Suitable RCBO for EESS install

spynage · May 16, 2023

Hi

Doing my first Inverter and Battery install on a domestic property having just completed my EESS course with LCL.

Question is how do I install a bi directional RCD/RCBO at the distribution board to supply and feed back power from the the inverter? I think I need an RCBO to the standard 61009 -2-1. Can't find anything easily online though. The best I could find was a video from Artesian Electrics where they supplied a separate RCD that was bidirectional via an RCBO. It would mean a fuse board change for my client.

Any answers?

Thanks

Spynage

GalaxyTS · Oct 22, 2023

Hi all....just catching up on the subject of bi-directional devices, having recently undertaken the EESS course. I usually fit Elucian boards but don't have an answer on whether their RCBOs are bi-directional at the moment, however I have just downloaded a Proteus datasheet which clearly states that their Type A devices ARE bi-directional

GalaxyTS · Oct 22, 2023

GalaxyTS said:
Hi all....just catching up on the subject of bi-directional devices, having recently undertaken the EESS course. I usually fit Elucian boards but don't have an answer on whether their RCBOs are bi-directional at the moment, however I have just downloaded a Proteus datasheet which clearly states that their Type A devices ARE bi-directional

Update....have also just had confirmation from WCED that their full range of RCBO, RCD and MCB are bi-directional and suited to solar/EESS installs

pc1966 · Nov 2, 2023

Relating to this discussion I saw this today:

BEAMA Technical Bulletin - Connection of Unidirectional and Bidirectional Protective Devices

www.beama.org.uk

Basically it says if they are marked line/load or have direction arrows they are not suitable, which seems to rule out the Wylex compact RCBO as they have direction arrows on them.

happysteve · May 6, 2024

pc1966 said:
Relating to this discussion I saw this today:

BEAMA Technical Bulletin - Connection of Unidirectional and Bidirectional Protective Devices

www.beama.org.uk

Basically it says if they are marked line/load or have direction arrows they are not suitable, which seems to rule out the Wylex compact RCBO as they have direction arrows on them.

Electrium / Wylex / Crabtree now have a declaration of conformity that states that their single module compact RCBOs are bi-directional:

Direct link to PDF: https://docs.electrium.co.uk/Documents/NHXS1B06_Declaration of Conformity Bidirectional RCBOs.pdf

Link to web page (for B6 Wylex RCBO) which has a link to the above PDF, if the link above doesn't work directly

Just for good measure, a couple of screenshots of the document:

[ElectriciansForums.net] Suitable RCBO for EESS install

Hager seem to do bidirectional RCBO (Type A RCD) with C-curve overcurrent, e.g. ADC932R... unlike their single pole solid neutral B-curve ones (e.g. ADA332G, which they do not state as bidirectional) the C-curve ones are 2P. I've never seen one in the wild, though.

There is a vague reference to a Fusebox bi-directional RCBO "coming in 2024" from one of the online wholesalers who sell their stuff, but I've not heard anything else.

For those interest in the issues about bi-directional/uni-directional devices, eFixx did a bit (involving a whiteboard!) about 1 hour 29 seconds into this video:

Suspect the upcoming draft for public consultation (8 May - 5 June 2024) is all about this:

https://electrical.------.org/bs-7671/updates-to-18th-edition/ (the forum blanks out part of the address, you'll need to replace the dashes with "the iet" without the space)

Hope the above is useful!