Worried about recent work done

[Mac71]

Hello all
I have a studio with a load of computer and computer related stuff in; -and had it re-wired recently by a qualified electrician.
He said the sockets now needed to be protected properly as it was a basement (?) and put it on as an “RDC spur”; -and now I have a wall-mounted box with a little button on.
He tested everything; but after a while the mains goes off!
I have called him back and he was really good and went through everything; and changed the little box too. -Problem is it still goes off!
The same man also did the wiring to the garden; we have a pump and lights. –He used a box on the outside wall, one with another RDC. This is turned on with a switch like a light switch next to 2 sockets on the inside.
There is really thick cable going deep underground to a box with 2 switches in (1 for the lights, and another one for the pump.)
I’m a bit concerned about whether it’s all OK. He’s on holiday now, and told me the basement problem is the computers fault. and I need a new power supply on one of them. (-but they have always been OK before) -do you electricians think everything seems OK?

 

[DESL]

Seems ok to me.

The only thing I would question is the need for an RCD on the basement if none of the sockets can be used to supply equipement outdoors.

PCs do have protection against mains spikes this does cause a small amount of current leakage to earth if as you say you have lots of PC and related kit the sum of all the leakage currents could be sufficient to trip the RCD.

 

[Lectrician]

If he has tested the circuits for insulation resistance, then yes, everything is fine.

Any socket that can reasonably be expected to supply portable equipment outdoors needs RCD protection. If these sockets could with likelyhood be used outdoors, they need RCD Protection.

Computers do tend to cause problems in their multiples with RCDs.

There is a requirement for high integrity earthing on socket circuits likely to have a higher that normal protective conductor current - which is likely on computers due their PSU's being 'leaky'. I would suspect he hasn't installed the circuit to comply with these regulations, but may be wrong. (although I doubt it).

 

[Mac71]

Thanks for the answers!
The basement has a door leading streight upstairs to the garden, and my husband was runnig the mower to it. He said this was not allowed really.
The leaking you talk aboutl -is that normal and OK? Would a new power supply not leak?

 

[Lectrician]

Computers are inherently leaky. Too many on an RCD protected circuit is going to cause tripping problems.

You could have had all the sockets in the basement on a NON RCD circuit, and then have a provision for an RCD protected socket by the door to the garden, or even outside the door to the garden. This would satisfy the regs.

Computers + RCD's do not mix. I have always ensured I do not put my self in a position where I h ave to RCD protect computers in offices etc. Good circuit and layout design negates the need

 

[EdSet100]

The basement has a door leading streight upstairs to the garden, and my husband was runnig the mower to it.

Therefore, the basement sockets should have RCD protection.

He said this was not allowed really.

Well, it is perfectly allowable with the RCD.

However, given that the main daily function of the basement sockets is to power the computers, which is not compatible with the RCD, common sense has to come into play. I would remove the permanent RCD while I lived there. I would use a portable RCD whenever I use garden electrical equipment from the basement sockets. Before selling the house, I would restore the RCD.

 

[securespark]

Just to make certain his test results are OK, can you post the readings written down on the certificate?

 

[gas4you]

Get yourself an UPS for running your computer equipment from, if power trips you will then have a good few minutes to reset it without computers going off.

Good ones even shut any programs then the PC down properly if you are not there.

Wouldn't be without mine

 

[very_pointy_ears]

If you're going to use a UPS, might you need to consider a C curve breaker? A friend of mine has a couple of UPSs in his computer room (he has quite a lot of kit) and the turn on surges from his UPSs would trip the breaker until he replaced it with C curve.

OK, so his situation is probably a bit more extreme than most!

I don't know whether his earth loop is good enough to be within regs with a C-curve, though.

 

[Steve]

UPSs do make quite a clunk when they switch over - I've always wondered what sort of transformers and electronics etc they use.