Consumer unit keeps tripping ourlt

Tumble dryer, washing machine, oven or even hob.

Andy

Old Salt said:

Unplug the kettle
Unplug the toaster
Unplug the iron

Its always the kettle, iron or toaster

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Boiler, shower, oven, outside light, outside socket, shed circuit, garage circuit...

...anything that involves electricity and water!

Taylortwocities said:

No. It Hager, so no mid place blues. It’s MK (IIRC) that has the mid way thingy.

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MEM also have a tripped mid position on their RCDs.

Pushing it up from the mid position will just result in it returning to the mid position again.

To reset these RCDs, you need to push the switch down then up back to the ON position.

I would say, two culprits, one, items outside, and second items with mineral insulated heaters. OK, maybe toasters it a third, but a toaster can be unplugged, so looking at items which can't be unplugged with ease.

So the mineral insulated heater is found in ovens, freezer, washing machines, immersion heaters, tumble driers, dishwashers, air friers, deep fat friers, the list goes on.

I can easily turn off isolator on oven, and immersion heater, and unplug washing machine etc. The problem one is the freezer, the heater is only used when it defrosts, and this may be 2 days apart, and is automated, so one does not have a clue when it has tried to defrost. And the problem is, after their defrost cycle the freezer is most vulnerable, specially near the top.

So a freezer can normally go some 8 hours without power if the door has not been opened, but after the defrost cycle more like ½ an hour.

With the ring finals split front and rear of house, not too bad running an extension lead to power off the other RCD, but to get down to just two RCDs and not have lights and sockets in the same room powered from same RCD, often homes were split up/down. This means danger as extension leads go up/downstairs.

Every installation shall be divided into circuits, as necessary, to:
(iii) take account of danger that may arise from the failure of a single circuit such as a lighting circuit
(iv) reduce the possibility of unwanted tripping of RCDs due to excessive protective conductor currents produced by equipment in normal operation

Click to expand...

So if we look at danger from a lighting circuit failure and a trip hazard with extension leads up/downstairs, one has to ask how consumer units with just two RCDs were ever allowed?

However, in the days when we used 100 mA RCDs for the whole of the house, I do not remember having problems. Maybe just my memory?

Harry Bloomfield said:

This thread will run for years!

Click to expand...

Do you think we can beat the Willis debate?

ericmark said:

Do you think we can beat the Willis debate?

Click to expand...

Only if John gets involved

ericmark said:

I would say, two culprits, one, items outside, and second items with mineral insulated heaters. OK, maybe toasters it a third, but a toaster can be unplugged, so looking at items which can't be unplugged with ease.

So the mineral insulated heater is found in ovens, freezer, washing machines, immersion heaters, tumble driers, dishwashers, air friers, deep fat friers, the list goes on.

I can easily turn off isolator on oven, and immersion heater, and unplug washing machine etc. The problem one is the freezer, the heater is only used when it defrosts, and this may be 2 days apart, and is automated, so one does not have a clue when it has tried to defrost. And the problem is, after their defrost cycle the freezer is most vulnerable, specially near the top.

So a freezer can normally go some 8 hours without power if the door has not been opened, but after the defrost cycle more like ½ an hour.

With the ring finals split front and rear of house, not too bad running an extension lead to power off the other RCD, but to get down to just two RCDs and not have lights and sockets in the same room powered from same RCD, often homes were split up/down. This means danger as extension leads go up/downstairs.


So if we look at danger from a lighting circuit failure and a trip hazard with extension leads up/downstairs, one has to ask how consumer units with just two RCDs were ever allowed?

However, in the days when we used 100 mA RCDs for the whole of the house, I do not remember having problems. Maybe just my memory?

Do you think we can beat the Willis debate?

Click to expand...

My experience of RCD trips by far are caused by white goods mains filters, particularly dishwasher followed by washing machine and tumble drier.

The fault may be a Neutral to Earth on a circuit that has it's MCB switched OFF

Yes, i would have got to that if he ever replied

Maybe it’s fixed, maybe the OP has been electrocuted. Looks like we will never know.

Hold, I’ll ask. @Keitai are you still with us??
We are ever so worried about you.