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[Clive P]

Good evening Gents and Ladies,

Having recently retired, thought it was time to put my own house in order. I spend a lot of time doing work for friends and family ( all free ) wiring and other jobs ( as you know us Electricians gather quite a few skills in our working lives ). So I thought it was time I updated my own electrical installation.
TN-C-S usual readings , 10 circuits nothing out of the ordinary. I'm looking at replacing the CU ( 16th ) and some minor rewiring ( dare I say it, upstairs lights are twin ). Been looking at the CU and as it's my own place, I'm thinking to myself what shall I go for; 17th board with twin RCD's, RCBO's or SP S/N RCBO's or something which I design myself.

The question is, it's your property, you want to do the best you can for safety and maintenance and all the other issues that come to mind.
What would be your choice? ( I'm pretty sure I know which way I will go and will post this when I see what you have to say ).

Regards.

 

[Brightspark2]

If cost isnt an issue than RCBOs...


Thats the best way...

 

[bigbaddave]

As above, pricier but hay I love rcbo"s

 

[Octopus]

Could you not just add RCBO's to the current board?

We refurbished a house for ourselves last year and I fitted a RCBO board - Crabtree 18 way unit and I've used 14 ways!

 

[GMES]

Rcbo's all the way

 

[trev]

Without a doubt RCBOs.
I hope you're getting a properly registered spark in to carry out this work and notify it

 

[jay sean]

I have got a 'normal db' with rcbo protection to showers and sockets everything is on mcbs, new lighting ccts in to bathrooms are rcbo protected.

 

[bigdavs83]

I would say dual rcd board. Rcbo's for lighting circuits is just going over the score for me. An rcd board is more than adequate especially for a competent person such as yourself.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Good evening Gents and Ladies,

Having recently retired, thought it was time to put my own house in order. I spend a lot of time doing work for friends and family ( all free ) wiring and other jobs ( as you know us Electricians gather quite a few skills in our working lives ). So I thought it was time I updated my own electrical installation.
TN-C-S usual readings , 10 circuits nothing out of the ordinary. I'm looking at replacing the CU ( 16th ) and some minor rewiring ( dare I say it, upstairs lights are twin ). Been looking at the CU and as it's my own place, I'm thinking to myself what shall I go for; 17th board with twin RCD's, RCBO's or SP S/N RCBO's or something which I design myself.

The question is, it's your property, you want to do the best you can for safety and maintenance and all the other issues that come to mind.
What would be your choice? ( I'm pretty sure I know which way I will go and will post this when I see what you have to say ).

Regards.

this`l do:

 

[Engineer54]

In virtually all other installations apart from domestic, each circuit will have it's own protective device, it's how it's Always been!! The popular twin RCD CU's are just a compromise, based purely on cost. They can be a real pain in the arse trying to find leakage fault too. So if you want to go the whole hog on your PME/TNC-S installation, go down the Single module DP or 1PH + N RCBO's that are now available on the market.

I'm seriously thinking of replacing my RCBO, TT CU's with DP/1PH + N RCBO's, but i have a little bit more to think/work around as my CU's are 3 phase!! lol!!

 

[Silly Sausage]

Nowt wrong with a properly installed domestic job on overall RCDs.
I've had two trips in the last 10 years, 1st when I was messing about with the air pump on my bath, and 2nd, when the Mrs trapped the flex of the sandwich toaster between the plates and left it on.
Unless your house is infested with vermin or you're going to go around drilling holes in your walls at random, a dual RCD board is MORE than sufficient.

 

[Knobhead]

Still not got around to it but the two SP RCBO’s are getting the order of the boot out of my CU. No way am I paying Hager prices for DP units so a second RCD is going in.

How in the name of god SP RCBO’s ever made it on to the market I don’t know. They’re not fit for purpose.

Like Archy, I can't remember the last time I've had a RCD trip in anger.

 

[Engineer54]

Nowt wrong with a properly installed domestic job on overall RCDs.
I've had two trips in the last 10 years, 1st when I was messing about with the air pump on my bath, and 2nd, when the Mrs trapped the flex of the sandwich toaster between the plates and left it on.
Unless your house is infested with vermin or you're going to go around drilling holes in your walls at random, a dual RCD board is MORE than sufficient.

Nah, it's not MORE than sufficient, the single and dual RCD CU arrangements was, is and will always be a compromise.... Fine when everything is tickety boo, but as i say, can be a bloody nightmare tracing leakage faults over 4 or 5+ circuits... Besides, i'd say it's far more likely the RCD's will ''fail'' to operate rather than than the other way round, you then have multiple circuits being unprotected. ...Go on, now say that rarely happens, because RCD's are such reliable trouble free devices. ..lol!!

Anyway from what someone posted here not too long ago, the DP or 1PH + N RCBO''s weren't that expensive, or i wouldn't of even been thinking of changing out my RCBO's. I have to have around 28 plus a couple of 3 phase breakers!!!

 

[Knobhead]

There's always this method

 

[Engineer54]

Yep, the dual module DP RCBO's are another option, so long as you provide a very big CU to accommodate them all!! What's the norm these days 10 to 12 breakers in a typical 3 bed domestic??