RCBO or Ground Fault Interrupter Problem

[Pib]

I only see a neutral bar in the photo. (?) If there's no ground wires then there wouldn't be any in the CU - yah?

The neutral bar is at the bottom of the individual breakers assembly which the white wires hook to....then the green wires go over to the left of the box where the safety ground bar appears to be located---and hard to see in the picture unless zooming in.

Maybe he does have a safety ground at "some/most" of his outlets and that one pictured outlet at the leaking window was just not wired to include a safety/3d wire ground.

[bankruatsteve]

I only see a neutral bar in the photo. (?) If there's no ground wires then there wouldn't be any in the CU - yah?

The Green Wires tend to stand out. Looks like 4 (or 5) are running to the Ground Bus Bar mounted vertically in the box (extreme left of the photo).

A larger diameter Black Wire leaves the same Ground Bus Bar then snaked to the bottom of the box and up the right ...to where?

Unfortunate that it's Black (harder to trace visually).

Your eyes better than mine. But, if he says "no ground"... then maybe he does but just to some circuits. (?) Anyway... if the suspect box doesn't solve the problem, I would still look for receptacle/light switch that is full of "stuff" that will trip RCD when wet or humid.

[Retired2]

I took a careful look inside the distribution unit......... looking for a fault between the neutral and the ground.

Look what I found.

This white wire was cut by a very sharp edge of he distribution unit. It looks as though the worn or cut part did not

get completely to the copper........... but about half way through to the copper.

[Pib]

Probably not causing any problem if the cut didn't reach/is touching the copper.

When I look in my physically small 16 breaker CU (not counting the main breaker which would make it 17 breakers) I'm amazed at how they were able to bend and compact all the incoming and outgoing wires to make them fit within the CU.

Edited June 29, 2015 by Pib

[billphillips]

Yep, your wet outlet is very suspect and should be at least temporarily disconnected. For outside boxes / outlets, a surface box is better. The surface box should be positioned slightly above the cables, so that rainwater runs downward along the cables and away from, rather than into the box. A weathertight cover is also reqd. An internal isolator, as near as pos to the box is also advisable. Because wind can push water uphill when it has the mind to.

As far as the pic of your distribution board goes .... WOW what a mess !! I'll look at that tomorrow, in the cool light of dawn. If the electric man that you use now, did the installation originally, think carefully about his capabilities and advice for the future. In Thailand .... Black is live. Grey is neutral. Your box is a 3P shared. After that the issue becomes clouded.

[RichCor]

Yep, your wet outlet is very suspect and should be at least temporarily disconnected.

For outside boxes / outlets, a surface box is better. The surface box should be positioned slightly above the cables, so that rainwater runs downward along the cables and away from, rather than into the box. A weathertight cover is also reqd.

An internal isolator, as near as pos to the box is also advisable. Because wind can push water uphill when it has the mind to.

As far as the pic of your distribution board goes .... WOW what a mess !! I'll look at that tomorrow, in the cool light of dawn. If the electric man that you use now, did the installation originally, think carefully about his capabilities and advice for the future. In Thailand .... Black is live. Grey is neutral. Your box is a 3P shared. After that the issue becomes clouded.

Except the problematic socket is actually indoors. Just mounted under a wet window (water intrusion).

In the distribution board, the LIVE/HOT are primarily colored BLACK, GREY, BLUE and RED.

WHITE is Neutral ...except where there seems to be a 2 BLACKS and a GREY wire also used on the Neutral Bus.

GREEN is Faux Earth-Ground (at least as far as we know) -- until that heavy BLACK Wire running from the Ground Bus Bar is traced along its path hiding under the GREEN wires and then going off to... who knows where doing who knows what. It could be a 'Ground' connection to another appliance wire (that should be colored GREEN) ... or it could actually be attached to *something* and trying its best to be a Ground.

Edited June 29, 2015 by RichCor

[billphillips]

In the photo, what are the 2 large black cables on the left of the N bar and where do they go to?

[wpcoe]

OK.......... Now i am a little red faced. Partly from anger and partly from embarrassment. I have lived in this condo for 10 years and have been REPEATEDLY assured that there is a proper ground - earth.

Today, I demanded to see it with my own 2 eyes. The manager and engineer slowly told me that there is NO ground - earth wire. They do not see the need and will not install one.

You had better believe that I am going to get one installed before the week is up.

This may solve my original problem, right ??

Once you get everything else sorted, if you do find that there is no earthing in your electrical system and if you do decide to earth/ground it, can you please post just how you manage to do that? i.e. Can you run a wire to soil where you can impale an earth rod? (Not sure what floor your condo unit is?) If not, how will you establish an earth/ground for your condo unit?

I've been looking to buy a unit in an older condo building and have been told if you can tap into a steel beam, or possibly even rebar, in the building infrastructure, that is an option, but the buildings I've looked at don't have any exposed beams or rebar. Also have been told to NOT tie an earth wire on to the building sprinkler system piping. All regular water and drain piping is PVC in the buildings I've checked out.

[Artisi]

Well......... I am learning a lot.

Back to weather related causes........... I have an outlet (see photo) that is below a window that leaks water every time there is a rainstorm with wind. See the towel and mop

next to it ??

I took it apart - and it is very damp. I will disable this outlet.

Could this be the cause, even tho this circuit is open - no electricity to it from the central supply ?

The first place other than the switchboard that I would look to see if the house / unit /condo has an earthed system would be the power points - the pic. you posted doesn't show any earth so it's a good bet the place isn't earthed. Installing an earth rod will do nothing unless earth wires are run to each and every power outlet or installed appliance that requires earthing.

[Retired2]

For anyone still following this original post,,,,,,,,,, the problem has been found.

Just like Crossy said,,,,,,,,,,,,,, it might be a water heater............. it was.

A seldom used water heater was the culprit.

I thought that just opening the breaker would isolate this as the problem.

Thank you for all the responses. I learned a LOT.

This forum has been very good for me.

Thank you all............

Bob