RCD circuit breaker swap out

[dbradley55]

Help ! I believe I have a faulty RCD unit on my California T5 and I am struggling to remove the old one. Access is through the hookup window (once the hook up 3 pin has been removed). The RCD seems to be held in by some sort of metal spring clip but I am reluctant to force anything (particularly as I am operating blind once my arm is in there). Anyone removed one of these and has any suggestions?

 

[larrylamb]

access is through the wardrobe, grey plastic panel comes out.

 

[dbradley55]

Thanks - but it seems reluctant to budge. Does it come free with the circuit breaker attached ? I can’t tell what is stopping it as all 4 edges appear free. There are two rivets in the panel which seem to hold a metal harness in place which in turn holds the RCD I think. The resistance seems to be nearer the top of the panel - is it secured in some way I cannot see ?

 

[dbradley55]

ah - the panel has come free but the RCD still seems to be securely held in place by the metal cage which is riveted to the grey plastic panel.

 

[larrylamb]

I'm guessing the rivets will want drilling out.

 

[WelshGas]

ah - the panel has come free but the RCD still seems to be securely held in place by the metal cage which is riveted to the grey plastic panel.

View attachment 124129

May get away with just removing 1 rivet off the metal bracket is not too thick and replace with another rivet or small nut and bolt.

 

[sidepod]

Why, out of interest do you think it’s duff? (This is going to be good!)

 

[dbradley55]

Why, out of interest do you think it’s duff? (This is going to be good!)

Elimimated all of the alternatives - however……one of them was the campsite pillar connection. I tried two separate pillars (with seperate cables) and neither worked so I concluded the fault was in my van. Surprise surprise - I connected at home today and everything works. The only explanation is that both connections on the (German) campsite pillars were faulty. What are the chances of that. Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[colintfcolintf]

I’ve been caught like that several times. I plug a polarity tester in first to make sure they are working. Glad to hear it wasn’t your camper at fault

 

[Toothlessjon]

Very unusual for an rcd unit to be faulty, much more likely to be something you’re plugging in. however you can buy a small plug in rcd tester that are simple to use. They sell them on Amazon for £12 ish. Alternatively ask an electrician to give it test for a cup of tea.

 

[Menno]

ah - the panel has come free but the RCD still seems to be securely held in place by the metal cage which is riveted to the grey plastic panel.

View attachment 124129

I have the same problem with the circuit breaker in our COAST and also struggle to remove the platic plate. My question is it removed with force ore are there other instructions to remove this plate?
Thanks, Menno

 

[larrylamb]

I have the same problem with the circuit breaker in our COAST and also struggle to remove the platic plate. My question is it removed with force ore are there other instructions to remove this plate?
Thanks, Men

from a previous post by @vwguru
"Hi the panel in which the RCBO sits is just held in with double sided tape. Remove all the shelves in the rear cupboard and pull the gray trim towards you you then have full access to the back of the RCBO just replace the tape and stick back on when finished. If you want abit more cable to aid with movement then remove the outside socket by unscrewing the 4 T20 Torx screws and pulling the unit out you will find a white 3 pin connect covered in anti rattle foam pull that apart and you can see the routing of all the wire you need. You may also want to either masking tape the side of the Cali below the external socket or place some kind of protection there as there will be an earth lead conected to the chassis of the vehicle that will leave the socket hanging. Hope that helps"

Obviously check rcd connections with no hookup connected.

 

[Menno]

from a previous post by @vwguru
"Hi the panel in which the RCBO sits is just held in with double sided tape. Remove all the shelves in the rear cupboard and pull the gray trim towards you you then have full access to the back of the RCBO just replace the tape and stick back on when finished. If you want abit more cable to aid with movement then remove the outside socket by unscrewing the 4 T20 Torx screws and pulling the unit out you will find a white 3 pin connect covered in anti rattle foam pull that apart and you can see the routing of all the wire you need. You may also want to either masking tape the side of the Cali below the external socket or place some kind of protection there as there will be an earth lead conected to the chassis of the vehicle that will leave the socket hanging. Hope that helps"

Obviously check rcd connections with no hookup connected.

Thank you, ah oké now I'm sure it is not bolded but the double sided tape is holding it in place.
We will do it with no Hookup and will keep a record what we have done with pictures!

 

[Menno]

As primesed, my story and how I fixed it.
Because it was such a strange malfunction for me I made a story of it to the best of my knowledge. In addition, I also got to know the camper better again.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

The RCD has a test button would should be periodically pushed to confirm that the mechanism trips, and sometimes although the switch part will be in the correct position the breaker mechanism will not be. If you know you have power to the EHU plug on the outside of the van and you have nothing inside, push the test button, make sure it trips and then reset the RCD.

The RCD mechanisms trips if it detects a small discrepancy between either Live and Neutral and Earth. The test button creates a small discrepancy and therefore functionally tests the mechanism, but if the mechanism becomes "confused" the test button can be used as a Hard Reset.

 

[AlanC]

A common issue one sees at campsites is that the hook-up cable female socket lid at the vehicle end of the cable is pushed up against the lid of the body socket. This prevents the plug from going fully home and the pins from connecting correctly. In some cases, they are not connecting at all, hence no power.

The lid of the female cable plug has to be pushed horizontally into the socket on the van. It allows the pins to connect fully and also acts as a safety latch.

Alan