Most reliable RCD brand.

[La Poste]

Greetings.

There has been much talk of the unreliability of RCD's lately so I was wondering what are peoples thoughts on the most reliable.

Do you have a favourite brand?

What do you think is the worst brand?

I am hearing quite good things about MK brand but they are quite pricey.

Thanks.

 

[High Tower]

Mk boards are horrid IMO, I used to like Crabtree but most recently they have been blighted with faulty RCD's and RCBO's.

So in my eyes that leaves me with the only option of hager

 

[Andy78]

Anyone tried the Schneider domestic units ? Quite fancy the look of them as really liked Merlin when I was doing industrial and commercial.
And yes, Hager are very reliable. My first choice usually.
I have used the MK CUs before and quite liked them. I found them to be a good rigid case as oppose to the rubbery flimsyness of Hager cases, but a bit pokey on room and the way they were laid out.

 

[supasparxs]

Anyone tried the Schneider domestic units ? Quite fancy the look of them as really liked Merlin when I was doing industrial and commercial.
And yes, Hager are very reliable. My first choice usually.
I have used the MK CUs before and quite liked them. I found them to be a good rigid case as oppose to the rubbery flimsyness of Hager cases, but a bit pokey on room and the way they were laid out.

You mean Merlin Gerrin

The Schneider group are re-branding all their ranges under the main company name

And I do like Merlin Gerrin

 

[High Tower]

I prefer the more flexible cases on Hager, they are designed that way so they don't crack if you cock up!

 

[Darkwood]

define unreliable...... most rcd's are prone to an effect known as blinding and can fail to function when they should due to disturbances up and/or downstream, the problem been is most sparkies just fit bog standard rcd's not realising they may be the incorrect type for the job thus when they need to trip they can fail to do so this is more in commercial and industrial installs and unless your domestic property is tapped to same supply as the local office block or industrial unit then it shouldn't affect you , its not usually any fault of the rcd but distorted mains that cause the issues.

 

[La Poste]

Look at these:

Meteor Electrical Wholesaler |Trade Electrical Supplies | Free Delivery UK and Ireland

There are some really cheap RCD's and RCBO's here, has anyone tried any of these?

Double pole RCBO's for £11.

 

[D80]

Not used the RCBO's, the RCD's to date have been fine, no failures or issues with them.

On the original topic I don't think there is one? Have used and come across failures with MK (far too many failures really! About 20-30% failed on a PIR in factory around 3 year years back, although lack of mechanical testing doesn't help, that's the norm!), Crabtree, Europa, Hager, MEM/Eaton, Square D and so on I have had fails on. The Europa is a heap of junk that trips as and when it wants. The life of an RCD seems all to brief really.

I don't think any of the newer stuff is up to the task. Has anyone been in many houses where the RCD is tested? I know I haven't. The old BS 4293 seems to last a lot longer, I think its mainly the Wylex make I come across with the big twist reset button.

 

[Jimmyb]

I love hager, had a couple of mk ones bad so switched to hager and would never use anything else

 

[supasparxs]

Look at these:

Meteor Electrical Wholesaler |Trade Electrical Supplies | Free Delivery UK and Ireland

There are some really cheap RCD's and RCBO's here, has anyone tried any of these?

Double pole RCBO's for £11.

I don't know this make,
however I do know one local wholesaler sells QED RCBO's for about £16+ vat each
it really brings the cost down if you are doing a fully loaded RCBO board for a customer.
I put one of these in my house last year

 

[stretchyboy]

We often use the ProElec ones from CPC which are about 10.50 ish when they are on a deal, not sure how much normally but would expect it to be under 15. We have used these for many years now and regularly stock our stores about 50 at a time and same amount of MCB's and we restock every couple of months, so we do use them a lot. We have never had a dodgy rcbo and they always give good test times. They are soft plastic so forgiving if dropped, look good and do sit squarely in the mains boards. Also compatible with hager/ MK/ Moeller/ Doepke boards and some others too.

 

[mr murdock]

Not used the RCBO's, the RCD's to date have been fine, no failures or issues with them.

The Europa is a heap of junk that trips as and when it wants. The life of an RCD seems all to brief really.

Never had any issues with Europa CU boards myself, cracking value for money IMO and they offer technical support on their products for numptys who don’t know how to install the kit correctly J presumably you are cutting the bussbar from the mainswitch first else the RCD will trip... Heap of junk is not fair or true..