RCD

garrymid
garrymid Forum Participant Posts: 11
edited February 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Hi hooked up to mains today and the RCD Tripped reset it and it stayed on. Unplugged  and turned rcd off then hooked up reset RCD didnt trip.any ideas as to why its trippling wben i turn mains on

Comments

  • rogher
    rogher Forum Participant Posts: 609
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #2

    I’d just keep an eye on it. It’s rather difficult to trace an intermittent fault.

  • garrymid
    garrymid Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited February 2016 #3

    When you  hook up do you turn rcd off ( no power) then on once hooked up  we are new to motorhoming 18 months and have just hooked up with np problems until today from home.

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #4

    Just leave it on all the time.If it starts too play up unplug everything and plug then back in until it trips again and you probably have your faulty item.If it plays up for no apparant reason bin it and get a new one.Its rare they go faulty but not unheard
    of.

    peter.

  • garrymid
    garrymid Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited February 2016 #5

    Nothing plugged in or turned on, just trips when you plug lead into mains.once reset stays on so why shoukd it trip when frist connected to mains? 

  • Hakinbush
    Hakinbush Forum Participant Posts: 286
    edited February 2016 #6

    I know it sounds a bit obvious but have you had a good look along the lengh of ehu cable and the two sockets.

  • garrymid
    garrymid Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited February 2016 #7

    Yes,if  i turn  rcd off ( no power) then connect mains then turn rcd on it doesn't  trip. 

     

     

     

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #8

    Check your cables and connectors as hakinbush has suggested for any obvious problems.

    Does the RCD trip when you press the test button? If it does then you can be reasonably assured that you are protected. The RCD may be oversensitive which is better than the alternative. If the RCD starts to trip during normal use, and with no loads connected eg kettle, then you need the assistance of an electrician to find the faulty circuit or to replace the RCD.

  • garrymid
    garrymid Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited February 2016 #9

    Ok thanks for the advice,yes the rcd does trip when you press the test button.someone on another forum said it could be a sensitive rcd (condensation)

  • Vicmallows
    Vicmallows Forum Participant Posts: 580
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #10

    Your battery charger is probably on all the time?

    When you plug in the EHU it is possible that the L and N make contact at very slightly different times (measured in milliseconds).  If there is a very slight leakage to earth the RCD will trip.  The input filter on the battery charger may well create this
    situation as the capacitors charge.

    Condensation/moisture on the connector is also a possible cause.

  • garrymid
    garrymid Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited February 2016 #11

    Yes the motorhome is an elddis and it has an auomatic battery charger no way of turning  o or off, but will only charge when connected  to mains,is this what you mean?

  • garrymid
    garrymid Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited February 2016 #12

    Strange didn't  do this for the first  18 months

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #13

    I assume you are talking about the rcd in the motorhome not an rcd on your house? If it's the motorhome then the leads, wiring, sockets etc. outside of the motorhome are totally irrelevant and cannot cause a trip. If it's inside the motorhome then there
    may be a fault but there is always a surge when you switch on which in theory could cause a trip (although it shouldn't).

    The correct way to connect to an EHU is to first switch off the main isolator in the motorhome or caravan, then plug the EHU lead into the MH/van, then plug into the EHU, then go back and switch on the mains isolator In your vehicle.

    If it is still tripping then you should really get the system checked out at next service. It could be a faulty rcd but also possibly a wiring fault in the MH.

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