4 ways to test the performance of an RCD
Method number 1 - TEST button
The easiest way to check the RCD for self-operation is by using the TEST button ("T") installed on the front panel, as shown in the photo below. In this case, you just need to press the button with your finger, as a result of which the simulation will occur leakage current and protection should work.
If the shutdown did not occur after pressing the tester, this indicates the following:
- You may have completed the connection incorrectly, which is what the test result showed. In this case, we recommend that you read the instructions for connecting a residual current device do it yourself.
- Button does not work. It sometimes happens that the RCD itself works, and the simulation of the leakage current is faulty. In this case, even with the correct connection during the test, a false alarm will not occur. You will need to check the protection yourself using one of the alternative methods that we described below.
- Automation is defective. Again, it will be possible to verify a working RCD or not only after yet another, more complex check.
Method number 2 - Battery
The second and no less simple method of checking the RCD for operation is using a conventional finger-type battery. In this case, even an electric kettle can check the operability. In addition, it will be possible to determine whether the protective shutdown device is still operational in the store when purchasing RCDs.
So, you can independently verify the operation of the product as follows:
- Connect a wire with a length of at least 10 cm to one of the poles of the protective automation.
- Bring a finger-type battery to two wires: you connected the first, and the second, as a rule, is installed at the bottom from the factory.
When the conductors touch the plus and minus, an RCD should be triggered. If the lever does not work, turn the battery over and perform the test again. In the event that the residual current circuit breaker is serviceable, it must knock out the lever, which will indicate that the automation is working. You can see in more detail how to check the operation of the protection device using a battery, you can in this video example:
Method number 3 - a light bulb
If there is no battery at hand or you are just curious about other verification methods, we recommend checking the operation of the RCD using pilot lamp. To get started, prepare an electric wire, a 10 W bulb, a cartridge, resistors, a screwdriver, and electrical tape. May also need wire stripping tool.
Particular attention should be paid to the bulb and resistors, as they must have suitable characteristics. Most often, an RCD for a house and an apartment is designed to operate at a leakage current of 30 mA. To get such a leak, you need to assemble a circuit with a lamp, the total resistance of which will be 7.7 kOhm. Where did we get that value? Everything is very simple. According to material from school physics, resistance is calculated as voltage divided by current. We have 30 mA current, voltage - 220 Volts, total: 220 / 0.03 - 7700 Ohms. Not sure where to get such resistance to test? There is also nothing complicated. As a rule, a 10 W bulb has a resistance of 5350 Ohms, and a resistor can be bought with a suitable value in any store for a ham radio (we need 2.35 kOhm). We draw your attention to the fact that the power of the resistor must correspond to the power of the bulb, otherwise the test will fail. When all the elements of the circuit are prepared, you need to collect them sequentially and check the operation of the RCD with a light bulb according to the following procedure. Insert one end of the wire into the phase of the outlet (it must be determined in advance with an indicator screwdriver), and the second touch the ground terminal in the same outlet. If the residual current device is operational, it must knock out.
We draw your attention to the fact that this test procedure is suitable only if you have grounding in the house or apartment. Check the RCD with a light bulb, if there is no grounding it is possible, but not through an outlet. In this case, it is necessary to insert one end of the wire onto the zero input terminal (top, N) on the input panel where the automation is installed, and insert the second end of the wire into the phase output terminal (bottom, L). If the protection is OK, a trip should occur during a function test without grounding.
Method number 4 - Instrument
Well, the last of the methods that allows you to safely check the RCD for operation at home using a special tester - an ammeter or multimeter.
In this case, in addition to the device, you will need the following components of the circuit:
- 10 W bulb;
- rheostat;
- resistor, resistance 2 kOhm;
- wires.
A rheostat is needed in order to change the value of the leakage current. If there is no rheostat at hand, you can take Dimmer, adjusting the brightness of the lighting in the room, which has a similar principle of operation and is suitable for testing!
You need to assemble a serial circuit as follows: multimeter-bulb-resistor-rheostat. A free probe from the multimeter must be connected to the input of zero in the RCD, and a free wire from the rheostat to the phase output. As a result, you can check the operation of the RCD by smoothly turning the rheostat regulator in the direction of increasing leakage current. A multimeter or an ammeter will allow you to fix at what value of the leakage current the residual current device trips. You can clearly see the procedure for checking protective automation with a device and a light bulb in this video example:
So we have provided all the simplest and safest ways to test the operation of the current leakage protection device. We draw your attention to the fact that determining the performance of a product on a person, that is, for example, touching a water heater with a finger from which it beats a little, is strictly prohibited by the rules of the PUE. In no case do not use the advice of unfortunate electricians, who recommend that you check the RCD on the forums for a trip by touching the body of the faulty appliance with your hand.If automation doesn’t work, it could cost you your life!
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