Electrical question: RCDs in consumer units

fwor

Not sure if this is the right place to post this question, but it is "technical", so if there are any electricians on here:

I'm just about to have the consumer unit in my house replaced. I've bought a new one which is of the "split" type, so that I can have some of the circuit breakers served via the built-in RCD and some not. Until today, I was only planning to have the external lighting and pond pump power outlet on a non-RCD breaker, but my mate (who generally knows what he's talking about but is ~not~ an electrician) tells me that the internal lighting circuits should also not be served via an RCD.

Anyone know if he's right and, if so, why?

123oleary

if there is a fault on another rcd protected circuit it will knock everything on the rcd off so you will be walking around in the dark. it is also wise that you don't have your freezer protected by an rcd if practicle.

spud17

I was only planning to have the external lighting and pond pump power outlet on a non-RCD breaker,

I'm not an electrician either but personally I would have that type of thing on RCD, especially a pond pump.

fwor

Thanks for the input - I hadn't even thought about the freezer issue. I'm not so worried about walking about in the dark, as I'm expecting to get a lot more power failures than electrical faults!

Spud - agreed, I should have said that the outdoor stuff will all go on their own dedicated RCDs so that they can trip without taking out the house.

So other than the walking around in the dark issue, no really strong reason to non-RCD the internal lighting?