RCd tripping

W

Wilberforceftw

Free Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2019
Posts
100
Likes collected
82
Funster No
62,233
MH
Swift 614
Exp
Newbie
Ok I'll start with what I know and build from there

I have had my motorhome wired up to EHU
Where I bought it
At home
1st french campsite
2nd french campsite

No issues at all
I'm not a heavy user LED lights and fridge mainly sometimes s fan. All these have been fine (even using 2 pin plug type adaptor)

Arrived at 3rd site (alleged 4 star....I think not but that's another story) try one one of the sockets no power. Change sockets wirls for a period but not sure how long as in my unit only I seem to have the ability to notice these things?

Electric goes off and we call them out to open the box and reset. Now each time its hooked up my RCD trips. Tried another cable and that trips.

My m/home being blamed but seems random as no problem detected at all?

Before I move and cause a stink as annoyed with other things does anyone have any thoughts?

Only other thing is I can reset rcd but not trip it with test switch. Does it need power to do this ?

Hope this makes sense if not ask away and I'll add what I can

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Ps everything ok on 12v.

Lee
 
First, try the cable in the hookup post without connecting it to the MH. If it doesn't trip then at least you've confirmed the cable and plugs are OK.

Next, turn off the RCD in the MH, and plug in the cable. If the hookup trips, then the fault is between the MH mains inlet socket and the MH RCD. Could be loose connection or water ingress. Or insulation worn through by vibration. Or mice. etc...
 
As above but if it does not trip with your rcd off, switch off all the breakers and the turn on your rcd. If nothing trips switch each breaker on one at a time until you find the faulty one. Also an rcd will only trip at the test button with power on.
 
The Ex-Gasman said:
Also an rcd will only trip at the test button with power on.
Click to expand...
Which would indicate from the OP's post, that he doesn't have both live & neutral incoming as he cannot get it to trip?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
  • Like
Reactions: DBK
The question about the trip and whether power needed was when I was looking over without the EUH cable attached. Didn't know if switch worked without power. I thought if it did and wasnt it was knackered if you see what I mean.
 
The Ex-Gasman said:
Any luck?
Click to expand...
Wife still sleeping so cant get to anything at the minute. Was an awful time yesterday, site a bit crap, pitch not great, EUH issues and to top it all when getting in bed broke the end piece on the pull out slats. All in all a fab day after a 7 hour drive. So best let her sleep ??
 
I had a very similar experience with the site power tripping my breakers, regardless of the plug in point (tried 5) the site owner couldn’t explain it and after trying multiple cables too, the owner reversed the plug in the board (upside down). Hey presto it worked, rcd working, showed reverse polarity on my distribution panel but no other issues. Neither he nor I could figure out why?

Not the best time to figure things out when tired and frustrated though. Been there, done that!

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
The Ex-Gasman said:
Hope today is better for you
Click to expand...
Me too. Moved pitch and set it all up one by one with nost important first
Fridge
Charger
Sockets
Water heater. It is at this point rcd tripped. Started again. Got all on this time. So massively confused. Turned water heater off as I'm on a facility site. Still no wiser on why but im happy to go with bare minimum I need to enjoy rest of holiday.

I know when I bought van a few weeks ago the said the changed pcb in water heater so looks like they'll be getting a call later.

Thanks all for your help and this looks to be £15 well spent already. If anyone has anything else they can think of please continue to post.

I will be at another site in 5 days so may allow further testing. Will keep people posted if interested.

Kindest appreciation

Lee
 
Beat me to it !!! I had a very similar experience a few years ago but it was the 240v element on the fridge that was causing the EHU to trip. Element was goosed and required replacement.
 
I know when I bought van a few weeks ago the said the changed pcb in water heater so looks like they'll be getting a call later.


[/QUOTE]
Not likely to be the PCB more likely to be the element or slight leak on the terminals or wiring

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Last edited:
The Ex-Gasman said:
I know when I bought van a few weeks ago the said the changed pcb in water heater so looks like they'll be getting a call later.
Click to expand...
Not likely to be the PCB more likely to be the element or slight leak on the terminals or wiring
[/QUOTE]

Makes sense pump has cycled now and again but with no frequency. So this kind of makes 2+2 = 4 potentially as I've traced everything and can find no leak.

Thanks again will keep you posted as I find nothing worse than a thread with no ending?
 
Wilberforceftw said:
Only other thing is I can reset rcd but not trip it with test switch. Does it need power to do this ?
Click to expand...

Yes it does and I think this is the most significant clue. Strictly speaking it doesn't just need power it needs to be able to complete the circuit as the press to test switch artificially induces a fault which the device then responds to. RCD devices probably differ but I would expect most just connect the live feed to earth through a high value resistor. This causes an imbalance which is detected by the device.

So why wasn't yours tripping even when plugged into EHU? It's difficult to know exactly without getting a multimeter and testing things but my guess is either there was no earth connect ion or live and neutral were reversed and your RCD only works single pole on the live side. The wiring might have been even more muddled - it is not unknown. :)

Your water heater, assuming it is electric, is probably tripping things because it is demanding more power than the EHU supply can manage. 16A is rare in my experience outside the UK, anything more than 6A (1500W) is a bonus. :)

I suggest if everything is now working then it was a one off down to that particular EHU post.
 
DBK said:
Yes it does and I think this is the most significant clue. Strictly speaking it doesn't just need power it needs to be able to complete the circuit as the press to test switch artificially induces a fault which the device then responds to. RCD devices probably differ but I would expect most just connect the live feed to earth through a high value resistor. This causes an imbalance which is detected by the device.

So why wasn't yours tripping even when plugged into EHU? It's difficult to know exactly without getting a multimeter and testing things but my guess is either there was no earth connect ion or live and neutral were reversed and your RCD only works single pole on the live side. The wiring might have been even more muddled - it is not unknown. :)

Your water heater, assuming it is electric, is probably tripping things because it is demanding more power than the EHU supply can manage. 16A is rare in my experience outside the UK, anything more than 6A (1500W) is a bonus. :)

I suggest if everything is now working then it was a one off down to that particular EHU post.
Click to expand...
I am hoping that's the case and I do think the polarity is reversed but camt later that as the precautions I took (different connections) didn't meet the needs her so lesson learned.

With regards the RCD tripping it wouldn't trip with no power but has today on testing today when hooked up on a new post as I hated the pitch I had (see above of the &%$$// day I had) so moved this morning.

Thanks for you time and advice its appreciated.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: DBK
Makes sense pump has cycled now and again but with no frequency. So this kind of makes 2+2 = 4 potentially as I've traced everything and can find no leak.

Thanks again will keep you posted as I find nothing worse than a thread with no ending?
[/QUOTE]
Sorry Are you saying that the water pump does not work? that would be strange because the pump will be 12 volts and should not be affected by the hook up.
 
We had a similar problem at a site in Migennes. Kept tripping. Turned out it was a faulty kettle. Apparently, one of the major sauces of problems. Water getting into the sockets etc.
Hope SWMBO had a good night's rest.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
The Ex-Gasman said:
Makes sense pump has cycled now and again but with no frequency. So this kind of makes 2+2 = 4 potentially as I've traced everything and can find no leak.

Thanks again will keep you posted as I find nothing worse than a thread with no ending?
Click to expand...
Sorry Are you saying that the water pump does not work? that would be strange because the pump will be 12 volts and should not be affected by the hook up.
[/QUOTE]
No the pump is fine but make a noise priming now and again which may link with some issue as those described and pressure being reduced
 
I’ve also had a similar issue to the OP today. On a 6 amp feed, kept tripping the site rcd. I traced it (by turning off all breakers in the van then putting them on one at a time, then in each combination) to the water heater. I had the heater set to eco using electric only, all of the time, so when I connected the heater kicked in and if any other circuit was on it would trip.

Changed the water to primary as gas and all was well. Once the water was warm switched back to power on that circuit and all was fine since. Seems like the electric water heater has a high current draw to start up! Everything working as expected now!
 
Quick update as I hate posts that dont conclude. Been away twice now in uk and no issues. New pump fitted as other was leaking back into tank ( I think as it kept going randomly) dont think this would have caused my problems though. I think will have to go to france to test it over there again.

Happy Sunday all
 
We had something similar in Spain after it rained. We finally tracked down the culprit who was tripping everyone’s power. He had not realised there was a problem. He removed the plug from the socket on the pitch emptied the water out and plugged it back in and all was well.
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top