Testing RCDs and RCBOs
- Thread starter Gees
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The fake ones with no insides are easy to detect, as they will weigh virtually nothing.
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The RCD of course can be tested both for current and time.
The MCB in the main we trust as we do the fuse.
However I have tested MCB's on a caravan site. The supply to site was split phase with 100A per phase about 65 caravans so 3A per caravan but with diversity should get away with 5A per caravan especially as some were empty. However the 100A moulded breaker was tripping. So put 16A plug on a 2Kw fan heater and tried each outlet should hold on 1Kw but trip on 2Kw. And we found people had screwed in the adjustment screw and had swapped 5A for 15A and scrapped the 1 off the reset leaver. However did not find any which did not pass test and had no signs of tampering.
This was OK with 5A MCB's but as you look at 50A MCB's then really no way to test. Except for weight as any fake ones will likely be lighter than normal and feel of re-set leaver when handling many units it is likely one would realise they are light and the leaver does not feel same as rest.
The MCB in the main we trust as we do the fuse.
However I have tested MCB's on a caravan site. The supply to site was split phase with 100A per phase about 65 caravans so 3A per caravan but with diversity should get away with 5A per caravan especially as some were empty. However the 100A moulded breaker was tripping. So put 16A plug on a 2Kw fan heater and tried each outlet should hold on 1Kw but trip on 2Kw. And we found people had screwed in the adjustment screw and had swapped 5A for 15A and scrapped the 1 off the reset leaver. However did not find any which did not pass test and had no signs of tampering.
This was OK with 5A MCB's but as you look at 50A MCB's then really no way to test. Except for weight as any fake ones will likely be lighter than normal and feel of re-set leaver when handling many units it is likely one would realise they are light and the leaver does not feel same as rest.
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Seems a bit "iffy" to me... Trust me guv'ner, It's a gud un...
how do you control the current? I can see the ammeter and the MCB but what feeds them?
It's an arc welder. It steps the volts down, so the current goes up.
There is a something that moves inside the transformer to adjust the current from about 30A to 120A
There is a something that moves inside the transformer to adjust the current from about 30A to 120A
out of interest, how did those new style mk breakers fair? i stopped using mk when they introduced those MCB's, they were no where near the quality of the ones with the center switch, or the type before them with the switch at the bottom.
They seem to work ok.
Theyre better than electrium ones anyway
Theyre better than electrium ones anyway
Good idea that.. Thank you
Maybe time to take a reset - RCDs and RCBOs are not overload devices...
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Doesn't RCBO stand for
Residual
Current
Breaker with
Overload
??
Residual
Current
Breaker with
Overload
??
Whoops
I should have put RCDs are not overload devices....
I should have put RCDs are not overload devices....
E
EdwardCurrent
Over 'current' ! Just like my name
.Ed
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