New Consumer Unit - keeps tripping

First of all he sounds a great electrician. Coming back next week with so many problems is p*ss poor service.
Proper testing before and during installation would have highlighted any problems.
Within the hardwiring of the system! It is very likely the issue is down to earth leakage of appliances an the CU/RCD are only doing what they are meant to do. So can hardly expect the electrician that has been asked to install a new CU, to go PAT testing all of the appliance. When I install residual current devices, I inform the customer/client of the RCD functional operation (and periodic test of button) and likely causes for tripping, highlighting that heating elements of appliance can give high leakage currents.
It would be interesting if you could post a copy of the test results up.
Always interesting to see them! But what is it going to really tell us, if the IR readings are within the permitted range?
Trip times will not offer any additional info into resolving the problem.
Need ramp test which are not produced on EIC certificates and earth leakage values of appliances also not remarked upon within the EIC.

If it's a faulty RCD then fair enough, but cannot really discredit the electrician for installation on trust a factory manufactured unit that should have been tested prior to being boxed up! I will discredit them however for purchasing MK CUs as they are pants!


I can't comment about how good he is or isn't. I can say that he was very professional and part of a very reputable local, vetted firm - although I appreciate that having all the lights on the same RCD and not having the part P issued yet is a concern. I have asked if he can come back sooner than next week but if he has made commitments to other customers in his schedule then I can see how he would be bound to maintain them. In the meantime, the oven worked fine tonight. It mostly only trips when the kettle is on. The kettle is 10 years old and the oven is a cheap one here when we moved in that they pretty much give away at B&Q/MFI. I would have a tenner that the immersion heater is still the same one put in the cylinder back in 1968 when the house was built. True it may be the RCD and I hope it is as it avoids me buying a new oven. The fact the 1.8Kw oil filled heater plugged into the same circuit as the oven didn't trip the RCD leads me to believe my appliance elements are shot.

We'll see. Thank you all for you help. Will keep you posted.
 
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your electrician would normally have up to a month to notify the installation, then it could take up to six weeks before you receive the certificate of compliance, but should have given you the EIC on commissioning the new CU.
 
It maye be there is a neutral to earth fault which will only have an effect when there is high wattage appliance in use. The neutral to earth fault can be on a circuit that has no appliance in use and yet it will cause the RCD to trip when there is a heavy load on another circuit. Not all electricians are aware of this and do not carry out full insulation resistance on all the neutrals of an installation.

 
In fairness to the guy, when I do a board change, I will check all the lights and loop test all the sockets, but I don't boil the kettle, heat up the oven and grill or plug in heaters to test these as well. I do warn the client that the new board is more sensitive than the old one and faulty appliances could cause tripping - and to call me if problems
 
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Hi
Wonder if anyone can help before I bite the bullet and buy a new oven and other appliances? I wanted an old fuse board replaced by a new consumer unit for overall safety reasons and in that I wanted to extend services out to the garage. Got an MK 10 way fitted by a well recommended local electrician a month ago - all looks to be a sound job.

Problem is it keeps tripping:
It's most probably an appliance that's at fault. Appliances with heating elements are always suspect - ovens, grilles, toasters, irons, washing machines and spin dryers etc.

There are earth leakage tests that can be carried out on such appliances with a 3 wire, earth connection, (2 wire leads with no earth connection won't be the cause of the problem).

Regards
 

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