Power trips when load-shedding ends

capd

capd

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Most of the time after load-shedding when power comes back on, it trips. Just the main breaker.

Also, quite often when plugging in computers and laptops, the power trips. Also the main breaker.

No issues otherwise.

Do you think the main breaker should be replaced? Older house and mains board. Or something else on the electrical circuits causing this?
 
The main breaker is it a circuit breaker or an earth leakage? If it's a circuit breaker it could be that you are drawing too much electricity when everything comes on but then the plug circuit breaker should catch it first instead of the higher rated main circuit breaker. If it's an earth leakage you might have to split your plugs with another earth leakage. Best to have it tested by an electrician.
 
krieg said:
The main breaker is it a circuit breaker or an earth leakage? If it's a circuit breaker it could be that you are drawing too much electricity when everything comes on but then the plug circuit breaker should catch it first instead of the higher rated main circuit breaker. If it's an earth leakage you might have to split your plugs with another earth leakage. Best to have it tested by an electrician.
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Not too sure, but it does have an Earth leakage button underneath? Please see pic.

It’s an old house with one plug point per room. Study has two computers plugged in and various laptop chargers. Bedroom has 55” TV and two consoles. Lounge a 65” and 32” TV with one console.

Could these be leading to overloading due to one plug point per room? Even though they’re off when power comes back on?
 

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Drop your geyser breaker when load shedding starts as that one could be causing a surge when council power returns.
 
How many plugs breakers are there ?
Trip all of them after loadsheding hit and bring them up one by one , see if one trips it.
Can you replicate it by switching power of at isolator and on after 10 minutes?
 
thehuman said:
How many plugs breakers are there ?
Trip all of them after loadsheding hit and bring them up one by one , see if one trips it.
Can you replicate it by switching power of at isolator and on after 10 minutes?
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Looks like there are five plug breakers. I think I’ve tried switching them off and then on again and they don’t cause the main breaker to trip.

Seems to only happen most of the time after load-shedding ends and power comes back on. Or most of the time when plugging in computers and laptop chargers... It’s temperamental in sometimes it doesn’t trip.

What’s the power isolator? The main breaker?

Please see pic.
 

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I spoke to an electrician friend end of 2019 about this and without too much investigation (which I’m hoping for in this thread – thanks guys!) he reckoned the main breaker could be faulty? So I bought the below breaker and adapter. Still haven’t fitted them. Maybe I should? Or do you think the problem lies elsewhere?
 

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If it’s the earth leakage it’s most likely just in need of replacement. They last a long time but yours is probably many decades old. An electrician is recommended. Sometimes Eskom in load shedding returns power undervolted which results in an increase in current to compensate which could also be a factor.
 
quovadis said:
If it’s the earth leakage it’s most likely just in need of replacement. They last a long time but yours is probably many decades old. An electrician is recommended. Sometimes Eskom in load shedding returns power undervolted which results in an increase in current to compensate which could also be a factor.
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Thanks. Must be at least 50 - 70 years old. Do you think the above one I bought is the one to go for? To replace the earth leakage breaker in post #3?

This one – https://www.builders.co.za/Electric...e-No-Overload-Protection/p/000000000000631985.

Will ask my electrician friend to guide me but he did say before that these are pretty much plug and play. Would prefer to learn something and save on the call out.
 
A thing to remember for these Google /MMBtricians.....electricity as a large cause of domestic fires, and you pay an electrician for both their knowledge and integrity.....doing it right!
If you fit incorrectly or badly it can cause a fire....your insurance may repudiate your claim!
Cheap can be very expensive!
Ps. I'm not an electrician..some things are simple to do BUT must be done properly!!
 
D tj said:
A thing to remember for these Google /MMBtricians.....electricity as a large cause of domestic fires, and you pay an electrician for both their knowledge and integrity.....doing it right!
If you fit incorrectly or badly it can cause a fire....your insurance may repudiate your claim!
Cheap can be very expensive!
Ps. I'm not an electrician..some things are simple to do BUT must be done properly!!
Click to expand...
100% correct
 
capd said:
I spoke to an electrician friend end of 2019 about this and without too much investigation (which I’m hoping for in this thread – thanks guys!) he reckoned the main breaker could be faulty? So I bought the below breaker and adapter. Still haven’t fitted them. Maybe I should? Or do you think the problem lies elsewhere?
Click to expand...
This should do the trick
 
capd said:
Thanks. Must be at least 50 - 70 years old. Do you think the above one I bought is the one to go for? To replace the earth leakage breaker in post #3?

This one – https://www.builders.co.za/Electrical/Circuit-Breakers-&-DB-Bords/Circuit-Breakers/CBI-QA17C63BP-Earth-Leakage-No-Overload-Protection/p/000000000000631985.

Will ask my electrician friend to guide me but he did say before that these are pretty much plug and play. Would prefer to learn something and save on the call out.
Click to expand...
If it were me and it was retrofitting an old installation I would be hesitant to do a simple swap. Buy your electrician friend a case of beer or lunch and ask him to come round to have a look and perhaps swap it out for you. For all you know you might have a wiring issue you're unaware of.
 
The photos are a bit indistinct to tell what all those breakers etc are doing. Maybe you could list them for us from left to right?

You say the problem existed before the replacement geyser was installed. Did the replacement involve any electrical work in the DB?

The DB seems to indicate a split between some items not on the ELCB and others on? In that case, the issue could simply be a neutral wire on the wrong neutral strip.

Next would be a loose neutral connection somewhere. The extra arcing when power returns will enough to trip the ELCB. Some CBs have been replaced in the past and it is quite possible thta there is a loose connection somewhere.

Age is NOT an indication of a faulty breaker. If I were you ( seeing you want to also improve your knowledge of these things), will be to purchase a simple earth leakage test unit with a dial on it calibrated in mA. Plug into any wall socket and crank the dial and find out at what level the EL trips. If the value matches that quoted on the old ELCB, it is not faulty.

As there does not seem to be a separate isolator available to cut power to the DB, you will have to work on a "live" DB which is hazardous even for those with experience and not worth the risk for someone not having done it before.

The unit you have purchased as a replacement is one of the correct ones and is easy to replace provided you have a facility somewhere to cut incoming power. Are you able to switch off the power incoming at the meter maybe?
 
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