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help-cu-problems (Read 10073 times)
peter
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help-cu-problems
Jan 22nd, 2005, 11:15pm
 
Please HELP.
got probs with new Volex c u.

Old cu was an 8 way hager unit with RCD protection to downstairs sockets.

Main switch 63a, D/lights 6a, Up/lights 6a, Cooker 32a, Down/sockets 32a, Up/sockets 32a, Shower 32a.

New Board is Volex 100a main switch and RCD 80a
Had large extension built hence larger cu. new circuits not yet put on board but will be as follows in addition to above D/lights 6a, Up/lights 6a, Up/sockets 32a, D/sockets 32a, Air con unit 16a, Imm Heater  
32a, Outside Flood lights 16a.
The RCD keeps tripping when connected with sockets dont know why, did not do this on old cu. no new circuits connected yet . Also is this cu large enough and what is quality like on Volex CU seem to have bad press on this site and im getting a bit worried.
Any help would be appreciated as a friend who is newly qualified is helping to fit this unit and appears unsure.
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« Last Edit: Jan 22nd, 2005, 11:29pm by LSpark »  
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LSpark
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #1 - Jan 22nd, 2005, 11:26pm
 
Hello Peter

Quote:
Also is this cu large enough and what is quality like on Volex CU seem to have bad press on this site and im getting a bit worried


Well Volex isnt really respected around these parts, would have been better getting a bigger Hager board, what size is the new board?

Quote:
The RCD keeps tripping when connected with sockets dont know why


The usual reason for RCD's tripping out is due to a borrowed neutral from a non-rcd protected circuit to an RCD protected circuit, and thus creating an imbalance and tripping the RCD

All I can suggest is if you know the problem is on the sockets, then turn off all MCB's except the sockets, see if it trips then, if not, turn on the other MCB's one by one until it trips

Once you have found the other MCB that's tripping it out, the borrowed neutral is likely from this circuit.

Don't unplug anything in the house for the duration of you checking what I said above

hope this helps, if not please come back and we will advise further

Thanks for joining btw Grin
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« Last Edit: Jan 22nd, 2005, 11:39pm by LSpark »  
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supersparky
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #2 - Jan 22nd, 2005, 11:43pm
 
volex..... loada kack

dont know one spark who will even fit em.

btw, part p is worth reading at the top of this section....

but yeh as ls says, thats the best idea

regds

ss
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peter
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #3 - Jan 22nd, 2005, 11:58pm
 
Thanks L Spark

The Volex is a 17 way split load
could not find a hager big enough as i needed at least 14 way and extras for future use.
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #4 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 1:19am
 
No problem Peter

hager make up to something like an 18-way, but can't remember the variations, you should be able to get an 18-way or an 18-way split loader, but anyway that's by the by

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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #5 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 7:39am
 
ooo

One more thing that's very important & I missed saying earlier, only thought of it last night lol

If you're previous board worked and you're new one doesn’t, and you have not added any wiring to the set-up that might be dodge, it could be this...

In you're board is a split load...Assuming it's a split load, e.g. 2 neutral bar's, you must keep the neutral's from each bar separate

This is to say the Live cables on the Non-RCD side of the board, must have there associated neutral's on the NON-RCD side neutral bar, and the same for the RCD side, keep the lives & neutral’s from protected circuit’s on that side of the board only

I would strongly suggest that you isolate the board, remove cover, check inside the cables one by one, check the first live cable, then find it's neutral and make sure it's in the same side as the MCB...do this for them all and see if you can find the problem

One of the very first mistakes I made with a split-load was to have a neutral in the wrong block, genuine mistake if you're tired and underfed  Grin

Good luck!!
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« Last Edit: Jan 23rd, 2005, 7:47am by LSpark »  
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peter
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #6 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 9:51am
 
L.Spark

I only had 2 neutrals on the rcd side and checked to make sure these were correct neutrals. the only way i managed to get my sockets working is by moving the neutrals to the other neutal bar avoiding the RCD, the old RCD was 32a this one is 80a will this be causing any probs. or is it possible that i have a faulty RCD

Many Thanks for your advice Undecided
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scotspark
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #7 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 11:32am
 
are you sure board is set up properly????

in a split load board you have 2 neutral bars one fed direct from the main switch and one fed from the rcd wich is in turn fed from main switch???

sorry but i cant put up a quick sketch here. a picture says a thousand words .

so make sure that the neutral comes from the out side of the main switch to the in coming neutral side of the rcd, then from the neutral out of the rcd to the rcd neutral bar (make sure there is not a link between the 2 neutral bars if so remove)

then make sure that the live comes from the out side of the main switch to the in coming live side of the rcd, then from the  out of the rcd to the busbar  feeeding the mcb's.

the incoming rcd connections are usuallyb on the top and the outgoing on the botom but i have never used volex.

then connect your socket cct lives into the 32 am,p mcb fed from the rcd the neutrals into the rcd fed neutral bar and the earths into the earth bar. make sure there is nothing plugged in or turned on in this cct then try switching on rcd then mcb.

if rcd wont switch on then there is neutral to earth fault, if rcd trips when mcb is switched on then live to earth fault.






but to be honest i dont think you should be carrying out a task such as this. please get a spark in to do the work or at least to carry out a pir once you are ffinished


scotspark
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peter
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #8 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 1:50pm
 
Thanks scotspark ill double check the arrangemenr of the board.

I think the problem may be with the buss bar on my CU i have a main switch on the left and RCD on my right, inbetween this are all the MCB's. The buss bar is attached to the Main switch all the MCB'S and then lastly connects to the RCD. Should this
connection be split from the RCD and its MCB's. ?

Many Thanks for your advice.
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #9 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 5:07pm
 
The split load board should be as follows

main switch supplies the non rcd mcb's via a busbar and the rcd via a split load kit(just pre made tails). the rcd then supplies the rcd protected mcb's via a bus bar.

so if you look below as
== Main Switch
- MCB
__ RCD



==------__------


Scot Spark
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #10 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 8:33pm
 
Hellooo

Yes scotsspark is talking about the possibility the board is not setup correctly, and if you have re-checked your neutrals this is highly likely

If your main switch is at the left you're board should look like this

MainSwitch>MCB's>RCD>MCB's

Here's a picture of what you're board might look like, the're should be 2 neutral bars, and 2 live busbars

...
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« Last Edit: Jan 23rd, 2005, 8:36pm by LSpark »  
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JerryD
Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #11 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 8:38pm
 
I reckon he's only got one live busbar  Roll Eyes
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #12 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 10:05pm
 
Yea

I completely forgot how a split load was arranged strangely, and it doesn’t help that they can all be different.

The picture above is from volex and I have a picture of a wylex but obviously it's likely to be a different arrangement to the volex board  Roll Eyes

Such is life  Roll Eyes

heres the wylex

...
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« Last Edit: Jan 15th, 2006, 4:41pm by LSpark »  
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #13 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 10:18pm
 
bit messy Shocked

but looks alright on the left, not a fan of looping myself, prefer to double angle em  Tongue

ss
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LSpark
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #14 - Jan 23rd, 2005, 11:24pm
 
Damnnnnnn it's public section  Grin

B1tc*h  Cheesy

actualy it's funny you say that, it's not one of my job's, althought the left side was re-done when I've added thing's, right said left as was, originaly done by NICEIC firm  Wink

Goes without saying  Grin
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« Last Edit: Jan 23rd, 2005, 11:26pm by LSpark »  
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #15 - Jan 26th, 2005, 11:52am
 
[quote author=peter  link=1106435723/0#8 date=1106488228]Thanks scotspark ill double check the arrangemenr of the board.

I think the problem may be with the buss bar on my CU i have a main switch on the left and RCD on my right, inbetween this are all the MCB's. The buss bar is attached to the Main switch all the MCB'S and then lastly connects to the RCD. Should this
connection be split from the RCD and its MCB's. ?

Many Thanks for your advice.   [/quote]

Hi Peter, you are on the right track -

the Volex unit is designed so that you can alter the number of RCD protected circuits you need to decide how many you want and then split the buss bar accordingly, check the book for yours but mine states a gap of >4mm between the ends.

this board is set up with the main switch on the left the RCD on the far right and the bussbar is supplied as a continuous strip between. the user must decide what split he requires between RCD and non RCD circuits and then cut out a section of the bussbar at the apropriate point. if you have not done this then the RCD is not providing any protection as even with it "off" the MCB's are still live tho the neutral will be disconected hence why things work when you move the neutrals to the non RCD side.

obviosly be sure to isolate before cutting the bussbar Shocked
(would recomend taking the bussbar out entierly to cut and then replacing)

hope this helps solve the problem Wink
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Re: help-cu-problems
Reply #16 - Jan 26th, 2005, 11:48pm
 
Good advice OTI

Bl00dy wylex boards, who would 'ave em  Roll Eyes
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