Outside socket protection

[Olivias Grumpy]

Hi
Recently bought a house
It has an outside socket in front garden for lawnmower etc. this is fed by Time guard RCD Spur Double Pole.
The RCD Spur is faulty and doesn’t work.
The house recently had a new consumer unit installed with integral RDD etc.
QUESTION do I need to fit another RCD Spur or would a fused DP Isolator suffice?
Thanks

 

[terryplumb]

If the circuit is RCD protected at the consumer unit ,you don't need another RCD. A double pole isolation switch is a good idea. A fuse may or may not be needed.
Please give details of the circuit OPD ,and cable size to the outside socket.

 

[Olivias Grumpy]

Hi thanks
I was intending to use a fused isolator with a neon, to remind me to turn it off after use

 

[Taylortwocities]

Hi thanks
I was intending to use a fused isolator with a neon, to remind me to turn it off after use

Good idea.

 

[winston1]

The isolator does not need to be fused. Your lawn mower (or whatever) already has a fuse.

 

[sparkwright]

I think the point Terry was making is that the isolator MAY have to be fused.

 

[winston1]

I think the point Terry was making is that the isolator MAY have to be fused.

Why may it have to be?

 

[Olivias Grumpy]

The Timeguard unit was fused, so I took the belt and braces view.
The difference in cost between fused or not is less than a £1

 

[sparkwright]

Why may it have to be?

Perhaps the cable is undersized.
Perhaps two or more sockets are actually controlled by the isolator, if it happens to be spurred from a ring.

Hence it's best to say 'may'.

 

[securespark]

Why may it have to be?

Come on. You preach this all the time.
You know very well why.
Cable size.

 

[Olivias Grumpy]

I’m not without some common sense gents.
Cable is 2.5 t and e
It’s on its own mcb and the consumer unit is RCD protected

I checked all that before I asked. The origiginal RCD Spur device was left over from an earlier install

I’m happy to fit a double pole fused switch

 

[winston1]

Come on. You preach this all the time.
You know very well why.
Cable size.

If the cable size is wrong (it isn’t, see later reply) it should be corrected, not an irreverent fuse fitted.

 

[winston1]

The Timeguard unit was fused, so I took the belt and braces view.
The difference in cost between fused or not is less than a £1

But it is not belt and braces. If there is a fault you will have two fuses blow, the unnecessary one and the one in the plug.

 

[Taylortwocities]

If the cable size is wrong (it isn’t, see later reply) it should be corrected, not an irreverent fuse fitted.

I have never come across a fuse that showed a lack of respect.

 

[Olivias Grumpy]

LOL