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elcb and borehole pump

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Hello

I have a problem with a newly installed domestic borehole pump. This is to replace the original pump which after 20 years has given up the ghost.

The pump appears to operate satisfactorily except that it trips the consumer unit elcb on starting and only on starting. Resetting the elcb allows the pump to run normally. The time taken to push the elcb switch back up is presumably sufficient for some transient effect to end.


The house wiring is exactly the same as for the original pump, which ran satisfactorily for 20 years.


The installer has carried out all the tests normally conducted on the pump and pump cable (continuity, insulation, running current, etc.) and claims that the pump is not faulty. Yet it trips the elcb on startup.


I will welcome any suggestions for a solution. The installer is a one man firm and is reluctant (to say the least) to change the pump.


Mike Lee
Parents
  • 0
    My money would be on the leakage current from the pump and flex being within acceptable limits, but adding to existing leakage elsewhere in installation and appliances, possibly also a neutral fault somewhere along the circuit.


    I am not surprised the installer isn’t rushing back to change the pump. Given it is connected with a plug and socket I would disconnect the pump and plug it into a Portable Appliance Tester to do an insulation test and a leakage test, though the insulation test can be done with any insulation tester. Then if it gives good test results move on and test the installation with an installation tester.


    Given that if this was a job I was being paid to do I would turn up onsite with over a thousand quids worth of testers and a selection on different RCDs of varying specifications from different manufacturers plus other installation materials, I would be doing a bit more than speculating.


    Post a picture of the consumer unit arrangement and the device that’s tripping, we can speculate a bit more, but only that.  


    Andy Betteridge
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  • 0
    My money would be on the leakage current from the pump and flex being within acceptable limits, but adding to existing leakage elsewhere in installation and appliances, possibly also a neutral fault somewhere along the circuit.


    I am not surprised the installer isn’t rushing back to change the pump. Given it is connected with a plug and socket I would disconnect the pump and plug it into a Portable Appliance Tester to do an insulation test and a leakage test, though the insulation test can be done with any insulation tester. Then if it gives good test results move on and test the installation with an installation tester.


    Given that if this was a job I was being paid to do I would turn up onsite with over a thousand quids worth of testers and a selection on different RCDs of varying specifications from different manufacturers plus other installation materials, I would be doing a bit more than speculating.


    Post a picture of the consumer unit arrangement and the device that’s tripping, we can speculate a bit more, but only that.  


    Andy Betteridge
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