Proper use of RCBO's

Sparkeylew · Jan 2, 2014

Hey guys, Happy new Year :smiley2:

I qualified when the 16th edition regulations where in use and now they have changed to the 17th edition i'm having a little trouble on deciding whether i should use an Rcbo or a normal MBC for certain installations.

Is there any kind of quick reference guide out there that i can use to help me decide on what circuit breaker would be best for the job?

From what i have been reading so far it seams that basically everything needs to be protected by an RCBO or RCD some way or another... Help please :90:

Sintra · Jan 2, 2014

The current edition of the OSG would probably give you the quickest reference guide available.

MDJ · Jan 2, 2014

Sparkeylew said:
Hey guys, Happy new Year :smiley2:

I qualified when the 16th edition regulations where in use and now they have changed to the 17th edition i'm having a little trouble on deciding whether i should use an Rcbo or a normal MBC for certain installations.

Is there any kind of quick reference guide out there that i can use to help me decide on what circuit breaker would be best for the job?

From what i have been reading so far it seams that basically everything needs to be protected by an RCBO or RCD some way or another... Help please :90:

After reading your post fella I recommend you buy a BGBor take a 17th course, please do not be offended, however this is a silly post, how can we know what MCB is best for the Job when we do not know what earthing arrangement is in place, what circuit you need protection for and what the circuit is intended for, come on man get a grip.

dingledong · Jan 2, 2014

you must have quaified in 2000 latest or before as it all all 17th after that . thats a long time

MDJ · Jan 2, 2014

dingledong said:
you must have quaified in 2000 latest or before as it all all 17th after that . thats a long time

I qualified in mid eighties but still wouldn't ask that question, a silly post by the OP

UNG · Jan 2, 2014

dingledong said:
you must have quaified in 2000 latest or before as it all all 17th after that . thats a long time

As the 17th edition was released in January 2008 did you have a crystal ball if you were on the 17th in 2000

Octopus · Jan 2, 2014

Try his "other" post - that's an eye opener too.

Knobhead · Jan 2, 2014

Having read the OP’s other post. I think this one should be given a wide berth.

kingeri · Jan 2, 2014

There's something a bit scary about this guy.

UNG · Jan 2, 2014

kingeri said:
There's something a bit scary about this guy.

Only a bit scary just read his "other post" does CU change and then doesn't know what tests to do or cert he needs to produce and 2 months later wants advice on MCB's, RCBO's and RCD's and claims he is qualified, this is very very worrying or just a complete wind up

Shaun86 · Jan 2, 2014

UNG said:
Only a bit scary just read his "other post" does CU change and then doesn't know what tests to do or cert he needs to produce and 2 months later wants advice on MCB's, RCBO's and RCD's and claims he is qualified, this is very very worrying or just a complete wind up

please tell me this is all a wind up. a CU change but doesnt know what to use with regards to certs and even more of a worry, doesnt know which tests to carry out??? how did he manage to carry out testing prior to changing the CU???

Darkwood · Jan 2, 2014

The level of query from a company boss of 2-months is very worrying, these are basic questions you would expect of any apprentice he had ... im gob smacked and he says he qualified under 16th as an excuse ... well i qualified under 15th i don't do installation work as a rule more so machinery and breakdowns and irrespective of this i can run rings round a lot of qualified members on here who do it week in week out- (not trying to be bigheaded here :biggrin5

.... no excuse of not knowing your regulations as a whole - yes we all get confused and may bat ideas and debate the regs that can appear ambiguous but thats what the site is good for.

To the OP ... it seems you have fallen over a decade behind in regulation you will really find it hard to self teach the many changes that have happened over this period - jumping feet first into running a business is a bit --- about face TBH you should have done a few years with a company to bring yourself back up to level on the site and then taken 17th courses to bring you up to date...... only then would i consider going it alone if it was me.