Like for Like wherever you like....

[Octopus]

I like debating.
I can see your point about making an existing installation safer but laying a new circuit, brand new should only be allowed if the RCD is at the origin of the circuit.
That's just my opinion, it would help me sleep better at night.

I would agree that a brand new circuit would be best served by a RCD at source, which is how I would interpret 7671!

 

[telectrix]

agreed, but the fitting of RCD protection remote from the origin, is generally when an existing circuit is added to/modified, and the RCD is protecting the extension to the existing circuit. obviously, on a new circuit you would fit |RCD protection at origin , if ony to comply with 522.6.7

 

[La Poste]

I'm interested in this because a guy has asked me to electrify his garden.
He wants lights and an outside socket.
The consumer unit is inside the house and getting a new circuit from the CU to the garden is nigh on impossible without knocking half his house down.

The easiest way to do it would be to fit an RCDFCU from one of his existing ring mains in the house (non are RCD protected) but I just don't like the idea.
He wants lights and outside sockets installed.

I guess I could RCD the whole ring main from the CU but then that would add the possibility of nuisance tripping on the ring inside the house.

 

[Octopus]

I see many garden circuits around which have no RCD protection at all, so the RCD FCU is a step in the right direction IMHO! Adding a RCD to the whole circuit, as you say could well lead to nuisance tripping and that's not ideal either.

 

[telectrix]

RCD fitted to the whole rfc would be the better alternative. provided you IR test the rfc. you should not have tripping problems. all depends on the state of the rfc. test it first, then make an informed decision.

 

[La Poste]

Thanks.

I was thinking of maybe nuisance tripping from the garden, you know a bit of damp here and there tripping the RCD and knocking his TV out on a Saturday night.

I will be installing the garden sockets and will do my best to avoid any ingress of damp but you never know in the future.

 

[telectrix]

as long as you've got double pole isolation on the outdoor electrics, any problem there can be isolated so as not to trip the RCD.