RCBO's

DVardysShadow

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

It met the 15th edition.

At the time (1980's) I was installing MK Sentry equipment and they had such a unit (enclosure c/w 80A RCD as the main switch, so all you needed were the MCBs) available back then.

Never installed them myself though, preferring to go the split-load route instead.

Yes, there was an old style of RCD, with a separate earth terminal for the test button facility. This I think would be adequate as an isolator too. Modern RCD's have no earth terminal, but do have a loop path resistor for the test facility which I believe renders them unsuitable as isolators.

zax47

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

It met the 15th edition.

At the time (1980's) I was installing MK Sentry equipment and they had such a unit (enclosure c/w 80A RCD as the main switch, so all you needed were the MCBs) available back then.

Never installed them myself though, preferring to go the split-load route instead.

Aha, I took up tools in 1985, and we were taught it was bad practice back then, even if "allowed" under the 15th edition. As most of my working life was under them, I'm sure 16th edition didn't allow it, in the guise of designing an installation to prevent dangerous situations arising from nuisance tripping. Even then though there were many retrofits of a single RCD "in front" of the CU, to add RCD protection to an installation on the cheap.

copier_guy

thanks for the replies.

i will double check with him tomorrow, but as far as i understand it -

The council need a certificate to prove his house is sound electrically - his current electrician wont give him one.

He has another electrician popping out in a few days to give a second opinion.

he is a little worried that his current consumer unit will not take the new RCBO's and a new consumer unit may be needed?

We had a quick look on screw fix at them and they have 2 flying leads per RCBO? not sure were they would plug into?

Thanks again

DVardysShadow

I would say he needs the second opinion. Almost certainly RCBOs are not the only way to fix any problems. And if the electrician is refusing to give the OK on the installation solely because it does not meet the 17th edition, he is wrong to do so if he is inspecting for electrical safety rather than compliance with the 17th edition of the IEE regs.

matbe

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I would say he needs the second opinion. Almost certainly RCBOs are not the only way to fix any problems. And if the electrician is refusing to give the OK on the installation solely because it does not meet the 17th edition, he is wrong to do so if he is inspecting for electrical safety rather than compliance with the 17th edition of the IEE regs.

Correct, regulations are not retrospective,the installation only has to comply with the regulations it was built under.

There was no enforcement under the 16th edition for sockets or any other circuit inside the equipotential bonding zone to be rcd protected.


Note. Just checked 16th edition also need an rcdfor sockets in a room other than a bathroom or shower room containing a shower cubicle.


It was considered good practice but not a regulation.

So as such on a periodic inspection it could be noted as a deviation from current regs but would not be a reason to stipulate a code 1 (requires urgent attention)