2 Gang RCD socket

I have a 2 gang socket in my shed, can i replace this with a 13A two gang double switched RCD socket so i can run my mower and electric tools off it??

What circuit is it connected to currently and is that protected by an rcd.

Im no electrician, when we bought the house i noticed the shed had a 2 gang socket, this is fed from an underground cable from the house, the consumer unit is the old style, no rcd, hence my question, just want to use electric tools in shed and the lawnmower,

millerman said:

I have a 2 gang socket in my shed, can i replace this with a 13A two gang double switched RCD socket so i can run my mower and electric tools off it??

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Yes you can.

If like mine the two sockets are controlled by same RCD 30 mA type A so you can't turn one socket off without the other, there are a number of types of two gang RCD sockets, passive and active, for a lawn mover etc the active is better, as with a power cut it auto turns off, but with a freezer clearly passive is better.

We also have 10 mA and 30 mA in the main 10 mA are rather expensive so I would use 30 mA.

And we have types, the type AC is no longer compliant so should be type A but typical advert in likes of screwfix does not say what type, I would not think it really matters type A or type AC as at some point you are likely to fit a new consumer unit with RCD's so only a temporary measure anyway.

The reason I have one is the supply is from the UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for the freezers so it is the one circuit not supplied from the CU (consumer unit) so without the RCD socket it would not be RCD protected. CEF advertises as type A, Tool station say to BS7288:1990 and google says that has been withdrawn, others also refer to BS 7288.

Most sockets with extras, be it a filter, USB outlets, or RCD are limited to 13 amp for the pair, if you can find the data sheet, where a standard twin socket normally 20 amp or 26 amp for the pair. I only have one outdoor unit which gets anywhere near 13 amp and that's the leaf blower.

And nearly every outdoor tool I have is class II, so unless you damage the cable unlikely you need a RCD for outdoor stuff any more than you need it for indoor stuff, I have had my RCBO trip (RCBO = RCD and MCB combined) when my flat roof leaked, i.e. good cause, and my sight impaired mother with Alzheimer's disease put an extension lead in a bucket of water as she thought it was on fire, as the neon flickered. That was reason RCD's where then fitted.

So yes can be fitted, but should not all sockets be protected?

TLR it's a very good idea to have the consumer unit replaced and RCDs fitted for all circuits.

Thanks for the very informative input guys, that's put my mind at rest. Regards consumer unit, yes its on the cards to be replaced along with many other things on my list now that i have retired, all down to ££££££s im afraid, but, before anyone says it, i know, SAFETY FIRST!!