EARTH LEAKAGE

[Roger HarveyParticipant @rogerharvey92595]

Every so often when I switch of my shaper, via the No-volt push button starter, the earth leakage trips. Today in addition to the trip in the workshop the one in the house goes off as well. Any suggestions?

Wychwar

[Roger HarveyParticipant @rogerharvey92595]

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Hi Roger

You say earth leakage trips, that indicates to me it is an old installation that operates with a voltage to earth.

Could it be though you have current operated trips which operate on an imbalance of current in the live and neutral conductors, common term for this type is RCCB.

Emgee

[Norfolk BoyParticipant @norfolkboy]

Hi Roger,

Is the Shaper motor 240V single phase or 3 phase and fed by a VFD?

Whilst awaiting that answer:- when a ELCB trips it is because there is an imbalance between the Live and Neutral and the difference is leaking to earth (hopefully) and in your case an outbuilding you should have a 25mA ELCB (or RCCD) I have no doubt there will be plenty of discussion around terminology. Has your workshop got an exported earth from the house or are you relying a local earth spike? The reason your house is tripping as well is that someone has probably wired the feed to your workshop from the 25 mA ELCB in the house and so when the leakage is in excess of 25 mA they will both trip. At one point your shaper may have been leaking say 24mA and throwing the worshop trip which may be a little more sensitive than the house. Now the leakage could be greater so throwing both out. Not often mentioned but it is sensible in the house to have a seperate 100mA ELCB just to protect the cable to the workshop and not be subject to nuisance tripping.

The trip in the workshop could also be going faulty as when they start to fail they will lean towards higher sensitivity for obvious reasons. Is your feed to the workshop under rated and long, so increasing the volt drop on start up which gives heavy current draw, and poor start up conditions for the motor. What happens if you use a seperate heavy duty extension lead direct from the house?

Alan

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

"Earth Leakage" That explains the problem in Australia with our rivers drying up

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