Garage consumer unit rcd trips out

[Mr Karl E Taylor]

@ OP here. £30 for 2. wire as the first pic, diss. the ballast and starter. simple job.

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thanks for the link. but why would switching one of these lights off trip the rcd ????????????

 

[Mr Karl E Taylor]

i

fluorescents are notorious for tripping RCDs as the ballasts have inherent leakage, usually though with more fittings than you 2. however, with then being 6ft., it could be the cause. also the may be cumulative leakage on other circuits, each below the RCD threshold, but adding together. I would replace the 2 suspect florries with LED equivalents, or modify to LED tubes.

t only happens when switching one or both of them off ........shouldnt it happend when switching them on? why doesnt it do it with the other four light fittings when i have them all on and switch them off??

 

[SparkyChick]

I recently completed a garden lighting installation. 5 CFL bollards and 7 LED spike lights. The day after completion customer messaged me telling me it was tripping the RCD in the CU supplying the installation. It appeared to be that this was happening when they were being turned off.

Everything was tested on the day of installation, no excessive leakage, great IR readings, RCD ramped OK and was working great. Tested again the next day just in case, nothing even hinting at a cause was found.

Scratching my head I systematically went round the lights checking everything. The only thing I found was that some connections in the bollards were loose (these were manufacturers connections not mine).

Tightened them up and the tripping has stopped, so my advice would be turn the power off and work through the connections in the fluorescents making sure they are nice and tight and see if that fixes it.

I'm not saying there are other problems that proper testing would reveal, but as an interim measure, start simple and check the connection.

 

[Taylortwocities]

but now since you are not allowed to do most domestic home electrics yourself

But you are allowed to. Anything but installing new circuits, consumer units or work in bathrooms does not need notification.
You need to test your own work, of course.

But, really, as has been advised over and over again, change out those two fittings. You can do this yourself.
If the problem is still there, then you need an expert.

 

[Pete999]

sorry , no test kit , just pressed it and it resets . i think i might need to get a electrician in as its very annoying this ,

the thing is my parents garage has the same set up but has a old style plastic 10 way consumer unit in the garage with exactlty the same set up with lights etc and there is no issues with the rcd tripping out .

Best idea to date Mr Karl get a Sparky to test your garage and locate the fault.

 

[Dillb]

. i think i have a look for a electrician next week . i am just very cautious now with trade people as have had a few bad experience with so called time served specialist in the past that where vetted etc . but looks like i be going that way again and getting some one in ..................

Where abouts are you? There may be reputable member of the community here who can help or know someone who can?

 

[telectrix]

he's in Redcar where they race women and marry horses.

 

[Mr Karl E Taylor]

Change the fluorescent to LED tubes and bypass the ballasts, would suggest you get an electrician in to do it as they will know what they are doing and can then do some proper tests. Your analogy of your parents setup being similar to yours is like saying I have the same consumer unit as my neighbour but can't understand why mine has a fault and theirs doesn't!

just annoying thats all , but your comments are fair enough . seems to be a totaly agreement that the flourecents are old school and i have been unfortunate . might as well just change the whole units to led . any one recommend a good quality make as heard they are some cheap rubbish ones out there . i dont want to buy cheap rubbish and have to do the job again in a years time or so . thanks

 

[Midwest]

Another cheap option to try is replace the switches.

Closing a double pole switch may also trip an RCD (as may closing a single pole switch). The effect may be aggravated further by the slow break feature of the switch often found in domestic a.c. switchgear.
(Beama RCD Handbook)

Switches are relatively cheap, and easy to replace. Might be worth a try, as your other luminaires don't seem to have the same problem, with their respective switches?

 

[Bob Geldoff1234]

Try what SparkyChick suggests first.I think you might find that's the problem especially with you saying that you could hear crackling.Also check the busbar under the breakers.(After isolating the unit!). I use my mobile phone camera to look along the breakers and make sure each one is clamped onto the busbar.It's amazing how many times the breaker connection has missed the busbar and is just touching it instead.

 

[Mr Karl E Taylor]

thanks for the replies so far. yes lol am in redcar . near race course lol

have replaced the switch at front of garage . i check loose connections on the two light fittings.
any good sparkeys in this area ??

got to be a fault on the two light flourecents ?? evidence seems to be going that way and all saying on here and elsewhere flourcents suck.
have checked connections already on garage consumer unit and all are good.

if i switch one or both of the suspect lights off on average it will trip the rcd 3 out of 10 times , so its a annoying fault. its on this cicuit as it doesnt do it now since temp fitting two light pendants with 60 watt bulbs in. which goes back to original comments made by people on here and elsewhere its the ballast on the flourecents discharging on switch off?? thanks all for your help so far , very much appreciated and listened too.

 

[telectrix]

Try what SparkyChick suggests first.I think you might find that's the problem especially with you saying that you could hear crackling.Also check the busbar under the breakers.(After isolating the unit!). I use my mobile phone camera to look along the breakers and make sure each one is clamped onto the busbar.It's amazing how many times the breaker connection has missed the busbar and is just touching it instead.

you posh git. i use a candle and a mirror.

 

[Mr Karl E Taylor]

thanks for the replies so far. yes lol am in redcar . near race course lol

have replaced the switch at front of garage . i check loose connections on the two light fittings.
any good sparkeys in this area ??

got to be a fault on the two light flourecents ?? evidence seems to be going that way and all saying on here and elsewhere flourcents suck.
have checked connections already on garage consumer unit and all are good.

if i switch one or both of the suspect lights off on average it will trip the rcd 3 out of 10 times , so its a annoying fault. its on this cicuit as it doesnt do it now since temp fitting two light pendants with 60 watt bulbs in. which goes back to original comments made by people on here and elsewhere its the ballast on the flourecents discharging on switch off?? thanks all for your help so far , very much appreciated and listened too.

thanks for the replies so far. yes lol am in redcar . near race course lol

have replaced the switch at front of garage . i check loose connections on the two light fittings.
any good sparkeys in this area ??

got to be a fault on the two light flourecents ?? evidence seems to be going that way and all saying on here and elsewhere flourcents suck.
have checked connections already on garage consumer unit and all are good.

if i switch one or both of the suspect lights off on average it will trip the rcd 3 out of 10 times , so its a annoying fault. its on this cicuit as it doesnt do it now since temp fitting two light pendants with 60 watt bulbs in. which goes back to original comments made by people on here and elsewhere its the ballast on the flourecents discharging on switch off?? thanks all for your help so far , very much appreciated and listened too.

 

[Mr Karl E Taylor]

whats the best make on the market at the minute for 6 feet led battens for quality and reliability ? I post thus question on a new thread as well. As worse case scenario here for me is i up date these flourecents to led specification and the fault is still there .but i be saving and improving the lights in the long run regardless of whether i get a electrician out to have a look or not if fitting led battens doesn't fix the issue.

Are knightbridge a good make??

 

[PEG]

Hi,have you watched the episode of "Father Ted",where Ted is explaining to Dougal,that "these" are models,and "those" are far away...?

If you are continually adding and altering an already faulty set-up,you will be complicating any testing which will be required,to find your fault(s).

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

whats the best make on the market at the minute for 6 feet led battens for quality and reliability ? I post thus question on a new thread as well. As worse case scenario here for me is i up date these flourecents to led specification and the fault is still there .but i be saving and improving the lights in the long run regardless of whether i get a electrician out to have a look or not if fitting led battens doesn't fix the issue.

Are knightbridge a good make??

That is a bit of a hard question as even the so called premium brands are buying the leds inside off the open market and a lot of the lights regardless of brand and packaging are made by a handful of companies with pretty much identical parts. I have fitted numerous LAP led battens from screwfix and had no issue. quick and easy to install with screwless connections inside.. its about the only good thing in the LAP range mind!

 

[Taylortwocities]

whats the best make on the market at the minute for 6 feet led battens for quality and reliability

Why must it be six foot? Shouldn't you be looking at light output?

 

[telectrix]

Why must it be six foot? Shouldn't you be looking at light output?

agree. a twin 5 ft would probably give higher lumens than a single 6ft.

 

[PEG]

agree. a twin 5 ft would probably give higher lumens than a single 6ft.

...Only if it stays on...

 

[Mr Karl E Taylor]

before i replace what i believe to be the failing flourecents causing the rcd to trip i am going to swap around two of the four lights that are working to the circuit with the suspect flourecents on . if they work on this circuit i will know they are faulty and will replace with led versions instead . as it wont be any think that has failed if this test works. as the circuit works with normal pendant light with 60 watt bulbs in no issues. so i dont think it wiring fault .
if this test fails i am going to get a electrician in to test the circuit and measure resistance etc as done all i can as a home owner to find this fault without causing any harm.