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Electrical

Owner threw out old light, but any new light fitted blows RDC

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.44 PM

HI So while i am ok with electrics, i am at loss on this one. Especially as i don't have RDC tester, i can't really tell if maybe it's RDC fault. But the main deal is, they changed old light to new LED one (9W element). But as soon you switch on lights, light flickers and it blows RDC (or it looks like RDC as the whole fuse box is old type). Tested wiring, there is no shorts or mixed wires. Tried different light, same as with LED. They have another light on same feed, but those are also small light bulbs, around 40w total. So as far as i can see it is not overload of power. The old light is thrown out, so can't tell what type of light it was. Is it really faulty RDC, if so, then how old light was working all fine. Voltage is ok. While nothing is connected to said cables, it is all fine. Also tested LED lights in other feed in same house, all is fine.

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3 Answers

Anonymous user

If it is the RCD tripping out then that would indicate that there is a leakage of current from the circuit to ground. As it only appears to trip when you turn a light on then the fault is probably between neutral and earth. Apart from an actual short or partial short the most likely cause of this is something called a 'borrowed neutral" This is where a circuit has its live connected to one RCD and its neutral connected to something else, causing an imbalance for the RCD in question. There are no indication from what you describe that you have had the wiring changed recently but it does sound a bit like that.
Answered12 November 2021
4

Anonymous user

If its only occurred since the light fitting was changed then it is obvious it is something that's been introduced by changing the light fitting; trapped wire, trapped neutral, incorrectly wired fitting, or even a faulty fitting. I doubt it is anything to do with LED lamps, or with the RCD. If you were to remove the fitting I bet the problem would go away.
Answered17 November 2021
1

PIA Properties and Maintenance LTD

Rating: 5 out of 5
Grays
Your best bet would be to hire a qualified electrician, who will carry out the necessary tests and resolve the issue.
Answered29 November 2021
1