RCD Protection

[carl9254]

Goin to quote a job tonight, went round yesterday for a quick look.

Basically there redecorating there master bedroom, there is only 1 double socket next to the door, they want 3 more around the room. Its an old use box with no rcd's and dont want to upgrade, will i be ok putting the new cables in steel earthed trunking?? Or shall i only do it if they upgrade??

 

[carl9254]

Mighty quick ha. Wot you mean about sockets?? I thought if cable is in conduit then no RCD needed?? Looks like il do the RCD spur though. A big thanks, and a cheers

 

[pushrod]

Mighty quick ha. Wot you mean about sockets?? I thought if cable is in conduit then no RCD needed?? Looks like il do the RCD spur though. A big thanks, and a cheers

The cable is excluded from 50mm rule if in steel conduit but the new sockets, i am fairly certain, still require rcd protection. eg if you were running cable for lighting in conduit you wouldn't need rcd for the circuit (but all new sockets do). So it's either upgrade the CU, RCD protect the ring or the fused rcd unit as the only options.

(the button is what i crave)

 

[sonobit]

I had a similar problem a while ago, and alot of the senior members on here were basically saying that i was responsible for the whole circuit i was working on, so it meant RCD the whole circuit at the board. Which i couldnt do either so i just ran a RCD fused spur instead...! easy option and you are protecting your own work.

If you can put a RCBO on the circuit at the board. You WILL need RCD protection on the sockets you install regardless!

 

[Risteard]

Socket outlets in a domestic premises require RCD protection.

 

[carl9254]

Ok thanks everyone just got back from quoting job. They have picked black nickel sockets etc very nice, trouble is my only supplier electric centre dont do em also this rcd switch fused spur is white, is there any others out there to match the black nickel??

Also when installing new sockets do i have to put them between 450mm and 1200mm or can i do them to match other sockets in the house??

 

[miner69er]

hi guys, thought i'd throw my hat into the ring here.. if you have other sockets in the room mounted outside 450-1200mm you are o.k to fit your new sockets at the same height, or if there are no other sockets in the room but you can see the sockets in the next room all the time (ie. there is no door to block the view)again they can be fitted at the same height. now if there are no other sockets in the room and the room has a door blocking the view to the next room then the sockets must be fitted between 450-1200mm to comply with regs.

 

[Amp David]

Thought the rule about socket and switch hieght was only for new builds.

Who's to know if you did or did not have existing sockets in a room?

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Fit the sockets in the normal way, test as usual and certify. Make a note on the cert regarding customer declines offer of upgrade due to cost and the walls must not be drilled or screwed into directly above/below/or horizontally from the sockets. Just because its not up to 17th doesnt make it unsafe. If you do as much as you can and its safe whats the problem, if you dont do it someone else will and can you afford not to lose the money. and i bet the someone else will be east european with bugger all standards unllike yourself.

It ****** me off when some clever **** decides to change the regs with no thought for the implications of those who have to work to them. Like loosing out on income because someone wants £100 worth of sockets, but they need £300 worth of new Cu etc etc and dont want it doing, then the customer thinks you are taking the ****.

 

[Risteard]

Fit the sockets in the normal way, test as usual and certify.

How do you certify that your work does not comply with the Regulations?

 

[Amp David]

Ok thanks everyone just got back from quoting job. They have picked black nickel sockets etc very nice, trouble is my only supplier electric centre dont do em also this rcd switch fused spur is white, is there any others out there to match the black nickel??

Also when installing new sockets do i have to put them between 450mm and 1200mm or can i do them to match other sockets in the house??

Toolstation > Electrical > Flat Plate Black Nickel Wiring Accessories > Flat Black Nickel Fused Spur 13A

Flat plate though. Don't know if they'll match

 

[Des 56]

Flatplate ugh
Used 20m boxes in a kitchen,the plasterer just about covered the box faces so very little depth
The customer then decides to get some flat plate nickel accessories
10mm extra depth required because the guts sticks out so far at the rear
I have never fitted 20mm socket boves since that revalation

 

[Amp David]

Don't like them either

 

[DYCHE4230]

Can't you just protect the whole ring at the board using an rcd in its own enclosure after the OCPD? probably cost the same as the rcd spur and protects the whole ring circuit..

 

[Steve D]

Regardless of whether you add one socket or adding a dozen, you are altering the circuit and therefore you need to ensure the entire circuit complies with 17th ed regs. Which essentially means an RCD or RCBO.

 

[Guest123]

Can't you just protect the whole ring at the board using an rcd in its own enclosure after the OCPD? probably cost the same as the rcd spur and protects the whole ring circuit..

My thoughts also. Although I would possibly remove the circuit from the existing CU, and extend into a stand alone enclosure with an RCBO.