4 ways to test the operation of the RCD

Method # 1- Button TEST

The easiest way to check the RCD for triggering with your own hands can be done using the TEST button"T") installed on the front panel, as shown in the photo below. In this case, you only need to press the button with your finger, as a result of which the leakage current will be simulated and the protection should work.

If after switching off the tester, there is no shutdown, this indicates the following:

1. You may have incorrectly performed the connection, which showed the result of the test. In this case, we recommend that you read the instructions for connecting the residual current device yourself.
2. The button does not work. It happens, it happens that the RCD itself works, and the simulation of the leakage current is faulty. In this case, even with the correct connection during the test, a false alarm will not occur. To check the protection it will be necessary to independently by one of the alternative methods, which we described below.
3. The automation is faulty. Again, to verify the working RCD or not, it will be possible only after another, more complex verification.

Method number 2 - Battery

The second and no less simple procedure for checking the RCD for triggering - using a regular finger battery. Check the efficiency in this case, even a teapot in the electrician. In addition, to determine whether the safety shutdown device will be possible even in the store when buying an RCD.

So, you can independently check the operation of the product as follows:

• To connect one of the poles of the protection automatics with a length of at least 10 cm.
• Bring the finger battery to the two wires: the first one was connected by you, and the second one is usually installed from the bottom at the factory.

When touching the wires to positive and negative, the trip of the RCD should occur. If the lever does not work, turn the battery over and check again. In the event that the safety shut-off device is working properly, the lever must be knocked out, which will speak of the operation of the automation. For more details on how to check the operation of the protection device with the help of a battery, you can use the example in this video:

Method number 3 - Bulb

If there was no battery at hand or you are just curious about other ways of testing, we recommendCheck the functioning of the RCD with a warning lamp. First, prepare an electric wire, a 10W bulb, a chuck, resistors, a screwdriver and an electrical tape. It may also be necessary to remove the insulation from the wires.

Particular attention should be paid to the bulb and resistors, tk.they must have suitable characteristics. Most often, the RCD for the house and apartment is designed to operate at a leakage current of 30 mA.To obtain such a leak, it is necessary to assemble a circuit with a lamp whose total resistance is 7.7 kΩ.Where did we get this value? Everything is very simple. According to the material from school physics, the resistance is calculated as the voltage divided by the current. The current we have is 30 mA, the voltage is 220 volts, total: 220 / 0.03 - 7700 Ohm. Do not know where to take such resistance for verification? There is nothing complicated here either. Typically, a 10W bulb has a resistance of 5350 ohms, and a resistor can be purchased with a suitable value in any store for a radio amateur( we need 2.35k ohms).We draw your attention to the fact that the power of the resistor must correspond to the power of the light bulb, otherwise it will not work. When all the circuit elements are ready, you need to assemble them in series and check the operation of the RCD using a light bulb as follows:

• Insert one end of the wire into the phase of the socket( you must first determine it using an indicator screwdriver) and touch the ground terminal in the same socket. If the residual current device works, it must be knocked out.

We draw your attention to the fact that this test method is suitable only if you have a grounding in the house or apartment. Check the RCD with a light bulb, if there is no ground, you can, but not through the outlet. In this case, it is necessary to insert one end of the wire to the zero input terminal( top, N) on the input board where the automation is installed, and insert the other end of the wire into the phase output terminal( bottom, L).If the protection is correct, there should be a trip during the operation test without grounding.

Method number 4 - The

device Well, the last of the techniques that allows you to safely check the RCD for operation at home using a special tester - ammeter or multimeter.

In this case, in addition to the instrument, you will need the following components of the circuit:

• 10 W lamp;
• rheostat;
• resistor, 2 kΩ resistance;
• wires.

The rheostat is needed in order to change the amount of leakage current. If there is no rheostat at hand, you can take a dimmer that regulates the brightness of the lighting in a room that has a similar principle of action and is suitable for testing!

You need to assemble the serial circuit as follows: multimeter-light-resistor-rheostat. The free probe from the multimeter must be connected to the zero input in the RCD, and the free wire from the rheostat to the phase output. As a result, you can check the operation of the RCD, smoothly turning the rheostat regulator in the direction of increasing the leakage current. A multimeter or an ammeter will allow you to record at what value of the leakage current the tripping device trips. You can visually see the procedure for checking the protection of the automatic device with a lamp and a lamp. For this example:

Here we have provided all the most simple and safe ways to check the functioning of the device for protection against leakage current. We draw your attention to the fact that to determine the working capacity of a product on a person, that is, for example, to touch one's finger to a water heater, from which it is slightly shocked, is strictly forbidden by the rules of the PUE.Do not use the advice of electricians who recommend checking the RCD for operation on the forums by touching the body of the faulty electrical appliance. If the automation does not work, it can cost you life!
Also read:

• What is the difference between zeroing from the protective ground
• How to determine the phase and zero without instruments
• How to charge the battery at home