Decision on 17th Edition & RCD's.

[securespark]

I have heard the conclusions drawn at the latest IET seminars.

Basically, the most popular option is that every circuit should be RCD protected, so as to offer protection in the event mechanical protection cannot be provided.

This can be done in one of two ways:

a: (john'll love this!) rcbo's

b: a new design of split-load board with a single isolator feeding two rcds.

 

[JohnD]

hee hee!

maybe prices will drop as they become a high-volume product

 

[securespark]

Certainly.

RCBO's should tumble, but the IET guys at the Seminar said (only half-jokingly) to go and buy shares in the RCD/RCBO manufacturers!

 

[Adam_151]

Depends on your interpretation of 314-01-01 (assuming thats unchanged) doesn't it?

 

[securespark]

Well, I interpret the current regulation (as a minimum) as having a system where, if the RCD should trip, it does not affect those circuits not requiring RCD protection.

Given that giving RCD protection to all circuits may be the best way to satisfy the 17th, the above-mentioned board seems the most cost-effective method of doing that.

That way, if an RCD on one side of the board trips, the other side is unaffected. You could have power and lighting on both sides of the board, so if one trips, at least you have some power and lighting remaining on in the building.

 

[Adam_151]

I have no doubt that some of the 'hammer the screws' in contractors will take to using RCD incommer boards and if you are lucky bang an EM fitting or two up, if you are creative enough you could try and say it meets 314-01-01

As to the dual RCD board, I feel it meets 314-01-01 as much as a traditional split board ever did, as to how convient or inconvienent a split board is... well that depends on how many ******* computers you have to restart after someone has overfilled the iron

 

[securespark]

Take your point, mate. I'd much rather an incomer board stuffed with John's favorites!

However, market forces will probably dictate that (even with the inevitably lower RCBO prices), it will still be cheaper to use a new style S/L board...

A second rate job, if you ask me, but then, as you said, so is the current S/L board!!

 

[Adam_151]

Feel free to slate me.. .but

If an RCBO costs £30-£40, then you've got the issue of finding the right one... some makes only produce B or C, not a choice of both, and 6A ones are anything but readily available, if they fail to switch back on after tripping on short circuit a few times, you've got to bin it all, etc

Depending on the make, RCDs can be daft prices now:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/HGCD280U.html
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/HGCD263U.html

How about a separate 20ish module enclosure next to the CU with 10 of the things in, one for each circuit?

 

[securespark]

But then you've got the cost of installing another board (and extra labour too) against the extra cost of RCBO's...

 

[Adam_151]

True

Maybe they could be built up on pieces of board in indian sweatshops like pendant luminaires are

 

[JohnD]

If an RCBO costs £30-£40, then you've got the issue of finding the right one... some makes only produce B or C, not a choice of both, and 6A ones are anything but readily available,

I am stacking my warehouse with MEM pods.

 

[Pensdown]

That's a bit risky John, what if people want a quality product?

...and before the whole world and his wife starts posting...it's ongoing in my house

 

[JohnD]

I think I've sold all the Crab ones.

And yours are too fat.

 

[Pensdown]

LOL...a bit like me then.

I'm a TT country bumpkin so I can't use single pole RCBOs like you TNCS townies

 

[securespark]

Now, now, let's not start being fattist!

[Says a weighty Secure...]