thats a sparky that i been working side by side with and teaching me for past 2 years so he happy to allow me to do most repairs and fault finding etc.Unfortunately he suffered a lost of a love one and is in no state to volunteer ATM. hence my post here.

we do keep fault log book ,it details faults and repairs done or location of mcb lockout (each panel has it own ref: code). our sparky then will either do the repair/checks/tests
we have another book that logs states of all public area fittings etc this does have a table for rcd test button record with date etc and also what we call pre-season check (what i did and found this RCD thing) mid season check end- season check ,basically it visually making sure no damage to fittings etc and tripping RCD's.

 

[Nitromad]

So who else is goingto do it?

i think he meant as to press the test button

he beat me too it....

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Your plan is ideal. May be a starter getting lazy on the fluorescents, though 30 seconds in a long time! And yeah that's exactly what I meant- don't start paying £loads a go for someone to press TEST buttons and record the results, save the cash for the annual inspection (and coal for the toys )

 

[mwatsonxx]

Apologies for involving myself in this nonsense. oldbutnotdead has all the answers, you just have too choose the ones you prefer.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Apologies for involving myself in this nonsense. oldbutnotdead has all the answers, you just have too choose the ones you prefer.

Have I misinformed the OP? Do share- I'm posting from 25 years operating a public building but took the money and fled 5 years ago so may have missed regulatory changes

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Watson is just being his usual deliberately unhelpful trolling self