fused connection to rcd socket in suspended ceiling

[edward cooper]

Hi we have had a new over head projector fitted at work so its commercial not domestic situation.
The electrician came in and spured off an existing socket with 13a fused switch. ok i know. Then ran it in trunking up the wall to the suspended ceiling. Then its run over the top of the suspended ceiling to the correct tile by the projector and then terminated in to rcd socket which is not fixed down and no one knows is there which also keeps tripping.

What do you think off this. I work not as an electrician but i have done 2330 level 2/3 rthe 17th edition and about to start 2391 in september but do not have vast experience.

To me its not correct.

 

[Octopus]

Does the RCD trip with nothing plugged in? If this is a recent change you need to call the electrician back in to fault find and resolve your issues.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Is the RCD socket a non-latching type?....These require resetting after power failure so if you switch off via the 13a fused switch..................
As projectors are invariably class II it is unlikely to be a fault with the appliance tripping the RCD socket.

 

[londonlec]

Minor detail I know, but I would have used a RCD spur, feeding a standard socket above the ceiling.
Fixed to something solid.

.... Actually the RCD may not be required if the cables are surface mounted and the the socket will just be used for a projector!

 

[SimpleSimon]

Pointless using an RCD as your a commercial property with surface mounted cables. 

 

[High Tower]

As its surface and its out of reach, it could probably be classed as for use by instructed persons, and would not need a rcd, however...;.. it shouldnt be hidden in the ceiling, at the very least it should be fitted to the ceiling tile, using a dry lining box not just floating around, and the tripping needs further investigating.

Get the spark back!

 

[Adam W]

I agree - the rcd is an unnecessary nuisance. If you're going to have one at all it needs to be in an accessible position.
Those projector installers never seem too fussed about the quality of their work.

 

[SimpleSimon]

As its surface and its out of reach, it could probably be classed as for use by instructed persons, and would not need a rcd, however...;.. it shouldnt be hidden in the ceiling, at the very least it should be fitted to the ceiling tile, using a dry lining box not just floating around, and the tripping needs further investigating.

Get the spark back!

So High Tower you don't agree with a socket for it being fixed to the ceiling itself above the suspended ceiling?

 

[High Tower]

So High Tower you don't agree with a socket for it being fixed to the ceiling itself above the suspended ceiling?

No, I disagree because the socket is not fixed it's just floating around on it's cable, that is a code 1 violation!!

As has been said it should all be fixed and accessible and the rcd probably is surplus to requirements

 

[telectrix]

i would fit a surface FCU secured to the underside of the tile, with a 1/4" piece of ply (tile size) above the tile to give a solid fixing.

 

[SimpleSimon]

I would put a switched FCU labelled on the wall, trunk up to the suspended ceiling, clip onto the real ceiling out of site to a surface mounted socket box connected to the real ceiling.

 

[Adam W]

I'd do the same as SimpleSimon - the bracket for those projectors usually has a facility for hiding the cable inside so all that has to poke out from above the tile is the connectors on the ends of the cables (IEC, VGA etc). No need for an rcd because the cables are surface mounted and unless "work" is a particularly unruly school where the kids are likely to start swinging from the projector, it will be sufficiently 'out of reach.'

Alternatively you could get this 'electrician' character back and tell him he's not very good.

 

[High Tower]

Yea I'd pretty much agree with the above, the only thing is instead of screwing through the ceiling tile into ply, just cut a dry lining back box into the tile, like you would for a fan isolator in a commercial bog

 

[edward cooper]

Thankyou for your replys very informative for me. I thought myself that it should be fixed down but was unsure to the rules that apply to commercial buildings as to whether the rcd was required. The Rcd does trip only when the fused connection is turned off so that is ok.

If it is a code 1 violation what are your recommendations.

look forward to your replies

 

[SimpleSimon]

It's not a code 1. Recommend you get the sparky back and tidy his mess up. If he wont come back well let us know n we'll give you the regulation number it violates.