Electricity mains tripping when power returns after loadshedding

[Ecco]

Hi good folk,

Please can you help regarding what to do to resolve issue of the mains tripping when loadshedding ends. We are travelling away for a week shortly and biggest concern is our chest freezer and food spoiling because the mains trips and electricity remains off for a whole week.

Trouble is this is not a regular occurrence, i.e. it does not happen every time loadshedding ends. Its very random but has been happening enough to warrant concern. Pattern wise i think its typically when loadshedding ends in the evening that i find this happens the most.

What are some of the things i can do to resolve this issue?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Naks]

I had a similar situation after we added solar to the house, turned out that the earth leakage breaker was defective. We replaced that, and all was good - not a single trip since then.

I'd start there?

 

[rodga]

https://powerforum.co.za/topic/10601-earth-leakage-trips-everytime-loadsheeding-ends/

My solution to this problem.

 

[Ecco]

Maybe a shot in the dark as to why it typically happens at night - we have 3 aircons and those are on at night? Could be a culprit? Dont think this solves the problem but maybe sheds light on the root cause?

 

[Ecco]

https://powerforum.co.za/topic/10601-earth-leakage-trips-everytime-loadsheeding-ends/

My solution to this problem.

So you went with the clearline trip connect unit - bought yourself and sparky installed?

 

[PsyWulf]

I'd hazard a guess it's probably earth leakage having a fit from the sudden load. Are your aircons DB connected or plug connected?

 

[chrisc]

It is only caused by an imbalance between outgoing and incoming current

1 - Make sure only plugs are connected
2 - Check anything outdoors for fidelity of plugs and connections
3 - Unplug everything not immediately required
4 - Check the plugs and sockets of fridge and freezer
5 - Check the connections to the fridge and freezer compressor
5 - Blow out the compressor motors

A megger will detect any compromised insulation. Replacing the e/l relay is useful, but not a fix

 

[Ecco]

I'd hazard a guess it's probably earth leakage having a fit from the sudden load. Are your aircons DB connected or plug connected?

Plug connected

 

[B-1]

How many geysers, fridge/freezers, pumps do you have? And you said mains not earth leakage right? Im assuming a 63 amp breaker?

 

[PsyWulf]

Plug connected

You can use a loadshedding-type plug like these https://www.takealot.com/loadguard-power-down-protection-plug/PLID72795488 to delay your devices powering on post-loadshed
Connect to anything you think might be causing a rush like Fridge/Freezer/Aircon and see

And you said mains not earth leakage right?

Lots of people confuse the two,while not impossible for mains to trip it's less likely

 

[Ecco]

How many geysers, fridge/freezers, pumps do you have? And you said mains not earth leakage right?

I dont even know the difference between earth leakage vs mains. The two green switches are down, have to pull then full down and then up to get things going.

Have 1 fridge freezer combo, 1 chest freezer. Pumps? Pool pump - but its off at night. 2 Geysers.

 

[Speedster]

I dont even know the difference between earth leakage vs mains. The two green switches are down, have to pull then full down and then up to get things going.

Have 1 fridge freezer combo, 1 chest freezer. Pumps? Pool pump - but its off at night. 2 Geysers.

Perhaps post a pic of the switch that trips. There's a significant difference between why a mains switch and earth leakage would trip.

 

[B-1]

I dont even know the difference between earth leakage vs mains. The two green switches are down, have to pull then full down and then up to get things going.

Have 1 fridge freezer combo, 1 chest freezer. Pumps? Pool pump - but its off at night. 2 Geysers.

If you are running all those on a 63 amp breaker/earth leakage its also too much.
As a rough guess the startup currents are:

2x Fridge/freezer @ 10amps each
3x Air con @ 10amps each
2x geyser @ 17amps each

That's possibly 84amps already depending on the type and size so definitely a problem if you are on a 63a breaker.


But get us a pic like requested above and we will have more info to go on.

 

[Ecco]

Perhaps post a pic of the switch that trips. There's a significant difference between why a mains switch and earth leakage would trip.

Cool. At work now, will take a pic later

 

[Ecco]

Pic as requested...it's the earth leakage that's tripping...those two green ones in the middle

 

[PsyWulf]

Pic as requested...it's the earth leakage that's tripping...those two green ones in the middle

View attachment 1402935

Nicely wired
Wonder if Left side is Off-leakage and Right On-leakage?

 

[Ecco]

View attachment 1402937
Nicely wired
Wonder if Left side is Off-leakage and Right On-leakage?

I cannot answer that question lol, have no idea....as you could see from my previous post - I completely clueless, didnt know difference between earth leakage vs mains

 

[Jam Sandwich]

I had a similar situation after we added solar to the house, turned out that the earth leakage breaker was defective. We replaced that, and all was good - not a single trip since then.

I'd start there?

I would say the EL or there are issues with the fridge/freezer when it starts up?
I have a unit that occasionally trips if we have lightning strikes near by!

 

[Ecco]

Fridge freezer combo and chest freezer are relatively new - max 2 years old.

 

[neoprema]

We had it also after our solar and 3 phase inverter system was installed. The main earth leakage feeding from Eskom into the Inverter would trip on the DB board sometimes when Eskom came back. I mentioned it to the installers and they did something on the inverter side and it stopped happeing. Not sure what it was.