- Reaction score
- 874
If we set aside Part 'P' and testing with an MFT for a minute, you still can, and should be able to carry out tests. People were testinmg installations long before the dual 'cure-alls' of Part 'P' and MFTs came along.
So, you shouldn't assume or guess that earth leakage from the new appliance is responsible. It may well be a red herring, and possibly cost you a great deal of time looking for a fault which doesn't exist.
Back to basics, disconnect everything on that circuit. Does the RCD still trip? If it does, investigate the wiring. If not, reconnect the appliances/equipment one at a time and operate them. Does it trip out? If yes then you've narrowed the fault down. If no then get them all operating together one at a time until it does.
95% of electrical faults can be found using very basic principles and a systematic approach. An MFT will speed up the process, but basic test kit will quite often get you there. The issue being that everyone wants to sort out a fault in an instant and rushes the job. There also seems to be a worrying lack of understanding when it comes to basic principles generally as the younger/newer qualified sparks seem to be taught stuff parrot fashion when it comes to calculations and testing, rather than building up to that from the basics.
So, you shouldn't assume or guess that earth leakage from the new appliance is responsible. It may well be a red herring, and possibly cost you a great deal of time looking for a fault which doesn't exist.
Back to basics, disconnect everything on that circuit. Does the RCD still trip? If it does, investigate the wiring. If not, reconnect the appliances/equipment one at a time and operate them. Does it trip out? If yes then you've narrowed the fault down. If no then get them all operating together one at a time until it does.
95% of electrical faults can be found using very basic principles and a systematic approach. An MFT will speed up the process, but basic test kit will quite often get you there. The issue being that everyone wants to sort out a fault in an instant and rushes the job. There also seems to be a worrying lack of understanding when it comes to basic principles generally as the younger/newer qualified sparks seem to be taught stuff parrot fashion when it comes to calculations and testing, rather than building up to that from the basics.