I have just bought a bench morticer and it keeps tripping the main rcd.All my other power tools are fine even a 2000w compound mitre saw.The morticer is 550w but trips the main rcd all the time.The shop tested it in their shop on there mains which was the old fuse wire type and was fine.
My rcd is an MK LN5780
80a 2 pole
30ma tripping current
2000a breaking capacity.
It is not a split consumer unit.
Is it safe to put an uprated main rcd in or to possible get an electrician to wire an unprotected circuit in and how much would it cost roughly ?
I'm really p*ssed off that something so simple could be so troublesome.
I spoke breifly with an electrician and he said that there was possibly an earth fault with the machine and the shop said that as for getting a refund was unacceptable as to the machine is actually working as it should.
Any ideas.

Nick, August 2008

get it PAT Tested

Ian Arftall, September 2008

You should return the machine for a refund as it should not be tripping the RCD. The fact that it does not blow a fuse is neither here nor there - they are completely different things. A fuse is to protect the the wiring (from fire) whereas an RCD is there to protect life - yours in this case.

ON NO ACCOUNT USE THE MACHJINE ON AN UNPROTECTED CIRCUIT. It is tripping the RCD for a reason.

If you are in the UK and have any problems with the place that you bought it threaten them with Trading Standards as the machine is potentially dangerous. In other countries you need to use whatever consumer law protects the public from unsafe equipment.

t, August 2008