Demonstration of testing an RCD, different test settings, expected results and alternate test method for situations which have two or more RCDs on the same circuit.
Tester used is a Fluke 1653. Other test equipment may have different ways to select the various test options, but the actual tests will be the same.
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From a retired professional (non-electrician) instructor: The simplicity, clarity and delivery of your tutorials is the best I've ever seen. So many things demystified. Many thanks, John
Having been in the industry for the past 30 years, what a very good way for a refresher. Tutorials are excellent and they are my first port of call. Thank you John, and i do hope you carry on passing your knowledge on forever.
Thank You, John! I had this "caravan park" type of situation yesterday. I had to test an RCD and there was other RCD behind it and of course the one that i wasn't testing tripped first and i didn't know how to workaround it.. but now i know, thanks to this video.
Nice clear stuff, got my first EIC cert to complete soon, all your videos are helping me to remember what I learnt last year. Many thanks.
Very logical & clear (as all the videos you've made are) - excellent job.
Man ..JW . Thanks for uploading such stuff . we all appreciate your work. Thanks again.
superb video John, you are reaching out to a big Audience on here.. keep the good work up. all the best.
thanks for taking the time to explaining that.
what a great well produced video audio was clear and crisp many people just talk nonsense and confuse the situation but you just talked facts and didn't waffle on this video is a credit to the KZhead community
I Hope everyone saw that great tip you offered for Testing an RCD without tripping any upstream devices, that is something I was never aware of in my 40yrs in the Industry, thank you for that little gem. By the way, that Test Button was [I am talking decades ago] used to stop the RCD becoming Dormant and Locked, hence "Test Weekly" used to be the lable that came with the good brands. Mr Spence Eng
Great videos. Thanks for the trip to avoid tripping RCD upstream. Fantastic!
Fantastic delivery and tutorial I’ve learned so much from you, please keep up doing videos John
That's a really good video. Thanks for taking the time to do it.
Your videos are like gold dust. You have helped me tremendously!
Your videos are very helpful and distinguished, thank you very much
That was extremely clear on how to test RCDs John. 👍
Excellent work . Provide a lot of use full information
Really enjoy you videos, would love to see you do 2 or 3 a week.
John, great advice on how to test an RCD with another RCD on the supply side!
im in the us. i keep hearing about these rcd's, im guessing this is the same as a gfci breaker (as opposed to a gfci outlet) here in the us?
Very informative as usual.
Please make a video of loop impedance testing with the fluke Good review btw :)
Clearly explaination. Superb !!
Today I replaced old Iskra RCD with Elmark RCD (Old RCD was 40A three phase + neutral,tripping current 500mA).Your video is good.
You are like the Richard Attenborough of electrical theory. ❤ Great and relaxing presentation 😊
Great video JW!
Brilliant thanks John
Great video John
very clearly explained
Great helpful vid,thankyou.
Thanks John great video
Great video, very helpful. Thank you
We test touring caravans on site or at customers home, for this situation it is very simple to use an isolating transformer inline to avoid tripping anything up stream
Learned a lot from your video on how to test RCD's. Thanks.
Hi John ! I love your videos very much. I need your help , I wish to buy the fluke 1652c or the megger mft1730 what do you think the better for me to buy ? best regards !
Mr.John is rcd able to trip without earthing? thanks for this video.
Thank you very informative❤
Superb sir.thankyou helped me loads.
Hi John. Thanks for these great videos. Could you do a video explaining the use of the white fly lead from an RCBO to earth bar Some RCBo's have them and some do not. Thank you in-advance.
Thank you very much very GOOD explanation step by step I enjoyed
Thanks for making this video! I hope that you please want to advice me. I have a RCD type A going out to a 2 phase outlet (no ground) I am wondering if it is safer to use a isolation transformer for DUT or just the main? As you show the RCD does trigger at 30mA but would never trigger if an isolation transformer is between the DUT and the RCD. But all on KZhead (Americans) do say isolation transformer is the only safe way.
Great video👍
Hi John, I am considering building a small unit to test RCDs ( purely a project, not to be a professional meter ) . Do you have any ideas what electronics these meters use to create the leakage current? I was considering switching some power resistors with relays, to create the various currents required, but is seems a rather bulky solution, especially to get also the x0.5 and x5. Also, the tripping current resolution will be crap. Suggestions?
Hi John thanks for the upload, could you do a video on a rcd test with a three phase three wire with no neutral connection on the load side of the RCCB? Was wondering if it would still trip. Many thanks.
I love this KIS method "Keep It Simple" for the stupid like me!!! keep it up, John.
Thanks John. I really liked the tip about how to test when there are two RCD's in series. Could prove useful.
Thanks Mr JW for ur valuable videos.... Iam wondering how to test a 3ph RCD 300mA using MTF1731 at the DB, where I tried several times won't tripped at I1 & I5 (times) injunction
well described and explained...like to see some more on testing pfc ect. doing 17th ed in april....cheers
darron higgins Other testing videos are planned.
today when testing a RCd the trip current equal to 0 and tripping time equal to 0 . is it damaged RCD
John I am just starting out and would like a fluke installation tester but was wondering what would be good to start off with for function and price? Would appreciate your advice thanks
John, Will you be doing any updates to this playlist, for the likes of Type A RCDs ,filling out 18th edition test certificates, solar P.V and EV?
Hi John Love your vids always clear and informative...I just thought something to add/ do a vid of would be if there is a N-E fault on another circuit to one being worked on that this can stop the test button working due to parallel earth paths, and the process of tracing them out to identify affected circuit. Ie main earth cont, bonds out, then if not to those removing neutrals to identify circuit (also a good place to drop in a mention of the trusty wander lead). Hope this is received well and not taken as a critasism as it's not. Looking forward to watching more of your vids. Nat
When you've got a simple circuit with no equipotential bonding etc, you expect a ballpark figure of Zs=Ze+(R1+R2). While British General RCDs seem to test OK regarding trip times and currents as you have shown, I find that for some reason they add about 0.5 Ohms to the Zs test result of connected circuits. In a lot of cases that can make the difference between a pass and fail. Other makes of RCD do not seem to affect the Zs test result in this way. Have you noticed anything similar?
How would the same test be performed on a bipolar RCD fed 2 phases in instead of phase and neutral?
Wow John your killing it with the subs now mate! Good on ya! Your a god among mortals?! 👍
thanks for the video
How do you do a ramp test If you have an RCD main switch on an old fuse board, would you still do it through a socket on a ring or can it be done at the rcd ??? Thanks
John, you Sir should be on Television great presentation
awesome and helpful
Good video tutorial. I would've done a test with ground/green probe connected to the outlet neutral of the rcd , to show/simulate that the one rcd connected in series would not trip. You already explained it, but could be good just for visual purpose 😉. Good job anyway!
good knowledge and content
Thanks for interesting video
Hi John thanks for these good videos ... I have always thought that 63A is the braking or tripping current rather than working current on the particular rcbo. And unfortunately tripping current 6kA . what would be the best rcbo to use to protect the wires from over heating ? thanks
It's an RCD only not an RCBO. 63A is the maximum continuous current. I believe 6000A is the absolute maximum fault current to reliably break the arc and not catch fire or explode. Consider a low impedance high current source can sustain very high fault current into a dead short!
I did rcd test on final circuit and when i did test x5 it showed 0.0 also on 180 degrees it was 0.0 is it normal . 30 mA rcd tested.
you have your 230vac blue and brown cables wired in at the top of the rcd are they live
What’s better when testing the RCD, leave all the loads on or remove the loads and just have the RCD? Just wondered if whether I’ll get more accurate results by testing the RCD before having any circuits connected.
great info, Id like to get a Fluke 1653-54 and use it to test here in the US -- Please do more videos ...
That In (Rated Current) is that the same in all countries, or at least in Europe??
Have you ever used Chint rcbo (s) ? Are they good
Hi John, love your videos, keep it up. Can I ask, what is that connector pedal thingy behind your Fluke mft seen 2.20 into the video. I use to have one and want to buy another, but have no idea what they're called. Thanks in advance.
Cliff Quicktest QT1. Video about it here: kzhead.info/sun/jaeef72uaJ2riqM/bejne.html
John Ward Thank you!
Great videos, very informative. Can you recommend any good study guides to prepare for the AM2 examination John? Thanks.
Great video. Two questions: 1. Could you possibly do a video on how to use multifunction testers, whether they be Fluke-Robin, Kewtech or Megger, as you explain all the functions so clearly; 2. I've installed three distribution boards in a building, they are all supplied from an MEM switchgear panel containing three 63 amp fuses each of which is the link between the incoming supply and the cable to each board. Two of the cables are fine, supplying power without a problem, but the third cable will not power up when connected. Power is coming in, but not being transmitted through the fuse to the cable. I have pulled out the fuse link housing between the supply and load sides, and it houses a 63 amp Bussman fuse. Could this be a problem with the fuse, the housing or the board, and how can I test the fuse? At the moment, I only have a Kewtech voltage tester, I don't yet have a mutimeter or multifunction tester. Thank you.
David Sakho 1 - Yes, other testing videos are planned. 2 - A failed fuse is most likely from the description given, any multimeter or continuity tester can be used to test the fuse. However before replacing it, the cause of the failed fuse should be identified.
***** Thank you.
I still get the same result with just the active and earth attached. Does the neutral need to be attached for testing the trip time?
How important is the earth fault loop impedance for the breakers to trip < 0.4 secs if you have everything on an RCD
Thank you for that.
Hi John. How about testing a 3 poles MCCB?..
Thankyou for this, Can you test the RCD without disconnecting the load?
So if the difference in current coming back is 30 mA or more, it will switch off??
Excellent
The Tests to perform are to be conducted on the RCD device "Before mounting into the CU" or " after mounted and energized in CU" ? The 1st test is really testing the Device compared to the 2nd tests which is Test in the System. Grateful for clarification. TQVM
Tests are done when it's installed in the consumer unit, and after most of the other tests of the circuit wiring have been done.
Hi John - got one at the moment where Im only getting a result on one half of the sine wave - 0degrees. Any suggestions please?
Hi John, I have finished installing shore power to my little boat. I spent the afternoon trying to get the RCD to switch on. I have not managed to get the switch lever to remain up. Not while totally disconnected from any wires nor while wired up and connected to the pontoon power supply. Using a little Fluke device I established that the wiring from the shore power was correct and on. A friend suggested that the RCD was broken saying that even when not connected, for example straight out the box packaging, the black switch lever should remain in the up position if clicked on. I would like to know if you agree. If that is the case then it is for the bin. Many thanks, Mike
+Traveller32sloop If it's the style shown in the video then it should latch on even with no power. Faulty if not. There are active RCDs which only latch in the presence of power and disconnect when power is removed, but they are normally only used in individual socket outlets or similar, not for consumer units.
Perhaps a silly question, but could one theoretically test that an RCD trips using just a battery, or a signal generator outputting a similarly low voltage?
Hi John, Are you using the RCD through an isolation transformer like on your other videos to prevent the test tripping your house RCD? If so what make is this transformer and where did you get it? Thanks.
+Daniel Brown Yes, isolating transformer was used. The one I have is rather old and has no make on it. They can be purchased new but are rather expensive. Used ones can usually be found cheaply on ebay by searching for 'safety isolation transformer' '230 isolation transformer' and similar.
Do we do rcd test just on sockets and applied for all the circuits or should we have seperate rd test for each circuits like lighting? If so wouldn't be dangerous to be exposed to live circuits? Thanks H
If there are several RCDs, they all need to be tested. One RCD with several circuits connected only needs to be tested once, it's the RCD being tested not the circuit wiring.
John Ward Thanks John Great help
Hi John, this was a really helpful video. I have a question about rcd blinding. Would a test like this show up a blinding issue? Or how could I test for it? Would I have to directly measure for any pulsating dc currents? I studied to become a domestic installer about 6 years ago now, but only left my previous job recently, so i'm re-studying. I have to do my 18th regs and came across the effects of blinding there, though I can't seem to find much else on it elsewhere. Could you please help clarify
The only real test is whether the RCD trips - testing of RCDs should be done with the installation loaded as in normal use, with equipment switched on, and the testing done at a time of day where the installation is actually being used normally.
Ok thanks John, not a simple push of the test button then! Might be worth doing an extra test at a later time if these conditions aren't met at initial testing?
Very good thanks
Hi John...when testing RCBOs am I correct in assuming that they should be tested in the same way but one at a time? Can they all be connected to line, neutral & earth while testing or should only the RCBO being tested be connected. Thanks in advance.
I've just realised that it would have to be each one separately otherwise you couldn't verify that each one is functioning correctly. You may have guessed that I'm still in training.
Hi jw with the new regs and type a rcds. If installing a socket on a existing circuit for a 13 amp single oven would this need to be type A or dose 531.3.3 mean this is fixed equipment and is okay on ac type still.
Type A is required, as a socket outlet could be used to connect other devices, and most ovens have electronic timers now which can have DC components so are not suitable for Type AC even if they are wired in permanently.
@@jwflame okay jw so even a fused spur would not work on ac type rcd any more needs to be type A. So it would have to something like a cheap gas cooker that just has a spark and nothing else would be okay on type ac. Thats going to please a lot of customers when I start telling them lol
Where shall we write the results in the document Thanks
Thanks!
John what results would you record quickest or slow trip times at 0 and 180 degree
Slowest / longest time.
legend
thank you
can load and line side be confused, will RCD work perfectly fine? can you make what test results will be if load and line sides are opposite.
is it important to connect load side at terminals 2 and N and grid side at terminal 1 and N, or can i connect load side at terminal 1 and N and RCD will work perfectly fine?
Depends on the RCD - it's OK with some, but not others. Check specifications from the manufacturer.
thank you very much
Hi John Love the clips, I'm looking for advice I have a Fluke 1651 MFT from 2007 its never been used and as new, do you think in modern day eicr situations that this tester would be suitable for use and can it perform all tasks required to 18th edition, I'm a mature student 1st year looking for some sound advice - thank you in advance.
Yes, all of the tests it can do are still valid - very little has changed for testing since then. That one was the basic model so doesn't have earth electrode testing or phase sequence.
Hi John, Yes you are right it was the base model at the time of purchase, I did Part P Full scope test with EAL and decided I would carry on with my electrical training but career dictated otherwise, I am now on the long haul C+G 2365 route - but my training is well underway, Thank you for your advice and keep the Clips Coming :)
Thankyou sir
John, earlier today Wednesday 17th April, I intended cutting my grass using my electric mower. However, after plugging in my Masterplug RCD, and testing it as expected, the test light came on initially, went off as expected so I assumed that it was all systems go. Unfortunately, I could not start the mower so could the RCD be past its use by date? Mower works fine when plugged in the mains directly.
Two possibilities - either the RCD plug is defective, or the lawnmower has a fault which is preventing the RCD from switching on. Try some other item like a kettle with the RCD.
@@jwflame Many thanks for your suggestion, I didn't think of doing that!
Hi John, you guys are home to 'Megger' yet the last two English electrical videos I've looked up, you (and the English electrician in the other video) have both been using Fluke! Is there any particular reason for that, like is Megger too expensive, is Fluke a better make? It's that I've just bought myself a Megger MFT 1835 (not being an electrician and all, and not knowing much about testers, but really keen to learn) and seeing you 'English' technicians using Fluke is kinda unnerving! Thanks. Great vids by the way.