Pond Pump GCLI Puzzle

[Brian Brown]

If I have the wrong forum, could someone please direct me? I have a friend who has a fountain pump in her garden pond. It runs for approximately 10 minutes then throws the main breaker on the consumer unit but does not throw its dedicated breaker. The electrical circuit has been checked and I have cleaned the pump and its filter. I presume the pump must be faulty but can anyone please suggest why the pump's dedicated breaker does not throw?

 

[Spoon]

Hi Brian

'Bwian', eh?... No, no. 'Brian'.

I'm presuming that by the "main breaker on the consumer unit" you mean the RCD?

The electrical circuit has been checked

What tests have been done to the circuit> Who tested it?

 

[HandySparks]

What's a GCLI?

 

[Brian Brown]

Hello Spoon. Yes, I wasn't sure of the word to use. I have also heard it referred to as the GCLI which I understand to be Ground Circuit Load Indicator.Does that make sense?
I gather that my friend has had a qualified electrician test the circuit from the consumer unit to the pump and suggested the pump was faulty.

 

[Brian Brown]

HandySpark, I wonder if I have remembered wrongly. Could it be a GFCI? What I am referring to is the switch on the consumer unit that can isolate a particular circuit. In this instance, the circuit dedicated to the pond pump.

 

[Spoon]

Hi Brian,

RCDs explained - http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/electrical-items/rcds-explained/
Take a look at this for a simple explanation about RCD.

The "pump's dedicated breaker" detects the over current of the circuit.

 

[Specialist]

GCLI, never heard of one. Possibly a GFCI which is a Ground Fault Circuit Interuptor (USA). Your friends Electrician is quite probably correct that the pump is faulty, over time the seals will deteriorate & let some water past & this can cause RCD tripping. Solution is to buy a new pump.

 

[Brian Brown]

Thanks for that Spoon. I was familiar with that but the term RCD was not shown on the consumer unit so I guess it must have been GFCI as Specialist has said above.
Specialist, accepting that the pump is faulty, I go back to my first question, why does the dedicated RCD or GFCI not trip instead of the main switch?

 

[Specialist]

It's an RCD & trips because there is a fault to Earth not L / N or Overload.

 

[Spoon]

Thanks for that Spoon. I was familiar with that but the term RCD was not shown on the consumer unit so I guess it must have been GFCI as Specialist has said above.
Specialist, accepting that the pump is faulty, I go back to my first question, why does the dedicated RCD or GFCI not trip instead of the main switch?

I think you understand it the wrong way round... most prob the way I explained it.

The RCD is what you refer to as "main breaker on the consumer unit"
The "pump's dedicated breaker" is a normal breaker.

 

[Specialist]

Thanks for that Spoon. I was familiar with that but the term RCD was not shown on the consumer unit so I guess it must have been GFCI as Specialist has said above.
Specialist, accepting that the pump is faulty, I go back to my first question, why does the dedicated RCD or GFCI not trip instead of the main switch?

Think you've misunderstood what I said, I said that a GFCI was American (USA). It's not British, ours is an RCD or Residual Current Device. The Dedicated breaker (MCB) as you call it won't trip as you don't have a fault from Live to Neutral or an Overload, you have a fault where Electricity leaks to Earth & therefore the RCD trips out as it's intended to.
Have to ask: When a qualified Electrician has checked the system and told your friend that the pump is faulty, why are you asking us to 2nd guess them ?. The person on site testing the installation is best place to tell you what the problem is.

 

[Spoon]

Have to ask: When a qualified Electrician has checked the system and told your friend that the pump is faulty, why are you asking us to 2nd guess them ?. The person on site testing the installation is best place to tell you what the problem is.

They might have looked dodgy..
Saw two electrical guys messing about with an electric gate when I was taking my daughter to gymnastics last Friday. They looked dodgy as well...

 

[Specialist]

Gotta be honest, when I go to look at something & find the fault and tell the customer what the problem is. I get pretty hacked off if they then turn around and tell me they've been on whatever website & been told, oh well it may be this or it may be that. I've got a standard answer: Pay me for the fault finding I've done, then get your adviser from the internet to come over and see if they can sort it out for you.

 

[Brian Brown]

Sorry, I appear to be causing unintended confusion and aggravation. I accept that the pump is faulty but I was asking why the dedicated breaker does not trip which you have now explained Specialist. Thank you.

 

[Spoon]

"Thanks Spoon for all your wonderful info as well. You are a fantastic guy and I love you to bits...."
"Your welcome Bwian...."

 

[Specialist]

Thanks Spoon, we love you too

 

[buzzlightyear]

Saw two electrical guys messing about with an electric gate

where they steeling them !

 

[Brian Brown]

Of course, thanks Spoon for your help. All the best everyone.