Help! - earth leak while roasting

[Thundergod]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

I dont like my chances of finding a megga (?) to check with.

Elimination may take a while.
As I have two other HGs, I suppose I should go back to the Ryobi for a start.
My old cooler also still works.
They are my main two suspects: HG and cooler.

Thanks again for the input.

[A_M]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

I dont like my chances of finding a megga (?) to check with.

Elimination may take a while.
As I have two other HGs, I suppose I should go back to the Ryobi for a start.
My old cooler also still works.
They are my main two suspects: HG and cooler.

Thanks again for the input.

Can be hired from places such as Tech rentals is they still exist...

I will ask at work to see if we have any of the old ones around... My one died a few years ago... Never replaced as have access when I need..

However if I can borrow one for a week or two... I will post - registered.. Would expect that you would return the same..

PM sent with my work e-mail..

Mark

[jaclarkaus]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

Some of that was very amusing................


Ive been out all day so have only just found time to pen some more thoughts.

@ jaclarkaus
I was thinking along those lines.
I already suspected the dryer.
Having interrogated the wife about what she remembers (being in the house at the time), she said that the washing machine and dishwasher were not on and she did not touch any appliances.

So, when it tripped, anything that was on was already on and no electrical appliances were handled.

In my case, outside, I cant say for sure if I might have touched the gun for a height adjustment, but the body is all plastic so it shouldnt be it for that reason.

@ AngerManagement
I recently bought two new Aldi HGs because they are cheap and my gun stand was designed with the Aldi gun in mind.

I could either use the Ryobi or the 2nd Aldi gun if need be.
-----------
So back to the wifes info.....if nothing was turned on or touched in the house, why would the ELCB decide to trip (unless its the fridge)?

RCD devices compare the current going into the system along the active line and coming back through the neutral. Neutral is just a selective earth, and current can travel in to the system and out to earth - hence the problem.

The device definately does not have to be turned on, and can also trip if the leak is from the neutral to earth, as some current will go there (even from other devices on the same circuit) without making it back to the switchboard. If the device is turned on there are more opportunities to leak, but the problem could be in the wiring, the socket, plug, lead, etc. not to mention that some device are in standby not off. You definately do not need to touch a device to set the RCD off.

The ONLY way to exclude a device is unplug it.

That being said, if the only time it trips is making coffee, thats where Id start. If thats not the case, washing machines, dishwashers, fridges are leading candidates.

A little caution with MEGA devices, they work by creating very high voltage at little current, but can screw devices like UPSs. Normal redisdential devices are fine

[A_M]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

TG check your PM...

Have a megga ready to travel if you need...

[grimsby]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

Just a thought TG, but do you have an A/C unit which may have cut in during your roast?
Excess current draw can trip a RCD, and this could be caused by some piece of equipment starting up during your roast and causing excess current draw.
I have a compressor in my shed which occassionally trips the RCD on startup as compressor motors draw large currents on start up.
I make sure that it is turned off when Im roasting.

Alan

[A_M]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

Just a thought TG, but do you have an A/C unit which may have cut in during your roast?
Excess current draw can trip a RCD, and this could be caused by some piece of equipment starting up during your roast and causing excess current draw.
I have a compressor in my shed which occassionally trips the RCD on startup as compressor motors draw large currents on start up.
I make sure that it is turned off when Im roasting.

Alan

Good point..


Oh and Yea... Did you not say, that your wife did a bit of metal work :-*

Those old stick welders are known to cause a few issue at times ;D

TG we are all hanging out for the fix.... :

I was even tempted to start a Poll to see what get the most votes Vs actual problem and we can drop a few cents on the side to go to Fair Crack ....

[Koffee_Kosmo]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

I was going to also suggest that the Air Con may be the cause if TG has one fitted or a portable unit
The reason I say this is here in QLD a new or appropriate cut out switch must be fitted at the same time as the AC installation
It may be more sensitive

Someone with more knowledge may be able to shed some light on this
But with things electric I did not want to pass on advice as I am not qualified

KK

[Dimal]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

To be honest TG, my personal advice would be to engage the services of a local qualified person and let them identify the problem using their test equipment. At least that way, if he/she does something wrong and causes damage to any other device connected to your installation, then you have recourse for an insurance claim. Unqualified use of high voltage test equipment is NOT to be recommended for someone such as yourself...

My professional opinion as a qualified engineer,

Mal.

[Thundergod]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

Thanks all.
AM the offer is generous but I was apprehensive and Mals advice backs that up.

@ grimsby Im not sure if the Aircon was on at the time.

UPDATE:
I realised I was dangerously low on roasted beans so decided to tempt fate again (with due considerations).

I pulled out the Ryobi to replace the Aldi HG and grabbed a spare bucket, which quickly got a hole drilled in it to take the hose from my shop vac.

The new bucket is a bit bigger than the one the sieve was fitted to but the sieve doesnt go too far down into the bucket before it wedges securely.

All went well i9n the end, BUT.......

I had to also dig out my old hand stirred roasting pot because....

Before I started the roast (Brazil Daterra Sweet Collection) I started the corretto to make sure the greens stirred without catching.
Lo and behold! The ELCB (main one) tripped.

I pulled all the plugs out of the portable ELCB and went and reset the main one.

By my reasoning, as the corretto was the only thing going at the time, and this time not for long, I only plugged the corretto bag in and turned it on again.
After a few seconds it stopped.
Looked like I had a culprit.
When I went to reset the ELCB at the main board I found it hadnt tripped.

Strange. :-?

I figured that my good old corretto had finally spent itself after 61 roasts so proceeded to set up for a manually stirred roast.
Next strange thing was that my pedestal fan wouldnt go.

Checking revealed that the portable ELCB had tripped.
So the corretto was the culprit and this the second time today it had enough wrong with it to trip the portable ELCB by itself.

I might open up the corretto and see if there are any obvious signs of damage.

My problem now is that both spare BMs didnt come with pans and the existing one doesnt fit either. >

[Dimal]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

Gday TG,

Bugger about the BM but at least theres some sunshine over the horizon now. Have you modded the BM at all mate or are all the electrics/electronics still original? If still original and even though you may not use the BMs heating element any longer, if it still in circuit, that would be one of the first things to isolate completely, and then check to see if it still trips the ELCB without it.

Hope its something simple TG,

Mal.

[Thundergod]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

Modd.
Motor directly wired to run.

Strange thing to me is whatever the problem is, it got worse.

[Dimal]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

Modd.
Motor directly wired to run.

Strange thing to me is whatever the problem is, it got worse.

Thats pretty normal TG..... Vibration and tracking to earth from the fault will steadily worsen the nature of the fault until it becomes fatal.

Sad to say it but its most likely a fault in the motor windings or maybe just a connection with the insulation wearing through. The latter would probably be quite easy to fix whereas the former would be a bin job; unless you happen to have a friend whos a motor rewinder.

Cheers mate,
Mal.

[A_M]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

Some of the cheep motors use carbon brushes... As these get worn the dust can conduct, as well as cause all sorts of electrical issues.


As with any electrical fault... they often lead to an accident when people with out the right skills get frustrated and try a home fix...

Electrical Eng,  Electricians and Electronics technicians do get caught on occasions....  But usually when working on their own stuff and in a rush.  Electricity and my wife go hand in hand...  By that I mean that; When familiarity breads contempt...  It usually results in a sharp shock to the sensors,  to make me realize how good I have it. When I treat things with respect...

Besides I am sick of having ECO and cardiac tests after each accident....   Let alone sleeping in teh dog house...  Note: After not advising of my recent purchase and it arrived late Friday... The dog house is looking like a long term accommodation option.  

TG... Bite the bullet and get a sparky in or toss the offending item out..

[Dimal]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

Bite the bullet and get a sparky in or toss the offending item out..

Agree AM,

Mentioned this above but I dont think TG was sure which device was indeed the "offending item" until the problem worsened. Still think the concept of swapping a Kilo of freshly roasted beans for services rendered, will win the heart over of most tradies, if the right approach is taken....
Never hurts to try :

Mal.

[fishinglizard1972]

Re: Help! - earth leak while roasting

I think your ELCB is telling you to bin it