- Joined
- 27 Jan 2008
- Messages
- 27,659
- Reaction score
- 3,345
- Location
- Llanfair Caereinion, Nr Welshpool
- Country


What error, not seen any error in the video, if neutral is not connected it will trip, that's not deadly, what are they trying to say?

Yes, the video makes sense, but where is the danger? If you fail to connect any live wire, the worse case scenario is it trips, where is the danger? OK, two phases to a three-phase motor can cause over heating, and lack of neutral can mean lack of any 230 volt supply needed for control etc. But these problems were not talked about.The video makes perfect sense to me!
Can you explain?The video makes perfect sense to me!
And the test button might not workCan you explain?
I'm with eric here. Not connecting the neutral to a 3-phase RCD will obviously cause it to trip (just as it would with a single-phase one - i.e. with the N 'bypassing' the RCD) - but I don't see what is "deadly" about that.
I'm not sure that is a particularly sensible approach - since it's only OK so long as no connected loads 'need a neutral'. I would think it far better to always connect the neutral. If it "wasn't needed" (i.e. neutral current always zero) then it will do no harm, but it's there in case the load is ever unbalanced between phases.Seems a bit obvious, if the loads needs a neutral use one if it doesn't dont?
If there were no neutral connected and the load was not perfectly balanced across phases, the device would be 'tripped', anyway, so nothing for the test button to testAnd the test button might not work
In a motor for example what would you connect it to?. I would think it far better to always connect the neutral. If it "wasn't needed"
It could not be connected to loads which 'did not use a neutral'. However, it would (in my opinion) be wise to connect it to the circuit in question (IF the cables of that circuit had a neutral), in case someone connected something different to the circuit.In a motor for example what would you connect it to?
As I said in post 3I agree that if the circuit does not have a neutral conductor, then there's nothing to connect - but that is surely obvious?
Can you explain?
I'm with eric here. Not connecting the neutral to a 3-phase RCD will obviously cause it to trip (just as it would with a single-phase one - i.e. with the N 'bypassing' the RCD) - but I don't see what is "deadly" about that.
We're all agreed then! All it says is quite obvious to anyone who understands anything about RCDs - it's the "deadly error" title of the video which makes no sense!As I said, the video makes sense to me, though not the 'dangerous' comment.
Not quite.As I said in post 3![]()
"Use one" for what if one isnt needed?Not quite.
You wrote "if the loads needs a neutral use one if it doesn't dont". I am saying "if any of the current loads need a neutral OR if the cable of the circuit has a neutral conductor, then use one ..."
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local