Does the residual current device trip without any clear reason? With a targeted method you find the circuit causing the leakage.
Briefly describe what is happening. Call for an urgent call-out or leave your number and we will call you back as soon as possible.
Unlike an ordinary fuse, an RCD does not react to excessive current, but to a leakage current: electricity that flows away through an unwanted path, for example to earth. If it trips, it protects people against that leakage current.
Below you can read what an earth leakage is, how to systematically trace the circuit that is tripping the RCD, and at what point you should have a professional test the installation.
The residual current device, also known as an earth leakage circuit breaker, compares the current entering the circuit with the current leaving it. As soon as there is a difference, because part of the current leaks to earth, it interrupts the circuit. This prevents you from receiving a dangerous shock on contact.
An earth leakage fault often arises from moisture in an appliance or socket, from damaged insulation on a cable, or from an outdated device whose internal insulation is failing. Damp rooms and outdoor connections are typical culprits.
Work methodically. First switch off all circuit breakers behind the residual current device. Then reset the residual current device and switch the circuits back on one by one. The circuit that trips the residual current device again is the circuit with the problem.
Once you know which circuit is faulty, unplug the appliances on that circuit and test again. If the residual current device now stays on, the leakage was in one of those appliances. If it still trips without any appliances connected, the problem lies in the wiring or a fixed connection on that circuit.
If you cannot find the circuit, or the residual current device trips even though no appliances are connected to the circuit, then the fault is in the fixed installation and you should have it tested. An earth leakage fault in the wiring is traced with measuring equipment, not by guesswork.
Also call immediately if the residual current device keeps tripping straight away, if moisture is involved at the consumer unit or connections, or if you can no longer get the installation working. In that case, contact us by phone for an urgent callout.
Water in sockets, outdoor connections or wet rooms often causes leakage current.
Switch the circuits on separately to isolate the faulty one.
Reconnect the appliances on the faulty circuit one by one.
Switch off all the circuit breakers downstream of the residual current device.
Reset the residual current device while the circuits are still switched off.
Switch the circuits on one by one until the residual current device trips again.
Test the appliances on that circuit. If the leak persists, have the wiring checked.
If you cannot find the leakage or the device keeps tripping, we test the circuits and trace the earth leakage fault. Call us for an urgent call-out.
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If the empty circuit still trips, the problem lies in the installation.
