MCB Random Trips

[Muddy1]

So, I connect up to my house supply and all is well. On sites however the MCB trips, I've tried every combination to locate a dodgy piece of equipment even swapped my mains leads but still it trips. Maybe 5 minutes maybe an hour of use, sometimes it will reset straightaway others it won't. Its in a 2004 Compass 300 Avantgarde

 

[Googlebot]

They are a nightmare to trace.

Does it happen at random? Or just when you use a particular appliance?

Unscrew every electrical outlet and check all connections. It’s usually a dodgy connection behind a socket or fitting.

If you can’t find anything, it will need a tester and someone who knows how to use it.

 

[meanders]

It may just be a capacity issue. Many sites are only 10 amps, others less still, so an electric kettle may trip it. 10 amps only gives you about 2300 watts in total. Check the trip on the bollard. If the body is visible it will have a rating on it. Do not assume you have 16A just because the connector is rated at that.

At home, are you plugging it into a 13A socket? That's likely to have 30 or 32A trip for the whole ring main which generally will give a higher tolerance to overload.

 

[Muddy1]

It happens totally at random, I have the fridge on, battery charger and heater or water heater and it doesn't matter which one I switch off it still eventually trips at random.

 

[Muddy1]

At home, yes its plugged into a 13A socket.

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[Trevor Wbm]

As above, probably the capacity on the hook up.

Watts = Amps x Volts - at home you typically pull 13amps x 240 volts = 3200w max. On a 10 amp site it's 2400w, on a 6 amp site it's 1440w. Depending what power you've got, it may be OK until a 2kw heater on a thermostat joins in or it may trip straight away. Domestic kettles are another likely culprit.

Edit: Reading how random it is, I'd turn every thing except the battery charger off, and wait to see if that trips. If not, turn one appliance on that you know will keep consumption below the max, and test again. Repeat with individual items. It's possible that a thermostat switch operating an item that is below the threshold when running is creating a mometary current surge when it switches on.

 

[Muddy1]

Thanks all, it does rather sound like supply issue rather than a fault l guess. We've not gone "off grid" overnight yet so as long as the solar panel keeps doing its bit we should be ok for a day or two.

 

[Googlebot]

Do you have an RCD at home? If so, it might be a supply issue on site.

If not, there might not be anything to trip.

 

[icantremember]

If you are refering to the onboard MCB rather than the site elh, I would replace it as could be faulty and not expensive.

 

[Eggs]

If you are refering to the onboard MCB rather than the site elh, I would replace it as could be faulty and not expensive.

If MCB in the van was faulty wouldn't it trip when the van is hooked up at home?

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[icantremember]

If MCB in the van was faulty wouldn't it trip when the van is hooked up at home?

Probably!

 

[Muddy1]

We have RCD at home

 

[autorouter]

Is the breaker an MCB, RCD or RCBO? A picture would help. Does it have a 'Test' button? Does it have '30mA' or '.03A' written on it? Does it have an amp rating, like C10, B10, C6, B6 etc?

 

[Muddy1]

I'm really sorry,I can't answer that at the moment. I'm unable to get access.