ditchcrawler Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 2 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: Deffo tripped. Did it last week so I reset it and did it today, weird innitt But it probably wont trip tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 1 minute ago, ditchcrawler said: Replacing a 13 amp fuse in a plugtop with a piece of nail will work,but its not safe We used to call such fuses "clog irons." Another favourite was a straightened paper clip in an old rewirable fuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 If it can trip on its own, but doesn't have a test /trip button, then it is an MCB ie a fuse. If you have replaced it with a 100A version then you have effectively replaced the 13A fuse in the plug with a large rusty nail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 2 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: Deffo tripped. Did it last week so I reset it and did it today, weird innitt But it probably wont trip tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 (edited) does that look better - it will handle the extra and not kill anyone you have an Edmunds Electrical in Burton, they will stock them. Edited January 9, 2018 by matty40s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted January 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Right so I have been intut cupboard. After this switch there are two consumer units with 3 sperate thingies that say mcb on one says ringmain one says washing machine and one says inverter so it seems I have rcbs anyway. This deffo tripped and I think as Nick says as I thought I have just replaced with a 100 amp fuse which I will er replace with a smaller one 17 minutes ago, matty40s said: does that look better - it will handle the extra and not kill anyone you have an Edmunds Electrical in Burton, they will stock them. It aint one of those but I will go to Edmunsthingys it was just a quick fix from Wickes today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewIC Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 It's worth noting that RCDs, despite being marked e.g. 32A, do not usually provide any over-current protection. You need to provide that separately. RCBOs, usually half the width and with a flying lead neutral connection, can provide both over-current protection and residual current protection, but are usually only single pole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathanA Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Some not entirely accurate replies on this thread... if the original device has no test button and tripped due to over enthusiastic use of electric then it is simply a double pole MCB and you should replace it with one of the same rating. Eg 16A. If all The other circuit breakers have a test or trip button on them they could be combined overload/rcd breakers. In which case your wickes jobbie is doing what’s is supposed to do and is how you isolate everything downstream. It is not a fuse or trip. The 100A refers to its Current carrying capacity nothing more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batavia Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 Another point to note is that a 2 pole 100 Amp MCB would almost certainly be 3 modules wide, rather than 2 - I am not aware of any major supplier who makes a 2 pole, 2 module wide MCB rated at more than 63 Amps. Chris G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted January 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 10 hours ago, jonathanA said: Some not entirely accurate replies on this thread... if the original device has no test button and tripped due to over enthusiastic use of electric then it is simply a double pole MCB and you should replace it with one of the same rating. Eg 16A. If all The other circuit breakers have a test or trip button on them they could be combined overload/rcd breakers. In which case your wickes jobbie is doing what’s is supposed to do and is how you isolate everything downstream. It is not a fuse or trip. The 100A refers to its Current carrying capacity nothing more. Thanks again. Having looked at the setup I think its not an mcb as downstream there is one for everything. Thing is how could it switch itself off? Could it have just been faulty that made it switch off? It physicaly works on off and snaps into on/off positions but its certainly creamed as no current passes through it. I am going to show it to some leccy bloke but I think its as you say just the current it can carry and the safety stuff is all in order anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 Just now, mrsmelly said: Thing is how could it switch itself off? Could be the hand of God again. Your open forum disbelief of his omnipotentcy will cause numerous inexplicable events over the coming weeks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 11 hours ago, jonathanA said: Some not entirely accurate replies on this thread... if the original device has no test button and tripped due to over enthusiastic use of electric then it is simply a double pole MCB and you should replace it with one of the same rating. Eg 16A. If all The other circuit breakers have a test or trip button on them they could be combined overload/rcd breakers. In which case your wickes jobbie is doing what’s is supposed to do and is how you isolate everything downstream. It is not a fuse or trip. The 100A refers to its Current carrying capacity nothing more. Yes, but mrsmelly insists what he removed "tripped", but what has gone back clearly does not have that capability - it's just a switch. So if what failed really did trip, what is there is now is definitely not equivalent to what was there before. If all the other breakers really are combined overload / RCD breakers, (which I rather doubt), why would it have been felt correct to put them in series with something else that was also some kind of trip? I suppose it is just possible it was a current trip intended to limit the total draw on the land-line to less than the combined rating of all the other overload breakers in series with it? If he has replaced something that actually tripped before anything else did, it was clearly offering some protection that he no longer has, and it should not now be deemed unnecessary without being absolutely sure it was. As I said, pictures would no doubt establish the truth of the situation, but it seems that we are not going to get those, so my answers have been made assuming what we have been told is fully accurate. If it isn't then all bets are off in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesFrance Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 I would think the reason for fitting a 16 amp trip switch is simply so as not to trip the pontoon supply, which is what will happen next time mrssmelly uses everything at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 23 minutes ago, JamesFrance said: I would think the reason for fitting a 16 amp trip switch is simply so as not to trip the pontoon supply, which is what will happen next time mrssmelly uses everything at once. Hopefully that will not be in a locked box so that he can't quickly reset it then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted January 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 2 hours ago, alan_fincher said: Hopefully that will not be in a locked box so that he can't quickly reset it then! Its not ive checked. I have removed swmbo electric kettle so thats 3kw she hasnt got to play with. We only ever bring it out of the cupboard when plugged in ocasionaly so just using gas one as usual anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 4 hours ago, alan_fincher said: Hopefully that will not be in a locked box so that he can't quickly reset it then! Au contraire, hopefully it IS in a locked cupboard so he can't re-set it and continue to over stress the shoreline and/or electricity bollard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake_crew Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 As Ditchcrawler says - get a professional ! Also try to persuade you friend that living on a boat is not like a house - even if you are on shore power. As has been suggested, you can only use one high current item at a time - ie kettle, toaster or microwave. Even hair dryers and hoovers can be powerful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted January 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 17 minutes ago, jake_crew said: As Ditchcrawler says - get a professional ! Also try to persuade you friend that living on a boat is not like a house - even if you are on shore power. As has been suggested, you can only use one high current item at a time - ie kettle, toaster or microwave. Even hair dryers and hoovers can be powerful. She hasnt got used to it yet, its only her 28th winter praps when more experienced at it will get it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 2 hours ago, mrsmelly said: Its not ive checked. I have removed swmbo electric kettle so thats 3kw she hasnt got to play with. We only ever bring it out of the cupboard when plugged in ocasionaly so just using gas one as usual anyway. You can pick up cheap 1800w electric kettles, nearly half the 3kw one you say you have, sure its not 2200w?, for £4.99p at several places, like Tesco, Curry's and possibly Argos ect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted January 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 1 minute ago, bizzard said: You can pick up cheap 1800w electric kettles, nearly half the 3kw one you say you have, sure its not 2200w?, for £4.99p at several places, like Tesco, Curry's and possibly Argos ect. Hi Biz Its 3kw .......she liked the colour In fairness she didnt know all the crap was on at once. We are nearly always off grid and she is very good but because we are pretend boaters on a hook up for the winter she got a tad carried away methinks. I had a quick tot up in my head and we had about 7kw draw minimum at the time so its not realy suprising something got a bit miffed Strange innitt we never go anywhere near our max capabilities when out and about off grid but we must have dropped our guard so to speak whimping it out here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 9 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: Hi Biz Its 3kw .......she liked the colour In fairness she didnt know all the crap was on at once. We are nearly always off grid and she is very good but because we are pretend boaters on a hook up for the winter she got a tad carried away methinks. I had a quick tot up in my head and we had about 7kw draw minimum at the time so its not realy suprising something got a bit miffed Strange innitt we never go anywhere near our max capabilities when out and about off grid but we must have dropped our guard so to speak whimping it out here. Well, yes, the cheap £4.99 kettles come in any colour as long as its brilliant white only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PD1964 Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Mike the Boilerman said: Au contraire, hopefully it IS in a locked cupboard so he can't re-set it and continue to over stress the shoreline and/or electricity bollard. Strange that the OP hasn't had the sense to realise he is overloading something with his electrical use, he may be able to reset his individual bollard before blowing everyone's, I doubt he would be very popular if he was to blow the main board supplying all the bollards, far easier just to use the gas to boil a kettle or switch something off. Edited January 10, 2018 by PD1964 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted January 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 5 minutes ago, PD1964 said: Strange that the OP hasn't had the sense to realise he is overloading something with his electrical use, he may be able to reset his individual bollard before blowing everyone's, I doubt he would be very popular if he was to blow the main board supplying all the bollards, far easier just to use the gas to boil a kettle or switch something off. Probably cos hes very inexperienced not been living aboard very long may be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PD1964 Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 2 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: Probably cos hes very inexperienced not been living aboard very long may be? Tell the truth your opening posts and consequent posts gives that impression, reads like something that should be in "New to Boating" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted January 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 2 minutes ago, PD1964 said: Tell the truth your opening posts and consequent posts gives that impression, reads like something that should be in "New to Boating" I just asked a genuine question. I am not an electrician so just what an mcb, rcb, even jcb I am not sure of. Well a jcb is a tractor thingy in all honesty. The missus didnt know what exactly was switched on. it happens. no one died. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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