Can 2 way radio trip RCBO'S

[robo1811]

Good evening,

Does anyone have any experience of RCBO's tripping when using 2 way radio near the DB.

 

[Pete999]

No can' say I have, by the sound of it you have? please tell

 

[driverman]

Unusual question, but you never know!

 

[trev]

It's not something I've ever experienced but every day's a school day

 

[Simonslimline]

Pretty sure someone else on here was talking about this a while back.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I've not had this happen and we do use PMRs in switchrooms, but I do have experience of them interfering with various other kinds of electronics. If the RCBO contains an electronic amplifier it could be equally susceptible to RF interference as anything else.

 

[RexT]

Hi all,
Interesting point.

Would not the RCBO be tested for RF interference apart of the CE? So they should not be affected?

Best wishes,

Rex

 

[GMES]

I would say yes, A friend of mine has just fitted 485 double Rcd sockets on a huge job and every time someone goes passed them with the walkie talkies they trip out he has now got a huge head ache to deal with and is in talks with Time guard to get a solution.

 

[trev]

I would say yes, A friend of mine has just fitted 485 double Rcd sockets on a huge job and every time someone goes passed them with the walkie talkies they trip out he has now got a huge head ache to deal with and is in talks with Time guard to get a solution.

All on the one RFC Glenn?

 

[ImpededLoop]

I've heard this before with the rcd sockets. I think it was in a university building somewhere where the security staff had radios.

 

[GMES]

All on the one RFC Glenn?

It's in a huge logistics place , It has caused him some serious problems Trev. I do feel for him because they are holding about 300k back until he sorts it out.

Ps Trev it.s a Radial on 2.5mm:smilewinkgrin:

 

[trev]

It's in a huge logistics place , It has caused him some serious problems Trev. I do feel for him because they are holding about 300k back until he sorts it out.

Oh, that's not good at all mate.

 

[harryharman]

When I was an apprentice we were working at a dump and had this problem, the walkie talkies were tripping the rcbo, had to change the sockets to RCD sockets.

 

[Rockingit]

Yes, in a word. I have known some venues (often full of wireless gear these days) which have experienced 'odd problems' with 2way radios in the vicinity. I've never been around long enough in them though to go on a fact finding mission. I guess that if you happen to be stood INSIDE a ring of cable, with enough magnetic energy, its going to induce an imbalance - that's just basic physics.

 

[guest119]

It's in a huge logistics place , It has caused him some serious problems Trev. I do feel for him because they are holding about 300k back until he sorts it out.

Ps Trev it.s a Radial on 2.5mm:smilewinkgrin:

Is your mate a Electrical Trainee Glenn? Should be 4mm radial!

 

[robo1811]

Thanks for all the replies.

The exact situation was as followed

"Today we energized a new circuit on the DB, communication between testers was via 2way radio. On powering the new side of the building we noticed the RCBO on the new side along with all RCBO's powering the original side tripped. This lead to investigation on the new circuits, after powering back on it happened again. It was then that the tester at the DB noticed that every time he pressed the talk button on the radio all RCBO's tripped."

 

[jay sean]

We were working at a refit at Tesco Solihull in the late 1990s, we had a set of radios, unsure what kind, they tripped out Bill/MEM Talisman 2 module rcbos

 

[GMES]

Is your mate a Electrical Trainee Glenn? Should be 4mm radial!

Don't be daft its only 3 miles long I think the volt drop is just in.

 

[driverman]

Tell them to use different walkie talkies and or another frequency. might help.

 

[Fin170]

Have herd several people that have used radios in close proximity to RCDs resulting in tripping, not had it myself but have had led head torches that would flash or light up when close to radios

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Bet if they used those big old BS4293 (?) size of a brick Wylex Rccbs they'd have no trouble at all.

 

[UNG]

Would be interesting to have a scope on the affected circuits when the radios are being used to see what interference is induced into the cabling

 

[Knobhead]

I’ve had a radio cause merry hell on the old hard wired logic control systems.

Likewise when we blasted the face, no one could use a radio for ¼ hour before the blast. The detonators weren’t connected up until that point, once connected a radio could set off the charge.

 

[Engineer54]

Use your mobile phones rather than radio's all sorted in a stroke!!. Hell they use mobiles for just about everything else these days!!

 

[Knobhead]

Many places won't allow mobiles to be carried. They can be just as dangerous in some instances.

 

[Robotstar5]

Many places won't allow mobiles to be carried. They can be just as dangerous in some instances.

Mobiles are banned in the paintshop and the maintenance have different spec walkie-talkies to the rest of the factory.

 

[Bobster]

Mobiles are banned in the paintshop and the maintenance have different spec walkie-talkies to the rest of the factory.

Atex rated area by any chance?

 

[baldsparkies]

Does the installation really need rcbo's.
What are the pro's and cons with reference to risk assessment.
Commercial premises yes !!
Primary shock protection good old fashion earth return, giving a nice fast disconnection time.
rcbo's are a nice addition, but that's all they are.
And if they are more trouble than there worth, time to look at the bigger picture.
Risk assessment, nuisance tripping, regs vs non compliance, departure from, ect ect.
You get my drift.

Operating theatre, essential electrical equipment, if supply is interrupted patient dies, rcbo's were in the spec, but what do you reckon happened during final and separate risk assessment.

 

[telectrix]

new definition then... RCD... Radio Controlled Device.

 

[Robotstar5]

Atex rated area by any chance?

I've never worked on ATEX gear, but everything in the paint store/mixing room seemed to be in die cast boxes with lids held on by lots of bolts so I assume it is?.

 

[Knobhead]

Atex rated area by any chance?

Our radios were for Zone 1. They cost a fortune.

 

[Bobster]

I've never worked on ATEX gear, but everything in the paint store/mixing room seemed to be in die cast boxes with lids held on by lots of bolts so I assume it is?.

Sounds like it, most spray booths are.

 

[jay sean]

When I was an apprentice mobile phones were not about yet!

 

[Engineer54]

Many places won't allow mobiles to be carried. They can be just as dangerous in some instances.

I wasn't being serious with my post!! lol!! ,

Though i would imagine on most construction sites, even those nearing completion, mobiles wouldn't cause any problems. There's a lot of cac about the use of mobiles, they have been conning us for years about using mobiles on airplanes, yet i know of pilots and air crew that have regularly used them over the years while flying.

Having said that it's a damn good thing that mobiles are banned in as many places as possible, they are a bloody nuisance to everyone around them!! lol!!