what should happen when i press the press to test switch.how much does it cost to fix it??
2006-12-23 05:05:56 · 8 answers · asked by kresan g 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
You do NOT have a short, you have an earth leakage fault, from a connected appliance or the wiring. The RCD is more likely to be 30ma than 100ma as another answer suggested. Switching off the breakers will not confirm where the fault lies as the neutral will still be connected. You may be able to isolate a faulty appliance by UNPLUGGING ALL appliances and turning off any connection units for fixed appliances, then reconnecting them one at a time. Even then it could be a combination of 2 or 3 different items which will mislead you. The only way to be sure is to test all appliances and the wiring with an insulation tester. (500volt 'Megger') I have done this type of fault finding many hundreds of times. A 30ma rcd will trip when the insulation resistance falls to about 8000 ohms. If the RCD is on a 'split' consumers unit it will only affect the power circuits, in which case dont go testing the lighting circuits. The test button only puts a test current through the circuit to test and 'excercise' the device, it has no diagnostic purpose.
2006-12-23 06:03:10 · answer #1 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
RCCB (residual current circuit breaker) detects a leakage of current to earth. For whole building protection they have a trip current of 100mA.
Possible causes are damp or insulation breakdown in an appliance or the wiring.
If the switch trips soon after re-setting try turning all breakers off in the distribution box, re-setting the RCCCB and then turning on each circuit allowing time so you may find which circuit is causing the trouble.
You can also try unplugging all appiances and plugging them in gradually to see which one is causing the trouble.
When you press the test button this causes a controlled earth leakage in the RCCB and it should trip.
2006-12-23 13:21:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jayktee is your man - he knows what he is on about.
If you have replaced an old fusebox system with a new trip type system this will be ultra sensitive in comparison. Even a dodgy light bulb will switch you off.
We had ours replaced in an old house we bought - the breaker system is safer.
We found that it could not handle an old oven with a thermostat on it. When the oven came up to temperature the trip went. We couldn't cook anything in the oven that needed high temperatures - no pizzas!
We were scheduled to rip the kitchen out anyway so it wasn't a problem for long.
2006-12-26 05:59:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Switch off all the MCBs and put them on 1 by 1 so that you will find which circuit is faulty. Do not tamper if you do not understand electrics.
2006-12-23 13:22:57 · answer #4 · answered by Hansolo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you've got a short somewhere!un plug everything that can be and check all the lights work, re set the breaker if the lights are ok plug in your the items one by one,the wall sockets and lights should be on different breakers though! also the breakers can get weak depending on the loading!! ttfn
2006-12-23 13:16:13 · answer #5 · answered by maggotdad 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Damp/ Overloading sockets / Loose or faulty cable. Cost of repair depends on problem.
2006-12-23 13:11:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You should call in a professiuonal electrician immediately. Your system has a short or other problem that could start a fire. Have this checked out immediately.
2006-12-23 13:13:02 · answer #7 · answered by Stephen M 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure you havent got a lightbulb blown somewhere ??????
2006-12-23 13:07:46 · answer #8 · answered by starlet108 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋