RCD and shower

[walkingonsunshine]

Someone in a forum (not particularly electrical) recently said that an RCD was mandatory if you have an electrical shower. I understand it is desireable and sensible but was not aware it was mandatory. Does this mean everyone with an electric shower needs to get it RCD protected? Would it fail a periodic inspection if it wasn't protected by an RCD? I'd appreciate if anyone could give me some advice on this, thanks.

 

[il78]

No it does not need to be RCD protected, because they are designed to be put in that situation. Manufacturers will recommend fitting an RCD to cover them "insurances purposes" if anything were to happen.

Just to add......In the most recent NICEIC (sorry ban) newsletter, this was one of there most ask questions....as sparks were making the periodic inspection reports unsatisfactory........

 

[securespark]

il 78 is correct. Rcd is not mandatory, but I feel any appliance using water is worth protecting with an rcd especially if you have the facility anyway eg split-load board.

My parents-i-l had a problem that someone had "attended" turned out to stop the rcd tripping, he had disconnd the main earth.

I reconnd it, and waited to see what transpired. They came home and the rcd had disconnd.

Turned out there was a fault in the d/w (a leak between element and casing) which burnt a hole (like an oxy-acetylene torch) in the floor of the d/w and into the carpet below.

Who knows what would have happened if I hadn't reconnd the main earth?

A la george Orwell, I think RCD Good!!!

 

[dingbat]

Turned out there was a fault in the d/w (a leak between element and casing) which burnt a hole (like an oxy-acetylene torch) in the floor of the d/w and into the carpet below.

At the risk of looking exceptionally stupid - which is exactly how I feel - I have racked my brain over this and I can't, for the life of me, work out what d/w means....

Oh, hang on... it just came to me while I was typing - dishwasher, right?

D'oh! I'll post anyway.. . maybe somebody else didn't get it either!

 

[securespark]

Yes, sorry! Dishwasher is the missing word. And todays prize is.........

 

[ban-all-sheds]

......In the most recent NICEIC (sorry ban) ........

Don't worry - I have no objection to NICEIC existing, nor the ECA, nor any such organisation, nor do I mind them running publicity campaigns to raise awareness of the benefits to customers of using their members.

I do object to them implying that only their members are competent, and I strongly object to them having a law passed whose real purpose is to entrench their power and influence and give them a cosy monopoly.

50 DIY-ers are killed every year falling from ladders. I have seen no suggestion from the Govt that ladders should only be available to skilled ladder technicians trained in their safe use.

 

[masona]

50 DIY-ers are killed every year falling from ladders. I have seen no suggestion from the Govt that ladders should only be available to skilled ladder technicians trained in their safe use.

Good point,the only one I've seen at work is a guide line from Health & Safety which we have a training program.See this. You would've have thought the details for safety instruction come with the ladder when buying.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Oh look:

"Nonskid pads may prevent a ladder from slipping on a hard, smooth surface"

I once had a fall when the base of my ladder slipped on a hard, smooth surface. And how's this for irony - I was about to do some DIY wiring, so Part P would have prevented a ladder-related accident....

 

[hsiboy]

......In the most recent NICEIC (sorry ban) ........

Don't worry - I have no objection to NICEIC existing, nor the ECA, nor any such organisation, nor do I mind them running publicity campaigns to raise awareness of the benefits to customers of using their members.

I do object to them implying that only their members are competent, and I strongly object to them having a law passed whose real purpose is to entrench their power and influence and give them a cosy monopoly.

50 DIY-ers are killed every year falling from ladders. I have seen no suggestion from the Govt that ladders should only be available to skilled ladder technicians trained in their safe use.

sigh... and Part p has added greater weight to the whole debacle. Sadly Part P seems mostly concerned with preventing fires. Again most common source is non electric e.g chip pans and cigs. However it points its fingers at bodged electrics.

Stuart.

 

[securespark]

Every time you read in the paper or see on the news an article about a fire they nearly always cite the cause as electrical fault. I think they do this when they can't find the real cause. It makes people more scared of electricity than they need to be. As you say, there is a huge proportion of fires started by unattended pans, falling asleep while smoking, and other "user errors" like draping wet clothes too close to gas fires/ over storage heaters, etcetera.

I'm not saying that badly installed circuits do not cause fires- I've seen one (not my installation, I hasten to add) [I can hear someone saying "they all say that!"], but don't believe the toll to be as high as the authorities would have us believe.

 

[dingbat]

Damned lies and statistics, as they say. I suppose though, it's no bad thing to make people that little bit more scared of 'lectricity. Those that do understand what they are doing will carry on doing it, but hopefully the bodge-it-up-with-a-bit-of-flex-I-found-in-the-garage merchants might think twice and call in a pro.

By the way and a-propos of nothing in particular, a wee titbit: In the Royal Navy a Marine Engineering Mechanic specialising in things strictly mechanical is known as an MEM(M), whereas one specialising in electrics is called MEM(L) - Electricity generally begins with an 'L' in The Andrew.

 

[securespark]

The Navy never could spell!! Meeeeeeeowwwwww!!!

No offence..