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Oops!

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2020 5:03 pm
by FrontSideBus
Something was taking out the RCD today and my first guess was something on the outside circuit was to blame.
Turns out it was the pond pump that had gone dead short to earth but it seems my meggering has killed the photocell on my Gamma 6!

Re: Oops!

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 9:14 pm
by Ash
Do you short L+N when meggering ? If no, you could have charged up the capacitor in the "dropper" power supply of the cell (thorugh any minor leakage to E present in the circuit). In second thought, thats gotta be some 275 X2 capacitor so it shouldn't die from meggering anyway... The electronics should never see any significant voltage as the Zener clamps whatever is after the dropper

Re: Oops!

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 10:23 pm
by Oliver
Did it dayburn after that?

Re: Oops!

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 11:01 pm
by FrontSideBus
Yeah there is a remote control module in circuit so I tested live an neutral shorted together in reference to earth.
Can’t understand why it would be affected by that unless it was just a coincidence that it died when it did lol!
Yeah it dayburns now.

Re: Oops!

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:03 am
by Oliver
Possibly weakness in the insulation / traces?

Re: Oops!

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:06 am
by Slyspark
If you shorted Phase and Neutral together and tested to earth, shouldn't have nuked the cell!

Re: Oops!

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 8:21 pm
by Ash
What's the switching component in the RC and in the cell ? (triac or relay ?) And whats the power supply in each (cap dropper or switching) ?