Ring Circuit Tripping

Loftus · 05-25-2007, 01:31 AM

I've just moved into a house, and my three plug in radiators (separate rooms) are tripping a fuse in the consumer unit.

One works fine on it's own. The problem occurs when I have two or three on together and they heat up.

Although the house is 25 years old, it was previously a rental, so had to pass the necessary regulatory tests. The switch fuses in the consumer unit look reasonably new as well.

Before I call in a sparks, is there anything I can do here?

p.s. In Australia

jwhite · 05-25-2007, 07:08 AM

this sounds like a simple case of overload. Too many amps on one circuit.

turn off that circuit and draw yourself a map of what recepticles are no longer working. do this for each circuit in your panel. (cu) plug the heaters into different circuits.

joed · 05-25-2007, 04:40 PM

how many watts are the heaters? What size fuse is on the circuit? Sounds like an overload to me. To many things on one circuit.

Loftus · 05-27-2007, 08:56 PM

Thanks guys. Yes I think it's clearly an overload, becasue I tried them on another circuit at the weekend. This time I got two to work together, but the third tripped the fuse.

Particulars:-

Heaters = 2400 Watts each
House Voltage = 230V
Fuse = 16A

Not sure of the fuse capacity in my last house - but I didn't have this problem there.

So could I not try replacing the 16A fuse with say, a 20A?

jwhite · 05-28-2007, 04:58 PM

I am not sure where you live so I do not know the code on wire size, but DO NOT replace the fuse without making sure that the wire is rated for that fuse size.

since these draw 10.5 amps each I am supprised that you get two to run without tripping a breaker.

I would reccomend running the necessary extra circuits where needed to make this a safe installation.

05-25-2007, 01:31 AM	#1
Loftus Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2	Ring Circuit Tripping I've just moved into a house, and my three plug in radiators (separate rooms) are tripping a fuse in the consumer unit. One works fine on it's own. The problem occurs when I have two or three on together and they heat up. Although the house is 25 years old, it was previously a rental, so had to pass the necessary regulatory tests. The switch fuses in the consumer unit look reasonably new as well. Before I call in a sparks, is there anything I can do here? p.s. In Australia

05-25-2007, 07:08 AM	#2
jwhite Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 682	Ring Circuit Tripping this sounds like a simple case of overload. Too many amps on one circuit. turn off that circuit and draw yourself a map of what recepticles are no longer working. do this for each circuit in your panel. (cu) plug the heaters into different circuits. __________________ Master Electrician

05-25-2007, 04:40 PM	#3
joed Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Welland, Ontario Posts: 6,101	Ring Circuit Tripping how many watts are the heaters? What size fuse is on the circuit? Sounds like an overload to me. To many things on one circuit.

05-27-2007, 08:56 PM	#4
Loftus Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2	Ring Circuit Tripping Thanks guys. Yes I think it's clearly an overload, becasue I tried them on another circuit at the weekend. This time I got two to work together, but the third tripped the fuse. Particulars:- Heaters = 2400 Watts each House Voltage = 230V Fuse = 16A Not sure of the fuse capacity in my last house - but I didn't have this problem there. So could I not try replacing the 16A fuse with say, a 20A?

05-28-2007, 04:58 PM	#5
jwhite Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 682	Ring Circuit Tripping I am not sure where you live so I do not know the code on wire size, but DO NOT replace the fuse without making sure that the wire is rated for that fuse size. since these draw 10.5 amps each I am supprised that you get two to run without tripping a breaker. I would reccomend running the necessary extra circuits where needed to make this a safe installation. __________________ Master Electrician

Ring Circuit Tripping