Let’s have another think

[cliffed]

This electrical game is getting worse,in so many ways.
Wholesalers are giving us Split Db’s Rcd controlled, & these maybe obsolete soon.
Any DB with a Rcd AC type will not perform in the tripping time required if ... electronic equipment is being used.
How come they have just only found out about that.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Any DB with a Rcd AC type will not perform in the tripping time required if ... electronic equipment is being used. How come they have just only found out about that.

That's not strictly true. An AC type RCD will only fail to respond if some device on one of its circuits is producing DC or HF leakage, which generally things don't. Hazardous leakage events and shocks would often still be correctly detected, a fact that has always been known and understood. The concern is that with the increasing number of electronic devices in use that could theoretically defeat a type AC RCD, the likelihood of that happening is increasing and chipping away at the protection offered by the RCD. Now we have reached the point where it is genuinely worth moving up to more sophisticated RCDs.

 

[cliffed]

Agree, just had Niceic tell me all that,he does like to show off a bit.

 

[nicebutdim]

Leaving technical issues to one side, wholesalers are at the mercy of their customers. As long as electricians are buying these boards, therefore providing demand, wholesalers will continue to stock them.

If every customer turned their nose up at split boards, and drove away to competiting businesses, wholesalers would quickly stop ordering them and begin clearing them from stock.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Why anyone still fits a split rcd board is beyond me , it’s like putting square wheels on your new car ...

 

[littlespark]

Why anyone still fits a split rcd board is beyond me , it’s like putting square wheels on your new car ...

It’s down to customers I’m afraid. They’ll go with the cheapest option.
Split board or all rcbo. Both are compliant.

 

[Dustydazzler]

It’s down to customers I’m afraid. They’ll go with the cheapest option.
Split board or all rcbo. Both are compliant.

£75 ish quid difference between a shyt split rcd board or rcbo board

doesn’t even warrant giving them the choice imo

 

[littlespark]

No. Don’t give them a choice yourself, but if they have a quote from Barry Bodger that’s cheaper than yours, you’ve got to try and explain the advantages.

 

[pc1966]

Depends on your client base I guess, for some the extra £75 is nothing for the extra peace of mind, for others it is possible too much on what they already find expensive.

 

[nicebutdim]

Depends on your client base I guess, for some the extra £75 is nothing for the extra peace of mind, for others it is possible too much on what they already find expensive.

I'd agree with this, but also add that many (obviously not all) of those people probably pay close to that price difference in monthly TV subscriptions.

If stuff works, most people wont care how or why - at least not until nuisance tripping takes out half the board.

A good number of people will see the benefit in paying more, if it is explained in language they understand. These comments are based on general life experience and not on anything specific to the electrical industry.

 

[Zerax]

A mate of mine... has recently had 2 new boards installed in some rental properties he has... I only saw the pictures afterwards and he didn't ask me as he knew I was too far away... Hager split load boards with 5 circuits and about 5 spare ways each... and no SPD. He didn't know what he could have had... he's not an electrician... he negotiated what he thought was a good price for the latest boards !

 

[Dustydazzler]

i still don’t get when anyone would install a split rcd board these days , it really is penny Pinching

 

[nicebutdim]

i still don’t get when anyone would install a split rcd board these days , it really is penny Pinching

That explains split boards going into new houses, where builders will pay bare minimum to meet requirements.