Earthing Problem

Advert

New Replies

Report Bug

Help/FAQs

Earthing Problem

This topic has 13 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 3 July 2016 at 10:20 by Speedy Builder5.

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)

Author

Posts
2 July 2016 at 17:30 #245152
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
I can't work out why the RCD on the outside lantern light keeps tripping. I have good earth around all the wires. The insulation is ANTI this and ANTI that, so it should be OK. What does the team think ?
BobH
Advert

2 July 2016 at 17:30 #34698
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
RCD trips out
2 July 2016 at 17:42 #245154
Ed Duffner
Participant
@edduffner79357
That's a lot of wires for a lantern Bob, PIR detector?

Rinse and repeat, with the electric off, then dry fully.

Ed.
2 July 2016 at 18:03 #245159
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
Yep, 2 earths, one to the lamp socket and the other to the cast aluminium lantern plus loop off to the next lamp – 3 lamps in parallel. Cut off the old terminal block off and replace.
2 July 2016 at 18:10 #245161
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Hmmm, tricky one. Might be an earth leak…
2 July 2016 at 18:32 #245165
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Looks well 'earthed' to me

Is it anti-ant?

Is the brown wire intact? Looks like it could be damaged to me.

Neil
2 July 2016 at 19:04 #245169
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
No, there is plenty of earth. Brown wire cut back to good. It is surprising just what damage ants and other critters can do. Both ends of the conduits were sealed around the cables – but they still got in and made their home there.
2 July 2016 at 19:16 #245171
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 02/07/2016 19:04:58:

No, there is plenty of earth.

That was my (humorous) point!

Neil
2 July 2016 at 21:22 #245182
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Now I'm confused! I thought we were all joking…

Cheers,

Dave
2 July 2016 at 22:09 #245188
DMB
Participant
@dmb
Its all the muck in the casing.When it gets damp, it shorts the connections.
Worthing club had same trouble with signalling failure. Pesky ants built nest in connections box under track.
3 July 2016 at 05:32 #245204
Colin Whittaker
Participant
@colinwhittaker20544
Guys,

A good earth keeps you safe. It doesn't prevent RCCB trips.

The RCCB (residual current circuit breaker) looks for an imbalance in the live and neutral line currents (due to a >30mA leak) and trips the breaker.

With the power off, wash, clean, dry and you should be good, as long as the cable isn't damaged elsewhere.

Colin
3 July 2016 at 07:47 #245206
Clive Hartland
Participant
@clivehartland94829
Perhaps get some adhesive heat sealing tube and completely seal all the connections and joints.

Clive
3 July 2016 at 09:04 #245208
MW
Participant
@mw27036
If it was working well prior to this then maybe some damage has occured or damp is shorting it, outdoor electrics are a pesky business.

Or, perhaps you put something new on the line and the wires are overheating, depends what they're rated for, i'm not saying this is the case just i had a couple of garage lights kept shorting because the copper was too thin.

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 03/07/2016 09:06:07
3 July 2016 at 10:20 #245220
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
I started this post off, a bit tongue in cheek, but mainly to show how ants and other creatures work to confound our futile attempts to "improve" the world we live in.
The problem has been sorted, tested and as far as I am concerned, safe to use once again. I am sure that if the wiring survives for another 10 years, I will have had my moneys worth. I expect the lanterns will have to be replaced some time as its a big ask for die cast Aluminium to survive 20 years in an outdoor environment and in any case they should perhaps be replaced with LEDs or whatever new technology is around the corner.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys (and girls).
Over and out
BobH
Author

Posts