rcd protection on sockets

[deanmac]

hi guys if a bank of 20 sockets wired in surface trunking on a radial circuit,these sockets would be used for computers gameboys and music equipment,my question is would they need to be rcd protected ? i know normally they would not,it's just that my mate said if protecting computers they should, i cannot find anything on this

 

[deanmac]

Why didnt you just look it up in your copy of the regs?

I did just wanted opinions and obviously they differ

 

[deanmac]

Why didnt you just look it up in your copy of the regs?

I did just wanted opinions and obviously they differ

 

[westward10]

So why are you avoiding rcd protection.

 

[Dillb]

I did just wanted opinions and obviously they differ

But its pretty clear in BS7671, unusual I know but still its all there. So hardly a grey area.

 

[westward10]

Guess we will never know why he is omitting rcd protection.

 

[deanmac]

My thoughts were because of the amount of equipment that is going to be plugged in, wanted to minimise nuisance tripping, however could use a rcbo

 

[Pete999]

My thoughts were because of the amount of equipment that is going to be plugged in, wanted to minimise nuisance tripping, however could use a rcbo

Deleted not enough info for my reply

 

[Lucien Nunes]

This is a matter of being sensible and reasonable. If the total leakage is enough to cause nuisance tripping, it's possibly enough to cause injury. He's planning to be using the circuit for handheld devices etc where the user might be the only earth path, so rather than pretending the problem doesn't exist, a high-integrity earth is probably warranted. Correctly specced RCDs / RCBOs will not suffer from nuisance tripping, so don't put people deliberately at greater risk by omitting them.

The exemption is to deal with specific situations where the socket is only ever going to be used for a specified piece of equipment, that might need to be taken down for service or fitted after wiring is completed etc. so needs a plug, as per the roller shutter mentioned. Permanently installed networking hardware is another, where a socket is needed because the power supply is a plug-in wall-wart type, but the equipment is permanent. No-one is going to plug a vacuum cleaner with a gashed flex or damaged Game Boy power adaptor into the dedicated socket above the office ceiling in place of the network switch. A socket on the wall in a house is different - there is no valid reason for exemption.

 

[westward10]

I think you are treading dangerously omitting additional rcd protection on the grounds you will label them computer use on the say so of your mate. Labelling of sockets for specific use often renders them as such due to their location eg. behind a fridge. The sockets you intend to install could be used for any purpose and if the worse came to the worst neither NAPIT or your mate will be holding your hand in a court of law.

 

[telectrix]

I did say they are for a friend who assures me they are for his computers only

Hitler assured Chamberlain that his territorial needs were fulfilled after invading Czechoslovakia. (xcuse spelling if it'swrong).

 

[deanmac]

Thanks for your replies I'll use a rcbo

 

[Midwest]

Hitler assured Chamberlain that his territorial needs were fulfilled after invading Czechoslovakia. (xcuse spelling if it'swrong).

You in the wrong thread, replying to SWD

 

[Intoelectrics]

Thanks for your replies I'll use a rcbo

If you are worried about nuisance tripping, if practically possible, why not split the radial into 2 or 3 circuits rather than one? As Lucien mentioned, if the accumulative earth leakage is sufficient to trip the rcd then it could be dangerously high anyhow, potentially making the circuit unsafe to use. Omitting the rcd rather than re-designing the install is not the answer. It is your duty as an electrician to design any install to a safe standard for all possible scenarios.

You cannot rely on a person's "word" that nothing else will ever be plugged in. You know as well as I do that this just doesn't happen in real life.

I think you are doing the right thing by installing a rcbo

 

[Wilko]

If you are worried about nuisance tripping, if practically possible, why not split the radial into 2 or 3 circuits rather than one?

Yes, great idea. Dim memory of 3mA worst case for plug in IT kit (?), so 20 outlets = 4 rcbo and all will be well .

 

[littlespark]

Still surprised that so much IT equipment can be classed as a domestic installation.

Reminds me of another recent thread