Overload Trip

[Oddjober]

When we use our shower and the sewage pump also cuts in, the RCCB trips after a few minutes.Do I need a new overload trip RCCB. or one with higher amps than the 63A I have now

[Jay70]

You need to find out the current used by the devices connected to the RCD from the manufatures specs. You will normally find a Info label on the devices which will tell you the power consumption in Watts. From this you can find out the current consumption in Amps. This will be Power (in Watts) divided by Volts. The total current will be the sum of the current used by the loads. This will give you the normall operating current for that circuit.

[Catso]

If you have an electric shower (IE electrically heated) it is a distinct possibility. Follow Jay70's advice, and work out the actual current requirement.

[vauny]

The RCCB usually trips out when an earth leakage fault occurs.
The shower and sewage pumps should be protected by different fuses/ circuit breakers which protect for an overload current.
Sometimes you could get a slight leakage on one circuit - not enough to trip out the RCCB - then ,when you turn on a large currrent using device i.e. shower, cooker, the RCCD will trip out.
I'd get someone to test the circuits before buying new equipment.

[tony1941]

Vauny is dead right!
The RCCB will trip if you have an overall earth leakage current of 30 milliamps. Each of the two circuits may have, say 20 mA (milliamps) leakage, and combined they will cause a trip to occur. Although theroetically "safe" at this level, any significant earth leakage current should be investigated and rectified. Both of the circuits you mention involve water, but I would suspect the sewage pump as the main contributor as it is less likely to be kept clean and dry. Please do have it checked by a qualified tester for earth leakage.

[Catso]

I leapt to the assumption is was an RCBO, as he'd mentioned current. I see from re-reading it is an RCCB.

Preceeding 2 posts are right, oddjobber, your problem is much more likely leakage current than load current.

[Oddjober]

Thank's to all of you Bright Sparks who answered my Question,I have now found it was a 16A cable connector to the sewage pump that had let water in.Thank's again.Oddjober