Can any electrician out there tell me why one of the groups of lecky in my house dies everytime there's a lightning storm?
I have about 13 groups of electricity, and the same one blows everytime there's lightning.
The problem is - it's the ring that the new server is going on for BM so needs to be online 24/7, i can't risk it going off.
Any ideas what, if anything, i can do?
Hmmm *sucks air through teeth*
Sounds like your waffle sprocket is out of skew with the main regulator widget!
It'll cost you, alright!
ps. Sorry Matt, haven't got a clue about electrics
A decent UPS (uniterruptable power supply) if you've not got one will suport the server for (say) 15 minutes, and throw an alarm. The site will stay up, wake you up, you can flick the circuit back on, and we stay happy
Rick - not an option because the whole office at the back of the house is on this ring. Also on it is the fridge, freezer, microwave and half of the lights in the house. It's only ever this one group that trips, and all i have to do is flick the fuse back over - but its something you dont want when the server is running on it.
How can I wire the office up to a different group?
Bandit, I'm indeed getting a UPS in 2 weeks. It will support the server, NAS and networking kit for 1.5 hours. There's still a good chance I wont be here though - like if I'm on holiday back in the UK, so I need a fix not a workaround if possible.
Thanks
Depends on the wiring layout of your house, and definitely not a DIY job. In the UK would probably be illegal anyway unless done by an appropriately registered and qualified electrician - I presume Holland has something similar. Still doesn't get you to the bottom of the problem. If you've got incandescent bulbs (remember them?) they often trip the circuit breaker when they fail, so it might be worth checking that one out. Sounds to me as if you really need the server on a ring of its own but again that's not a DIY job, see above.
theres no appliances tripping it.
Happened so many times last year and did it again last night. We get a lot of thunderstorms in the evenings here.
Nothing was running on that group/ring except for the fridge and freezer. No lights etc were on (They're all halogen in my house anyhow). I saw a big flash outside, followed instantly by a click and then heard thunder. The TV remained on, but I knew the office would have cut off - so I went to check and I was right.
I've emailed the electricity supplier now, and will get Laura to phone if necessary
You could have a particularly sensitive MCB, that's the switch unit you turn back on, try getting a sparky to swap it over to a different one in your consumer unit that doesn't trip. Alternatively you can change it for a different category one, I think class A is fastest reacting and class D is the slowest, normally class C are used, so D is slower (what you want). Failing all that, the problem is caused by capacitance on that line, thats what causes the current surge when theres a sudden spike. Appliances like microwaves, computer PSU's have mains filters that add capacitance to the line, try plugging likely appliances into a different circuit if you can (offload it) or unplug things when not in use. IE. If your off on hols, no need to leave the microwave plugged in, hope that helps.
the things plugged in have no alternative group. When that one ring goes off, ive noted what it takes with it. The fridge, microwave etc all all built into the kitchen and i cant even see where they're wired in (Somewhere behind them in the units).
The office had everything plugged in but nothing turned on.
Basically - the load was tiny (just the clock on the microwave and the fridge-freezer) when it tripped last night. I don't think it's an overload issue.
It's also only when theres lightning - i can guarentee it will trip the instant theres a flash. How can lightning outside affect this one group everytime?
I knew I was right with what UPS stood for Mr P! What would Steve's advice be?
Sorry Matt, hope the eleccy bods can shed some light on it...do you know if it happens to your neighbours? Could it be some sort of earthing issue?
if it helps, it's number 19 that keeps failing...
http://www.bikermatch.co.uk/IMG_2868.JPGhttp://www.bikermatch.co.uk/IMG_2869.JPGhttp://www.bikermatch.co.uk/IMG_2871.JPG
What you have there is an RCD (residual current device) or earth trip breaker as its commonly called, sensitive little buggers. By the looks of it, its a 30mA, I know you can get 100mA ones but I'm not sure where the regulations allow them to be fitted, it may just be for industrial applications. Changing it wouldn't necessarily cure the problem, but its always a possibility to try, if regulations allow. Failing that, couldnt you plug the server on a long extention lead, to another circuit, when ya go on hols?
Off for the bank hols now, back on Tues, its party time, .
TRy to get an electrician to check the earth leakage on that circuit , sounds like you may have a current leakage through the insulation . one possible cause is if you have steel back boxes fitted on/in the walls.(when there is a local lightning strike current passes through the ground and into your earth circuit and will trip your rcd) Replacing the rcd trip MAY solve the problem - time delay rcd's are available - they require a longer fault time , the standard reaction time is around 30 ms (0.03 second) . I would recommend using an electrician. hope this helps
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