Which RCD ?

MouldyOldDough

We are having 3 new sockets fitted in our living room and the installer also wants to change (upgrade) the RCD to a type A from  type AC.

We only had the consumer unit changed 10 years ago - with MCB's replacing fuses - does this imply that they failed to replace the  RCD's (how many should we have) with the correct ones at the time ?

QrizB

Type A is an upgrade from Type AC.

From 

https://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/years/2019/77-september-2019/which-rcd-type/

Some European countries have already banned the general use of Type AC RCDs and some manufacturers have stopped making them, supplying Type A in place of Type AC.

Rodders53

What brand of Consumer Unit and MCBs/RCDs are currently fitted?

No the new rules wrt RCD type changed only around 2018/19... so the usual type AC ones were fitted at the time.  (A few on the ball sparks may have suggested the better - but then far more expensive - alternatives; but not got the job as a result).

Todays 'standard' is to fit combined RCD/MCB in one unit, called RCBOs, so that each circuit is separately protected and only that circuit goes off in a fault scenario.  Some will break both live and neutral (my preference) while others only break the live.   They also now recommend fitting a Surge Protection Device (SPD) to the whole house.

Standards evolve but are usually not retrospective.

MouldyOldDough

Rodders53 said:

What brand of Consumer Unit and MCBs/RCDs are currently fitted?

No the new rules wrt RCD type changed only around 2018/19... so the usual type AC ones were fitted at the time.  (A few on the ball sparks may have suggested the better - but then far more expensive - alternatives; but not got the job as a result).

Todays 'standard' is to fit combined RCD/MCB in one unit, called RCBOs, so that each circuit is separately protected and only that circuit goes off in a fault scenario.  Some will break both live and neutral (my preference) while others only break the live.   They also now recommend fitting a Surge Protection Device (SPD) to the whole house.

Standards evolve but are usually not retrospective.

I don't know what the brands are - I can't see any labels

Rodders53

MouldyOldDough said:  I don't know what the brands are - I can't see any labels

A clear in-focus photo of the CU with lid open will allow identification, I expect.

Ectophile

MouldyOldDough said:

We are having 3 new sockets fitted in our living room and the installer also wants to change (upgrade) the RCD to a type A from  type AC.

We only had the consumer unit changed 10 years ago - with MCB's replacing fuses - does this imply that they failed to replace the  RCD's (how many should we have) with the correct ones at the time ?

Ten years ago, type AC RCDs were perfectly normal.  Would you have agreed to pay extra to get type A ones?

Sparksflys

3x new sockets would recommend type A RCD especially if considerable amount of DC equipment would be plugged in. However Type AC is better than nothing. 

If you are just replacing sockets then there is no need to upgrade the RCD. The Regs change every 3 years so you could argue a 4 year old house would not be up to current standards.

Remember its your home/space regardless of regs, you could refuse the type A RCD and the electrician could either note it in the certificate or walk away.