Need advice on fuseboard change...

[Casper53]

Hi all. Iam stumpped here, changed a fuseboard this morning but two keep tripping.

The cooker circuit fine when i put on the double pole switch but as soon as i go to turn it on it automatically trips at the RCD? Opended everthing up and can't see anything wrong anywere. What could it be??

Also one shower circuit is playing up. Get power to it fine but as soon as I turn that on RCD trips but get this.. When i switch it back off the power light on the shower and double pole switch is lit! Again any ideas?

Iam struggling big time here guys, first fuse board I have changed so not really clued up in it all.
Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[telectrix]

sounds like you've got some dodgy wiring. disconnect the suspect circuits from the board, open up the othar end and do R1+R2 and IR tests. ( you've not got any crossed neutrals in the board, have you? )

 

[johno7]

Sounds like a problem with the neutrals at the board....

 

[Casper53]

sounds like you've got some dodgy wiring. disconnect the suspect circuits from the board, open up the othar end and do R1+R2 and IR tests. ( you've not got any crossed neutrals in the board, have you? )

Sorry this is going to sound daft, but what do you mean crossed the neutrals??

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Is this your first board change?IR test between Neutral Bars and if you get a short or low reading you have a problem

 

[Octopus]

Are you sure the neutral from the cooker and the neutral from the shower circuit are in the correct neutral bars? Sounds like they could be the wrong way round.

 

[Casper53]

Are you sure the neutral from the cooker and the neutral from the shower circuit are in the correct neutral bars? Sounds like they could be the wrong way round.

Yeah they are in the right hand side bar with the breakers on that side of the board.

With my busbar across the bottom that i put in to the terminations am I right to not connect that into the neutral of the RCD?

 

[telectrix]

each RCD has it's own neutral. the neutral of each circuit on that RCD must go in the same neutral bar as the RCD feeds. or you'll have problems.

 

[Casper53]

each RCD has it's own neutral. the neutral of each circuit on that RCD must go in the same neutral bar as the RCD feeds. or you'll have problems.

Yeah i have checked and double checked that they are going to there own bar.

 

[Geoffsd]

Yeah they are in the right hand side bar with the breakers on that side of the board.

With my busbar across the bottom that i put in to the terminations am I right to not connect that into the neutral of the RCD?

Of course you don't put the busbar in the Neutral.

Picture of inside of CU would be good.

 

[Geoffsd]

Also one shower circuit is playing up. Get power to it fine but as soon as I turn that on RCD trips but get this.. When i switch it back off the power light on the shower and double pole switch is lit! Again any ideas?

So do you mean the shower light and switch light were on before you turned on the shower?

I assume the switch is on - so that is how it should be.
Perhaps the shower has a light to indicate there is power to it - so that would be how it should be.

 

[Casper53]

So do you mean the shower light and switch light were on before you turned on the shower?

I assume the switch is on - so that is how it should be.
Perhaps the shower has a light to indicate there is power to it - so that would be how it should be.

Power goes to the shower, when I turn it on the RCD at the board trips, then without putting the RCD back on I put the shower off and the ligh indicating power comes back on!

 

[DurhamSparky]

sounds like you have some fault finding to do!

alternatively check the forum for a local electrician to help you out!

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Agree get an electrician, boardchanging is not as easy as college makes out

 

[telectrix]

shower wired across L and E???

 

[Guest123]

With my busbar across the bottom that i put in to the terminations am I right to not connect that into the neutral of the RCD?

Absolutely speechless!!!!!:mickey:

 

[Ponty Massive]

Any photo's and what area you working ??

 

[Casper53]

Chased out the entire shower circuit and can't find anything atol wrong with it :thumbs_down::thumbs_down:

 

[telectrix]

sounded gobbledygook to me as well.

 

[Geoffsd]

what area you working ??

The twilight zone.

 

[Casper53]

Any photo's and what area you working ??

Won't be able to get photos up untill later on tonight. North glasgow.

 

[cbw]

I am at work today, should you need assistance!

(My part time one)

 

[tanglewood]

Not being funny here..but I think you need to get an electrician in to sort it out for you.

 

[Casper53]

Not being funny here..but I think you need to get an electrician in to sort it out for you.

Couldn't agree more mate! Iam a 3rd year apprentice and thought i would be able to do this!

 

[cbw]

Can you borrow a tester from someone?

Sounds like you need to look at it with a fresh head and TEST your circuits, sounds like youve made a basic error somewhere.

I guess we have all made mistakes.

 

[Casper53]

Can you borrow a tester from someone?

Sounds like you need to look at it with a fresh head and TEST your circuits, sounds like youve made a basic error somewhere.

I guess we have all made mistakes.

I have a megger , iv done IR tests on both circuits and they are clear. Not really sure what else I can do to test? Not much experience in it haha

 

[tanglewood]

not being funny here..but it sounds to me from the questions your asking you havn't got a clue what your doing. Leave it alone and get a qualified electrician to put it right.

 

[Geoffsd]

Just to clarify, out of interest -

Are all the other circuits working alright (other than cooker and shower) or are these two the only ones you have 'tried'? - can't say tested.

Sorry if I've missed it if already mentioned.

With my busbar across the bottom that i put in to the terminations

You have cut it into two haven't you? Not just cut off the prongs.

 

[ezzzekiel]

you broke the golden rule - working on a sunday = trouble.

good learning curve though, i aint read the posts so not sure whats been discussed, i would advise if possible strip the board back out and start again adding a circuit at a time and carring out full range of tests on each circuit as you go untill you start to identify and rectify faults.

long way of doing it but perfect for experience.

 

[londonlec]

Can you ask the electrician(s) you work with for some assistance?

 

[DurhamSparky]

I have a megger , iv done IR tests on both circuits and they are clear. Not really sure what else I can do to test? Not much experience in it haha

i suggest you get it sorted ASAP...
i dont care if you are an apprentice or a fully qualified electrician you should not be messing with things you have no idea about, you can kill somebody if not your self....!! and the fact you think its funny makes it even worse... grow up and take serious consideration what you have done.... and i dont care if i sound harsh but the trade can do with out 3rd year apprentices thinking they know it all...!

 

[Casper53]

Just to clarify, out of interest -

Are all the other circuits working alright (other than cooker and shower) or are these two the only ones you have 'tried'? - can't say tested.

Sorry if I've missed it if already mentioned.



You have cut it into two haven't you? Not just cut off the prongs.

Yes everything else is fine.

 

[Casper53]

you broke the golden rule - working on a sunday = trouble.

good learning curve though, i aint read the posts so not sure whats been discussed, i would advise if possible strip the board back out and start again adding a circuit at a time and carring out full range of tests on each circuit as you go untill you start to identify and rectify faults.

long way of doing it but perfect for experience.

Thats exactly what Iam going to do. The family Iam doing it for are on holiday for two weeks starting today so in no mad rush. Got all my testing notes looked out and going to take it all apart on tuesday afternoon and start from there.

 

[Casper53]

Can you ask the electrician(s) you work with for some assistance?

My two uncles are electricians but typically they are both on holiday! Ones back thursday so he will be getting dragged round if there is still problems.

 

[Casper53]

i suggest you get it sorted ASAP...
i dont care if you are an apprentice or a fully qualified electrician you should not be messing with things you have no idea about, you can kill somebody if not your self....!! and the fact you think its funny makes it even worse... grow up and take serious consideration what you have done.... and i dont care if i sound harsh but the trade can do with out 3rd year apprentices thinking they know it all...!

At what point did I say I knew it all or have acted like I knew it all? And what have i done i need to give serious consideration to? Leaving a empty house with a consumer unit turned off in it ? Fair enough if your annoyed at me typeing "haha".

 

[Amp David]

sounds like you have some fault finding to do!

alternatively check the forum for a local electrician to help you out!

Good call!

Not even any mention of any test reading or results. Lets turn it on and hope it works

 

[Octopus]

Is their freezer full or empty?

 

[Amp David]

Is their freezer full or empty?

Its full, of melted stuff!

 

[will 1]

you have your neutrals mixed up. find your shower neutral plus your cooker neutral disconnected them,put them to one side power up make sure every thing works,

 

[Johnny-G]

... Ones back thursday so he will be getting dragged round if there is still problems.

Will he be notifying this work on your behalf when he returns?

Edit: Crikey, just noticed you're in Glasgow, in that case I think you can screw it up as much as you like.

 

[MDJ]

Assuming it is a DB with 2 Rcds you may have the blue leads from the trips in the wrong bars, definately sounds like your neutrals are mixed up as everyone else has mentioned, I thought I'd throw the other possibility in and ensure you check that the right neutral from the trips is in the right bars.

 

[tanglewood]

Cant believe what im reading here, giving advice to somebody who claims to be 3rd year apprentice, should have a good idea that what he is doing is not safe, and then he says "its ok the FAMILY are on holiday". Assuming by family he means with children, he needs to get it sorted CORRECTLY AND SOON. Get your head screwed on lad and quick!

 

[marks1]

just a thought but how old are the cooker and shower. if you have looked at the wiring in the board
(mixed up nuetrals) and you say its fine and you have carried out the correct test procedures on the circuits then you might have earth leakage coming from the cooker and shower.

 

[Killa]

Get an experienced electrician in ASAP. You have been trusted to do a job.