ASDA - Cheese Toastie Complaint.

ithomso1

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

The only thing that should damage an RCD is that RCD being faulty.
They are designed to trip when they detect small current differences (around 20 milliamps) between live and neutral and even if a dead short is detected, they should still trip before suffering any damage themselves.

Just out of curiosity, when was the last time you tested the RCD in question?

A full electrical test was done just over 3 years ago upon a house re-wire.
Regards,

ithomso1

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

I haven't seen/examined the toastie machine so I don't know how the cheese got in - there must be a fault of some sort (either the design is flawed or the individual unit is damaged in some way that allows the ingress of the cheese). I don't dispute that the toastie maker is faulty - I just think that you are only due a refund for the toastie maker (which you have received) and not additional compensation for your dodgy RCD.

As for ASDA's response - I didn't read it all. I found your emails to them quite obnoxious and couldn't be bothered with reading all the way through the long chain of emails. You might find you get more pleasant responses from people if you are pleasant in your communications to them.

Appreciate your comments, that the email dialog does leave out is the telephone conversations I've had with them.

In regards to the tone of the emails- I think this is a matter of personal preference, the things I were saying were neither insulting or going off topic. They were however designed to get a response, which some of the more pleasant emails were failing to do.

Regards,

ithomso1

So, from what people have been commenting. I the summary is, that if ASDA's diagnosis is correct.
1) We have a potential faulty RCD. (Which has now been replaced)
2) That cheese got into the device when it shouldn't have done.

browneyedbazzi

ithomso1 wrote: »

So, from what people have been commenting. I the summary is, that if ASDA's diagnosis is correct.
1) We have a potential faulty RCD. (Which has now been replaced)
2) That cheese got into the device when it shouldn't have done.

Sounds about right. If I was in your shoes I'd be thankful that the toastie maker showed up the fault in the RCD without anyone being injured - it's far better than finding out when you're electrocuted.

Azari

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

Sounds about right. If I was in your shoes I'd be thankful that the toastie maker showed up the fault in the RCD without anyone being injured - it's far better than finding out when you're electrocuted.

It's extremely unlikely that would happen.

OP hasn't actually stated what he means by the RCD 'blowing'.

It clearly tripped as it was supposed to and, presumably, it won't reset (hence being 'blown').

So, in all likelihood all he has is a faulty RCD that has failed safe and will no longer latch in the 'on' position.

Unless the OP wants to tell us that the RCD is covered in scorch marks with a hole blown in it.

ithomso1

Azari wrote: »

It's extremely unlikely that would happen.

OP hasn't actually stated what he means by the RCD 'blowing'.

It clearly tripped as it was supposed to and, presumably, it won't reset (hence being 'blown').

So, in all likelihood all he has is a faulty RCD that has failed safe and will no longer latch in the 'on' position.

Unless the OP wants to tell us that the RCD is covered in scorch marks with a hole blown in it.

Exactly that, wouldn't "Reset"

Zero_Gravitas

I'm no expert, but when our RCD tripped, it went to what I can best describe as a "soft off" position, from which if you tried to push it back to "on", it would just return. To reset it, you have to push it further towards the "off" position until it clicks, at which point it can be switched back to "on".


And perhaps use ever-so-slightly less cheese next time


Best Regards,


ZG

shaun_from_Africa

ithomso1 wrote: »

A full electrical test was done just over 3 years ago upon a house re-wire.
Regards,

I was more interested in when the last time a function test of the RCD was carried out rather than when the house electrics were checked.

All RCD's have a test button on them along with the wording "test often" or "test regularly". They are electro-mechanical devices and if the triping and latching mechanism isn't worked every now and again, they can seize and fail to work when needed.
When you press the test button, you insert a small load across the live and neutral which should cause it to trip.

Although not too many people seem to test these devices, they are there to save lives so should be checked every now and again.

Azari

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

I was more interested in when the last time a function test of the RCD was carried out rather than when the house electrics were checked.

All RCD's have a test button on them along with the wording "test often" or "test regularly". They are electro-mechanical devices and if the triping and latching mechanism isn't worked every now and again, they can seize and fail to work when needed.
When you press the test button, you insert a small load across the live and neutral which should cause it to trip.

Although not too many people seem to test these devices, they are there to save lives so should be checked every now and again.

I think we can be pretty certain that OP's RCD fulfilled its design function impeccably.

A vent about people not testing safety equipment probably deserves a thread of its own.

RuthnJasper

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

As for ASDA's response - I didn't read it all. I found your emails to them quite obnoxious and couldn't be bothered with reading all the way through the long chain of emails. You might find you get more pleasant responses from people if you are pleasant in your communications to them.

I have to agree with Bazzi; the emails - particularly the later ones - were sarcastic and unpleasant. It's a toaster; a refund has been given. Let it go.

What are you hoping for OP? For a large sum of 'compensation' for putting your life in danger? I would think that that is unlikely to happen.