SURGE PROTECTION

[MalcF]

I am about to extend a ring circuit in my house using existing sockets so as to provide more sockets for computer equipment. Can anyone tell me if there is a device available that will protect the extended part of the circuit ie wall mounted RCD and anti-surge? Can this be done with a single unit rather than using RCD adapters at each socket. Any advice welcome.
Regards
MalcF

 

[laughingjester]

you can get socket outlets with built in rcd wich dont look half bad.they have a little blue button on them for test/reset and i think they are anti surge aswell. obviously all computers leak to earth by design, so if you are putting a few pc's together in a row you need to get sockets whith two earth terminals in them one for each twin cable, instead of the normal single earth terminal ones. this is because if you used a single earth terminal socket and the cables some how popped out there would be no path back to earth , where as using a two earth terminal socket if one pops out you still have one ...any help ?

 

[ericmark]

The units both for RCD and Filters are bulky units and they are not going to fit in the same socket.

This is just the filter cassette which can be changed independent of socket as they wear out. They fit inside these

The RCD socket

is also a chunky unit.
With a switch mode power supply as used in nearly all computers I would say the filtered socket is more to stop spikes coming out of the computer than into the computer and I think in the main they are not required. And as soon as you fit any UPS they do nothing.
There is also the protection of the cable if buried using

Guardian cable to BS8436 or one of the other makes of Ali-tube you can wire without an RCD at the origin but unless all surface wired using twin and earth

is no longer permitted. As to high earth leakage most computers will not exceed the 10ma talked about in regulation 543.7.2.1

 

[MalcF]

Thanks for replying Laughingjester, this is what I needed, thought something like this should be available but did'nt know for sure.

 

[MalcF]

Thanks for replying Ericmark, hope you don't mind me copying the pics, have seen the Guardian cable you talk about, will bare it in mind when getting materials, just glad I have'nt bought anything yet!

 

[ericmark]

Pictures are not mine first few from fastlec web site and last few from Batt cables web site. Try right click with mouse and select view image and fire fox at least then shows just image and gives web address at top and with this site one just clicks on IMG then paste address and click on IMG again.

As BS8436 I have not used the cable but as far as I am aware nearly the same as cable used for fire alarms for years. From what I am told it lies in the chase better than twin and earth and does not bounce when plastering in same way so one can get away without using capping. Plasters like steel capping as it does not bounce but using it means the wall then includes a metallic part so one has to use RCD or BS8436 cable irrespective of the depth of the cable from a surface of the wall or partitions.

So may as well use Ali-tube any way I know of 4 makes Guardian, Earthshield, Flexishield, Afumex I am sure now there are more.

 

[laughingjester]

no worries