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Links – Domestic Electrics & Central Heating Advice
Why An RCD Trips
RCDs (Residual Current Devices) are electrical safety switches that remove the supply to an electrical circuit when the circuit is unsafe; if an RCD ‘trips’ it has tripped for a reason, the problem is rarely a faulty RCD.
Judge Electrical ‘Find & Reset An RCD + Investigate A Constantly Tripping RCD’ web page.
Possible Causes Of RCD Tripping
Faulty appliance – unplug all electrical appliances, does the RCD reset OK? If the RCD resets OK plug the appliances back in one at a time. Reset the RCD as you plug each appliance back in to find the faulty appliance.
Incorrect RCD current rating – RCDs have ‘current ratings’ similar to fuses. The current rating is the current that trips an RCD. The current rating of the RCD could be too low. Seek advice from a qualified electrician. Judge Electrical offer free advice.
Poor quality RCD – poor quality RCDs can trip when they shouldn’t. Seek advice from a qualified electrician. Judge Electrical offer free advice.
Items with motors or pumps starting – many items with motors or pumps, for instance showers and pond pumps, cause momentary electrical spikes that are big enough to trip RCDs. Seek advice from a qualified electrician. Judge Electrical offer free advice.
Older washing machines – aging washing machine heating elements can cause momentary electrical spikes that are big enough to trip RCDs.
Certain wash cycle phases – some cycles of the washing machine, for instance the spin cycle, can cause momentary electrical spikes that are big enough to trip RCDs.
Certain dishwasher cycles – some parts of the dishwasher cycle draw a lot of current, a faulty component, for instance the motor, can trip an RCD.
Overloading a washing machine – too many items in a washing machine can cause certain wash cycles, for instance the spin cycle, to trip an RCD.
Fridges and freezers cooling – the fridge or freezer cooling motor starting.
Turning a sun bed on – a sun bed uses a lot of electrical power, the surge in electrical power can trip an RCD.
Turning an heating element on after a long time of being off – moisture in heating elements can trip an RCD, for instance in a sun bed or electric fire. Try resetting the RCD a few times so that the heating element can cause the moisture to evaporate.
Pond pump faulty – pond pumps sometimes have to ‘work very hard’– for instance when they have ‘digested’ part of a plant from the pond. Check your pond pump for blockages.
Moisture in outside electrical distribution boxes – remove the supply and dry the distribution box. Check the weather seals have not perished.
Moisture in outside electrical sockets – remove the supply and dry the electrical socket. Check the weather seals have not perished.
Ice maker on a fridge – a faulty ice maker on a fridge can cause ‘nuisance’ RCD tripping.
De-frost timer on a fridge or freezer – a faulty defrost element on a fridge or freezer can cause ‘nuisance’ RCD tripping.
Central heating elements – faulty heating elements can cause an RCD to trip when they are turned on by a timer.
Water heating elements – faulty water heating elements can cause nuisance RCD trips when the thermostat tells them to heat the water.
Moisture in wiring – moisture in the electrical wiring is a common cause of RCD trips. Have you just emptied a bath? Taken a shower? Is it raining – rain can get into the electrical wiring under the floors or in the loft.
Links
Links – Domestic Electrics & Central Heating Advice
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This web page lists possible causes of RCD trips.
When investigating a tripping RCD always look for patterns – have you just turned an appliance on? Is it raining? Does the RCD always trip at the same time each day? A pattern will give clues to the cause.
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What Causes An RCD To Trip |
