Rcd

kimber2
kimber2 Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited June 2016 in Caravans #1

I am after some advice. I turned up on site yesterday, plugged electrics in and the RCD switch will not stay on in the caravan. I have tried with appliances unplugged and with the mains lead unplugged. Does anyone have any advice to what the problem could
be. The caravan is a Bailey unicorn s2. Thank you

Comments

  • Rubytuesday
    Rubytuesday Forum Participant Posts: 952
    edited June 2016 #2

    When you plugged your lead in did you give it a slight turn to the right, we forgot once took some time and someone else to ask Embarassed

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #3

    Certainly seems a strong possibility Ruby. If it is one of those bollards I always push it in and then couple to the van, before making it live. I often forget I have not turned it, until I can't get the trip to set.

  • hostahousey
    hostahousey Forum Participant Posts: 7,252 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #4

    Try switching all caravan mcb's off , plug lead into bollard turn to switch on. Go to caravan main switch turn on mcb's one at a time until main RCB trips . When found eliminate any items plugged into or connected to that circuit.

  • markflip
    markflip Forum Participant Posts: 177
    edited June 2016 #5

    The RCD will only stay 'on' if there's current to it, so it could be a faulty bollard or EHU lead (or the plug not 'turned' as per other posts).  Also bear in mind that the wiring itself (a mouse chewed or 'pinched' cable, for instance) will cause the RCD
    to trip even if all the appliances themselves are perfect.  

    I always carry a short 16A plug to 13A socket and a 'test plug' (LED's to show power, polarity and earth connection) so that i can check i have power to the end of the EHU lead at least.  As hostahousey says, if you definitely have power to the consumer
    unit, identifying which circuit the fault is on will help.

  • hostahousey
    hostahousey Forum Participant Posts: 7,252 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #6

    Presumably the problem has now been solved after 2 days? The  RCB  controls all circuitry after , not before , therefore if the RCB in the caravan is tripping then the fault is in the van (or after the RCB. ) As regards the RCB staying on , it will stay
    in situ if no current is present , it only trips when the internal coil is  In balanced by an electrical fault .

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited June 2016 #7

    The RCD will only stay 'on' if there's current to it, so it could be a faulty bollard or EHU lead (or the plug not 'turned' as per other posts).  Also bear in mind that the wiring itself (a mouse chewed or 'pinched' cable, for instance) will cause the RCD
    to trip even if all the appliances themselves are perfect.  

    I always carry a short 16A plug to 13A socket and a 'test plug' (LED's to show power, polarity and earth connection) so that i can check i have power to the end of the EHU lead at least.  As hostahousey says, if you definitely have power to the consumer
    unit, identifying which circuit the fault is on will help.

    Write your comments here...

    RCDs will happily stay set to on regardless of whether they have power or not, otherwise everyone with motor homes or caravans would need to reset it every time they reconnected to EHU. If an RCD trips it's because of a fault in the load, not the supply.

  • hostahousey
    hostahousey Forum Participant Posts: 7,252 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #8

    Think where Mark is confused , RCCB is an  abreiviation .for Residual Current Circuit Breaker but the Current means the breaker will trip on fault current, where earlier breakers where Voltage operated.

  • hostahousey
    hostahousey Forum Participant Posts: 7,252 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #9

    Well did you find the problem Kimber2 ?

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,657 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #10

    Yet another member who does not have the decency to respond to the replies to their OP. Impolite, I call it.

  • hostahousey
    hostahousey Forum Participant Posts: 7,252 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #11

    Come on Kimber2, lets know how you solved the problem ?

  • Greygit
    Greygit Forum Participant Posts: 167
    edited August 2016 #12

    Dangerous stuff electrickery.Surprised

  • Wozzer
    Wozzer Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited August 2016 #13

    The nomenclature needs clearing up here.

    An RCD (residual Current Device) is an RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker.

    There are two types: Voltage Independant (operated by fault current) and Voltage dependant (operated by an electronic amplifier which uses a sampled current from a detection coil) - Both devices still operate basically the same. Earth Fault = Trip.

    RCCBO's (or RCBO's) are the same thing With overcurrent protection - i.e. they function as an RCD and an MCB combined.

    Any RCD will remain closed if not connected to a supply.

    An RCD which will not stay closed when connected to a supply has a fault present which it is sensing and reacting to.

    Common causes are:

    Faulty appliance, Faulty wiring, Moisture in Hook up leads/sockets etc. The advice given by Hostahousey is good to follow: i.e. a principle of elimination. - I hope this helps clear things up.

  • johndailey
    johndailey Forum Participant Posts: 520
    100 Comments
    edited August 2016 #14

    Would not mind betting that his snag is fixed (probably due to replies from this forum) but has not thought to thank people.