RCD Quandary.

[telectrix]

basically, done a EICR for rental. 12 way wylex with 3871 MCBs, no RCD at all, so a few C2's and C3's. ideal world is a new CU with RCBOs, or even a dual RCD board. landlord won't pay more than necessary as it's a short term let and due to be demolished as soon as he gets planning for 2 houses on the land. upfront RCD would get rid of the "fails" on the installation, but 1 rogue circuit and the lot is dead. what would you do?

 

[telectrix]

update. gave him an unsat. EICR. he's panicking now, soa 13way BG dual RCD board ordered. fitting Monday.

 

[timhoward]

update. gave him an unsat. EICR. he's panicking now, soa 13way BG dual RCD board ordered. fitting Monday.

I wonder if soon we will be able to legitimately say "Do it quick before it's £100 per mandatory AFDD....."

 

[Mike Johnson]

Well we have combined RCD and MCB how long before we get readily available and sensibly priced AFRCBO :32A B 30Ma Rcbo Afdd Combined CPD, RCBO, RCD, GFCI, AFDD Circuit Breakers : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools - https://www.amazon.co.uk/30Ma-Rcbo-Combined-Circuit-Breakers/dp/B087387MGP

Cheaper: 2P 30MA 63A DC TYPE A RCD, RCBO, RCD, GFCI, AFDD CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR WYLEX | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383809351221? but looks wrong.

 

[Mikegh]

Interesting point

In general I prefer separates when it comes to most things electrical and electronic, not just protective devices for a few different reasons

Obviously when you combine an MCB and an RCD , fault finding can become a little more complicated.
Thrown in an AFD on top of that that with occasional random trips

I may be overthinking it

 

[Mikegh]

Then there's the total cost of the combined device if a section fails like rcd trip times

The whole thing is redundant at ~£300

Most of the reason I prefer separates in general for devices and equipment

 

[Avo Mk8]

Cheaper: 2P 30MA 63A DC TYPE A RCD, RCBO, RCD, GFCI, AFDD CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR WYLEX | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383809351221? but looks wrong.

Interested so I had a look - the photo on eBay is exactly the same as on the CPC/Farnell website (for the part number marked on it) which is just an RCD.
I wouldn't be tempted by the listing! I wonder what you actually get?
CPC price £58 (Inc. vat). Fleabay price £114.

 

[brianmoooore]

Interested so I had a look - the photo on eBay is exactly the same as on the CPC/Farnell website (for the part number marked on it) which is just an RCD.
I wouldn't be tempted by the listing! I wonder what you actually get?
CPC price £58 (Inc. vat). Fleabay price £114.

And a lot cheaper again (~£30) if bought from an electrical wholesaler. That's just a bog standard type A RCD.

 

[Mike Johnson]

As I said when I posted the link, it looks wrong.

 

[nicebutdim]

Interested so I had a look - the photo on eBay is exactly the same as on the CPC/Farnell website (for the part number marked on it) which is just an RCD.
I wouldn't be tempted by the listing! I wonder what you actually get?
CPC price £58 (Inc. vat). Fleabay price £114.

The guy selling that simply combs websites for products they think can be sold at a profit. You place an order and they buy from whatever website and have it sent to you - often they use your details to open an account with the site to cover their tracks and avoid being blacklisted. A lot of it is automated by paying a few ££ for software, so the vendor literally sits back and lets the business run itself - at least they do untill goods aren't as advertised or need to be returned for any reason.

Can't explain how they managed to come up with such an inaccurate description for an RCD as images and text are usually lifted straight from another website.

 

[pc1966]

Wylex already do combined RCBO/AFDD, DP switching and single width. Price is going to make you squeal though:

Consumer Units: Fuse Boxes & Fuse Boards

Explore our range of consumer units. NO MINIMUM ORDER, money back guarantee, FREE delivery over £50 ex VAT, 5⭐ reviews. Order fuse boxes & fuse boards here✅

www.discount-electrical.co.uk

Where is @Pretty Mouth when you need a bit of banjo to make folk paddle harder?

 

[pc1966]

Obviously when you combine an MCB and an RCD , fault finding can become a little more complicated.
Thrown in an AFD on top of that that with occasional random trips

I may be overthinking it

The issue of false trips and diagnostics to prove if the AFDD is dodgy or there really is a sparking event on the circuit is a major point to me. Already we need to allow for the occasional RCD trip for no apparent reason (OK, usually something switching), but when a customer has spent £1-2k on a new AFDD board they really are going to be unhappy if that is more common.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Agreed, the more things we combine together the more difficult it is to diagnose, I used to be able to work on my car engine without a problem, but not anymore, unless it's mechanical.

 

[Mikegh]

Agreed, the more things we combine together the more difficult it is to diagnose, I used to be able to work on my car engine without a problem, but not anymore, unless it's mechanical.

I'm not familiar with AFDs yet in practice but that would be my thinking

If.u had one of those combi things trip once a month you could end up doing a lot of troubleshooting

Probably not too bad I suppose if it's only rcbo combi

 

[Mikegh]

I'm not familiar with AFDs yet in practice but that would be my thinking

If.u had one of those combi things trip once a month you could end up doing a lot of troubleshooting

Probably not too bad I suppose if it's only rcbo combi

I suppose realistically for a DB that's the way it has to be
All the protection combined on a single mod device

 

[nicebutdim]

I'm not familiar with AFDs yet in practice but that would be my thinking

If.u had one of those combi things trip once a month you could end up doing a lot of troubleshooting

Probably not too bad I suppose if it's only rcbo combi

David Savery posted a number of videos about AFDDs, culminating with the video posted below. What stuck in my mind, relevant to the last couple of posts, is the fact that (at least some) AFDDs will indicate the type of fault detected when tripped.