RCD testing

[king]

When you have a RCD as a main switch i have allways tested each circuit on the RCD but i got told today that you only need to test the RCD once is this right or am i right??

 

[m4tty]

Thought you just tested at the nearest socket to the board

 

[king]

Thought you just tested at the nearest socket to the board

ok so i`m wrong! saves a lot of time thanks

 

[electric-ian]

Yep, once is enough cos youre just testing the same trip over and over.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Yes just once. I was advised by my Elecsa assessor to test it at the board before connecting up all the circuits in the CU. Makes sense because this makes it easier to get at if it is found to be faulty. So what i do now is build the board up, fit it, connect supply, and then power up and test RCD, after doing the Ze and PFC of course.

Cheers............Howard

 

[king]

hi thanks I have just started house bashing for the first time I normly do comercial and industrial I cant belive how slap dash the standard of the work that they expect is i`m finding hard to work down to their level, it been a real eye opener now i see why they felt the part p was needed in domestic work

 

[cornburn]

As everyone's said, only needs doing once. You said when RCD is main switch though, as far as I know RCD can't be used as main isolator under 17th, it needs to be a separate double pole isolator?

 

[electric-ian]

As everyone's said, only needs doing once. You said when RCD is main switch though, as far as I know RCD can't be used as main isolator under 17th, it needs to be a separate double pole isolator?

RCD as MS is fine so long as its double pole, can take the load and has the required contact seperation...

 

[cornburn]

RCD as MS is fine so long as its double pole, can take the load and has the required contact seperation...

Mmm, handy to know. Thanks Ian

 

[A-Non-eMouse]

RCD as MS is fine so long as its double pole, can take the load and has the required contact seperation...

......not sure if this is true. isnt this why we seperate our 17th edition dual rcd boards into one rcd covering upstairs lights, downstairs sockets etc AND 2nd rcd downstairs lights, upstairs sockets etc. so in the event of a fault eg. if a lightbulb pops it doesnt turn the whole house off?

 

[electric-ian]

You make a fair point. but I suppose it depends if you are putting in a new cu or doing a pir on an existing.
Of course best practice is to install MS & 2 or more RCDS these days and I always go this route unless the customer is prepared to pay for a board full of RCBO's.

Chapter 53 does say that RCD's are suitable devices for isolation and I cant see anything that stops you using them at the origin particularly...

Although..314.1.(i) - Every installation shall be divided into circuits as necessary to avoid hazzards and minimise inconvenience in the event of a fault - is probably the reason we are all now using the new type of boards... If its a PIR, then its probably worth making a note of it.

Any thoughts people??

 

[Sintra]

An RCD should not be used as a main switch. 314.2.