Earth leakage problem. Help.

[Derlyn]

👍👍 or use a multimeter and check the reistance whilst pressing the button. 😂😂

[Derlyn]

Confirmed.

Only one way to open an earth leakage and thats with the tool that has a yellow handle







The 5k1 resistor is connected between live on supply and neutral on load side through the pushbutton.

Now it makes sense. Also checked the plug tester introduces a resistor between live and earth. That also explains why the plug tester wouldn't trip the unit neither.

So the diagram that I pulled off the internet, showing the internal wiring of the pushbutton and resistor is not accurate.

Thanks Dave.

At least I don't have to keep on wondering what was happening.

[Hendrik Stoop]

Hello everyone.
I have a problem at my brother house with the earth leakage or a plug socket that trips the earth leakage.

I did test with plug tester to check if plug is faulty like wire whise, but everything is fine. And the earth leakage is rate 20mA. I test with plug tester it trips on 20mA.

After that I did some other tests

The problem is if I swith of the plug socket the earth leakage trips. I thought it was the outside light then I saw it didn't trip. Then I thought maybe it is the washing machine cause the out side light and washing machine is on a multi plug by this one plug. So I unplug the washing machine and after 3 times to switch off the plug without any load or plug in the socket, it still trips if I swith off the plug.

It is definitely not the plug cause I tried another plug. After switching it off, it trips.

Do anyone know what can cause that.

[GCE]

Hello everyone.
I have a problem at my brother house with the earth leakage or a plug socket that trips the earth leakage.

I did test with plug tester to check if plug is faulty like wire whise, but everything is fine. And the earth leakage is rate 20mA. I test with plug tester it trips on 20mA.

After that I did some other tests

The problem is if I swith of the plug socket the earth leakage trips. I thought it was the outside light then I saw it didn't trip. Then I thought maybe it is the washing machine cause the out side light and washing machine is on a multi plug by this one plug. So I unplug the washing machine and after 3 times to switch off the plug without any load or plug in the socket, it still trips if I swith off the plug.

It is definitely not the plug cause I tried another plug. After switching it off, it trips.

Do anyone know what can cause that.

I would put it down to a loose neutral/swopped neutral and live somewhere in the circuit - Can think of no definite answer for my logic just a gut feel.

[Derlyn]

I would change the earth leakage relay.

The fact that it's rated at 20mA tells a story. It's probably a Heinemann and on it's way out in any case.

Those units also tend to trip when the power comes back on after loadshedding.

Personally, I would first replace the unit with one rated at 30mA and if the problem persists then start looking for a fault.

Turning a socket outlet on and off without anything plugged into it should not affect the earth leakage relay at all.

Good luck.

[Justloadit]

Turning a socket outlet on and off without anything plugged into it should not affect the earth leakage relay at all.

If there is nothing connected and this specific plug trips the ELU, then there could be some carbon floating around in the switch housing where the wires are connected which could affect the plug. Had a problem years ago on an old style thermal overload on a contactor, don't know how but there was a high impedance between the live and the plate causing the ELU to trip. Could only attribute it to dust/carbon/humidity what ever, once replaced it the tripping went away. Could not measure it with a high impedance ohm meter.

[Derlyn]

@Justloadit

The poster says it happens on multiple socket outlets so it doesn't seem as if the fault is on the socket outlet.

[Derlyn]

Does anyone know if Hendrik Stoop found his earth leakage tripping problem and what caused it ?

It is always lekker to hear what the problem was so that it can be stored in one's memory bank for future reference.