RCBO fault finding

[jase31]

My dewalt battery charger (double insulated) is tripping the RCBO. Other appliances seem to be fine. I have tried the charger in other properties and it does not trip.

What tests can I make on a multimeter on the charger and/or wiring to help identify the fault.

 

[nickblake]

Cant realy carry out any tests using a multi meter , you realy need a portable appliance tester that can carry out insulation load and earth leakage tests , only this type of equipment will give you the readings and tests you require , and if its not the equipment thats faulty then you need an installation tester to carry out insulation tests RCD trip times and Ramp tests these are not tests you can carry out on a multi meter

sorry cant be of any more help

Nick

 

[Guest 004]

Insulation resistance

 

[telectrix]

or buy a makita.

 

[mayfair]

Just a thought i cant get to involved as outside UK regs for to long. But when someone asks a Q like this instead of just for example putting IR test could we not take the time of how to explain how to and the readings that should be expected could help some of the members that are a bit short on practical experience.

 

[jase31]

Could it be a fault on the wiring in the house, rather than the charger?

 

[topquark]

Yes it could be a wiring fault, it could be a combination of things. Either way, your battery charger seems to have an earth leakage issue. IR testing will give you an indication of how bad it is. But you should really check the amount of current leakage to earth and if it's more than about 5 milliamps, you'll want to know why. It may have some leakage as it's a charger, so it's power supply will be "dumping" some current down the earth line when smoothing and converting the AC to DC.

 

[Engineer54]

Don't think you'll find an earth lead on these drill chargers, there class 2 normally!!

 

[topquark]

Don't think you'll find an earth lead on these drill chargers, there class 2 normally!!

Won't be much earth leakage then PMSL, back to the wine methinks!

 

[Hawk81]

Yes it could be a wiring fault, it could be a combination of things. Either way, your battery charger seems to have an earth leakage issue. IR testing will give you an indication of how bad it is. But you should really check the amount of current leakage to earth and if it's more than about 5 milliamps, you'll want to know why. It may have some leakage as it's a charger, so it's power supply will be "dumping" some current down the earth line when smoothing and converting the AC to DC.

He has already stated that the charger is double insulated. It more than likely has a 2 core lead on it. Very unlikely it has any earth leakage.

E54 beat me to it!