Frequent power trips during lightning strikes are causing issues for the document author. Their power trips 5-10 times during a normal thunderstorm while their neighbor's power does not trip. Responders suggest replacing the Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) as it is likely too sensitive and aging. A new ELCB of a different, reliable brand should resolve the frequent tripping issue during lightning storms. The author is advised to contact an electrician to inspect the electrical system and replace the ELCB.

1. Frequent power trips during lightning
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watermonkey
Jan 23 2010, 09:32 PM, updated 6 years ago
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Anyone knows why my power trips even at the slightest lightning strike?
During one normal thunderstorm, it can trip for up to 5-10 times. My neighbour's power doesn't get tripped, while mine does.
Anyone can troubleshoot what component in the electrical system is faulty? It's very annoying when it trips when I'm doing something
important on the computer. I want to fix this frequent tripping problem, I don't want to buy a UPS.
Thanks.
syarz
Jan 23 2010, 09:39 PM
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http://hubpages.com/hub/importance-of-power-surge-protection
better late then never.. you dont wanna end up like this poor guy
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...&#entry31436601

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watermonkey
Jan 23 2010, 09:45 PM
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I think you misunderstood my problem, I strongly believe that there is a problem with the electrical system, causing the frequent power trips. Of course,
over to take a look at it, but he has come here quite often and he did not mention anything about anything being faulty. So, I just want to get your thoug
with the electrical system. As I've mentioned before, my neighbour's power doesn't trip when mine trips.
If I wanted to, I could go out and buy a UPS right now, but I want to get to the root of the problem. Buying a UPS, but still facing the frequent power trip
want to troubleshoot what is wrong with the electrical system first.
syarz
Jan 23 2010, 09:55 PM
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QUOTE(watermonkey @ Jan 23 2010, 09:45 PM)
I think you misunderstood my problem, I strongly believe that there is a problem with the electrical system, causing the frequent power trips. Of course,
over to take a look at it, but he has come here quite often and he did not mention anything about anything being faulty. So, I just want to get your thoug
with the electrical system. As I've mentioned before, my neighbour's power doesn't trip when mine trips.
If I wanted to, I could go out and buy a UPS right now, but I want to get to the root of the problem. Buying a UPS, but still facing the frequent power trip
want to troubleshoot what is wrong with the electrical system first.
i see
if that case most probably its overloaded? or the wire is already old @ rotten or something?
koyuki
Jan 23 2010, 10:00 PM
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your elcb is very sensitive, but good to know they are working fine compare to those doesn't trip at all, its better safe than sorry.
you can read more at here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_leakage_circuit_breaker

4. rattan
Jan 23 2010, 10:11 PM
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Yes yr circuit breaker is too sensitive. you can replace the elcb, it wont cost much. my house ELCB trips when very strong lightning but not all the time. G
important hardware in yr home electrical system.
No harm if u spend more the get a good one.
watermonkey
Jan 23 2010, 10:11 PM
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Thanks for the replies guys
Do you think that it's wise to ask my electrician to reduce the sensitivity?

5. rattan
Jan 23 2010, 10:14 PM
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U cant reduce the sensitivity but the replace the ELCB to a better reliable brand.
Ask him to also check your earth wires if all are good.
watermonkey
Jan 23 2010, 10:15 PM
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Ok, I guess I'll look around for a new ELCB then, thanks guys.

6. rattan
Jan 23 2010, 10:16 PM
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Get a good brand. If you want some suggestion i can help.
koyuki
Jan 23 2010, 10:16 PM
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Getting Started
i don't think can reduce the sensitivity, but can change to new one.

7. rattan
Jan 23 2010, 10:17 PM
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QUOTE(koyuki @ Jan 23 2010, 10:16 PM)
i don't think can reduce the sensitivity, but can change to new one.
yeah thats what i told to him earlier
Johan-N
Jan 23 2010, 10:20 PM
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in my old house even the slightest lighting makes the power trip.
My house is the only house in 16 acres and is on a hill so i guess its normal for it to trip at slightest lighting. I asked my electrical technician and he sa id t
often during lighting.
Does it trip a lot lastime? or just recently tripping a lot?

8. rattan
Jan 23 2010, 11:05 PM
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QUOTE(Johan-N @ Jan 23 2010, 10:20 PM)
in my old house even the slightest lighting makes the power trip.
My house is the only house in 16 acres and is on a hill so i guess its normal for it to trip at slightest lighting. I asked my electrical technician and he said t
often during lighting.
Does it trip a lot lastime? or just recently tripping a lot?
This is because when the lightning hits the ground (open area) it feeds back to your copper grounding rods which is connected to your ELCB and therefor
dkk
Jan 24 2010, 09:21 PM
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I've asked an electrician, but he says it's normal. I don't believe him, because when I look out the window, the neighbours lights are all on. And it happen
time we hear thunder, the lights will go off. It happens even when the lightning is more than 1km away. We're reduced to waiting for the thunderstorm to
flipping the switch on the ELCB because it will simply trip again.
rattan, so what is a good brand? which shop should we go to if we're around the KL area.
soonchuan194
Sep 9 2012, 05:58 PM
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QUOTE(watermonkey @ Jan 23 2010, 09:32 PM)
Anyone knows why my power trips even at the slightest lightning strike?
During one normal thunderstorm, it can trip for up to 5-10 times. My neighbour's power doesn't get tripped, while mine does.
Anyone can troubleshoot what component in the electrical system is faulty? It's very annoying when it trips when I'm doing so mething important on the c
frequent tripping problem, I don't want to buy a UPS.
Thanks.
Hi , i have same problem with you which my house power trip more than few time during normal thunderstorm. Just want to know you have solved this p

10. jwrx
Oct 28 2012, 06:59 PM
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hmm was searching for solution to this problem..and found this thread..i have the exact same problem..but only for 1 circuit in my house...even if the thu
will trip...annoying cos my fridge and computer is on this circuit.
Will try to get electrician to change to a better ELCB
SURGE ARRESTORS
You can also install a "whole-house" surge arrestor.You generallyinstall these units near your electric meter, where the power lines run to your building.This protects all the circuits in your
house or office from a certain range of voltage surges.Units designed for whole-house protection are generallybuiltfor outdoor installation.Better surge arrestors can handle surges up to
20,000 volts, while standard outletsurge protectors can'thandle more than 6,000 volts. Some high-end arrestors can actuallymonitor weather conditions and will shutdown the power supply
to more sensitive electronics when lightning is in the area.
A whole-house surge protector will suppress power surges stemming from outside sources -- utility company problems,transformer switching,etc. -- but won't do anything to suppress
the high number ofpower surges thatoriginate inside your house,due to the operations ofyour appliances.
ADS BY GOOGLE
Circuit breaker in my home always get tripped everytime lightning strike during raining day. Wonder anyone in the same plight as me?
There is nothing I can do but wait for the lightning to stop striking everytime during raining day if not the curcuit breaker will just keep tripping thus no point resetting it.
I see other people home (e.g. my neighbour) still have their power on even when lightning strike. Any reason why its always my home that kena blackout?
What's up with the lightning rods on top of my hdb flat anyway? I read that circuit breaker can trip due to lightning which striked the building thus causing a surge in the
wiring.
Apparently, the lightning rods on top of my hdb flat is not doing it's job well in attracting the lightning to strike it.


11.  Hmm... I thought of that but what can they do? Unless it is true that circuit breaker can trip due to lightning which striked the building thus
causing a surge in the wiring (I read it on the net, anyone expert in this?) and the lightning rods is indeed faulty but I have no way to
prove that it is faulty.
It can also be other reasons why it is always my house's circuit breaker that kena tripped which I have no idea what can be the other
cause currently. What I can do now is to suck thumb and wait for the ligtning strikes to be over before I can reset my circuit breaker.
Edited by furb 15 Apr `10, 6:36PM
 ditzy
68,503 posts since Dec '03
 15 Apr `10, 6:41PM
So your building must be damn lucky to get struck all the time there is lightning right? Geez.
The most likely problem is your Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker being more sensitive, probably from wear and tear. Replace it with a new
one of another brand should do the trick. Get an electrician to do it, its not that expensive, should be less than 40 bucks.
Lightning need not conduct thru a lightning conductor, it can go ground up also you know?
 furb
600 posts since Jan '07
 15 Apr `10, 6:44PM
Originally posted by ditzy:
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Ah... Interesting. It's been like, dunno 15 years I think, since I first started staying here.

 Can replace already. Give your town council a call, and they can recommend a licenced electrician to do it for you.

12. When I moved into my resale flat about 2 years back, it was already close to 20 years old, and same like you, power tripped during
lightning storms also. Until one fine day, dad got the electrician to replace it, and no more such thing.
I'm still at my office building, just found out the lightning just now knocked out the power supply to all the lifts.
 furb
600 posts since Jan '07
 15 Apr `10, 6:52PM
Originally posted by ditzy:
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LOL... I guess the people are feeling really fustrated getting trapped in the lift.
Thanks, I will just town council a call and see.
Correction: did a calculation and found out I only live in my house for 11 years.
Edited by furb 15 Apr `10, 6:56PM
 aHGer^83
19,824 posts since Jun '02
 15 Apr `10, 7:59PM
Originally posted by furb:
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y dun call electrician to solve the prob instead?

 some curcuit breaker are more sentitive then others and age does play a part too, just get them replaced will do
 likeyou

13. 9,394 posts since Sep '06
 15 Apr `10, 11:26PM
Originally posted by aHGer^83:
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Yes, should ask a qualified electrician to check your box for any fault.
Also call up TC and ask them to check too.
Best is to get both together to check on the spot.
 popikachu
16,100 posts since Dec '06
 16 Apr `10, 1:00AM
I see... so this is the reason why everytime when lightning strike, my workplace storeroom lights will goes off, while others part doesn't...