help RCD

[jackdf]

Today our RCD tripped. It was actually only the RCD switch (the one next to the test button). All the individual circuit switches stayed up. Shouldn't the switch controlling the particular faulty circuit had gone down?

This happened when dishwasher was on. It's on now and for now it has not tripped.
Thanks

 

[oharaf]

No it sounds like it has done what it is supposed to do.

It would be worth seeing if it happens again and checking the total power on your kitchen? circuit.

If it occurs a lot get a sparks in to give it the once over

 

[jackdf]

can a faulty applicance trip the rcd intermittently but not every time it is on?

 

[RF Lighting]

Yep, afraid so.

A good appliance connected to bad wiring can also cause intermittent tripping

 

[jackdf]

update:

wife ran the dishwasher again and the water was cold at the end of the cycle and so was the element in the bottom.

Can this have blown the RCD?

 

[breezer]

no but it could have caused the rcd to trip if water got in the element

 

[SeanT]

I had a similar problem to this with our tricity bendix - we don't have rcd protection to the ring main, but the water was frequently cold and the dishes not clean etc. - we were about to write the dishwasher off, but on the offchance cut off the moulded plug and fitted a rewirable one - this solved all the problems with said appliance, and is worth trying before anything else considering how easy it is....

 

[breezer]

cant see how fitting a non moulded plug solved the problem unless you didnt connect the earth

 

[SeanT]

The moulded plug had broken up inside methinks, reconnected the earth, wasn't the exact same problem as I said, just the same fault condition on the appliance - or at least it it was the exact same wouldn't have noticed as no RCD on the circuit. In our case it only started happening the first time the thing was unplugged and plugged back in in who knows how many years....