18th ed Arc Fault Devices - £120 each!

[Gavin John Hyde]

Just watched this video on the GSH youtube channel
Crabtree have released there 2 module Arc Fault device, reckon they will be £120 each and needed on basically all non light circuits.
They dont say specifically but were 'hinting' as the video was likely made last week and would be interested if anybody has there 18th edition books already (mine come early this week) what it actually says.
I can see £120 per circuit adding quite a bit of money to the cost of a new CU.. will be a hard sell to the customer... hopefully the 6 month grace period means they will come down in price quite quickly.

 

[rolyberkin]

Aren’t we supposed to protect the neutral as well as the line?

They are a dual pole rcbo with twin busbar feeds looking similar to the sbs double pole unit.

 

[rolyberkin]

Aren’t we supposed to protect the neutral as well as the line?

They are a dual pole rcbo with twin busbar feeds looking similar to the sbs double pole unit.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

They are a dual pole rcbo with twin busbar feeds looking similar to the sbs double pole unit.

Does it have replaceable modules?

 

[rolyberkin]

Does it have replaceable modules?

It is in development, will let you know when someone releases it!

 

[the pict]

Well you know why the are omitting lights as a blown bulb can trip the OCPD how ay times have we seen that, these people arnt daft they see a buck in this

 

[MFS Electrical]

Ditto. Quite why he felt need to mention the fire at the Glasgow Art School is strange given that the cause of the blaze was flammable gases from a foam canister. Maybe amendment 1 will require Arc Fault Detection Devices to be fitted to cans of expanding foam.

I think he was talking about the fire in the tower block in Glasgow that happened exactly a year after grenfell probably was filmed before they knew the exact cause of the art school fire as well. I like your idea maybe we should put you forward for site safety innovator or something and get you writing health and safety standards

 

[bailes1992]

I went to the ECA Project 18 conference on Cardiff on Friday.

They were quite clear, AFDDs in the 18th are a reccomendation and not mandatory.

Basically it's something you should consider and speak to your client about.

 

[MG201]

Also, how do we test the things? Suppose they will introduce a special tester for a squillion quid!

i read that Megger have a test feature on there german model but would mean new testers were needed by all , these wont be mandated untill they are single units and costs are down

 

[freddo]

The blue books came through the door today. I'm almost too scared to open them from fear of what might be written inside.

From reading the 18th ed. posts on here, I don't think I want to be an electrician any more.

 

[Nigel]

Hagar don’t have any for sale in UK.

Eaton don’t sell any that fit into a DB or a CU for sale in this country.

The whole thing is a joke.

 

[thomaspotato]

Costing aside there is also the issue of nuisance tripping. This is quite an issue in the States where their Codes require the fitment of these devices with the exception of some areas. The problem being many appliances and circuit switching devices have inherent arcing taking place. So called nuisance tripping of rcd/rcbos can generally be resolved, wait until afds start joining the party.

they are only specified for bedrooms in US and Canada