RCD for electric grass cutter

[alphason]

I have an electric grass cutter, I need to buy a new extension flex for it but didn't see one with or even a seperate RCD to protect myself if I was to damage the flex. Are they available here in Thailand?

 

Also the distribution box had those kind of switch breakers that very occasionally trip, are these acting as an rcd already, so no need to add/buy another?

 

Thanks.

[Crossy]

Do any of the breakers in the distribution box have a "Test" button? If yes, they are RCD / RCBO and (provided they control the circuit you are using for the cutter) will do the job nicely.

 

I've not seen either plug-in RCDs or RCD extension leads here. Safe-T-Cut do make RCD outlets so installing one of them would protect you (assuming you plug the mower into it).

 

I made my own RCD extension lead with a 500 Baht RCBO (already in a box, it just needed a plywood back plate screwed on to keep fingers out) from HomePro. Works like a charm when I cut the hedge-trimmer cable.

[alphason]

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

Do any of the breakers in the distribution box have a "Test" button? If yes, they are RCD / RCBO and (provided they control the circuit you are using for the cutter) will do the job nicely.

 

I've not seen either plug-in RCDs or RCD extension leads here. Safe-T-Cut do make RCD outlets so installing one of them would protect you (assuming you plug the mower into it).

 

I made my own RCD extension lead with a 500 Baht RCBO (already in a box, it just needed a plywood back plate screwed on to keep fingers out) from HomePro. Works like a charm when I cut the hedge-trimmer cable.

 

Thanks, in that case I don't think I am protected by the distribution box, see attached pic. Its not a strong grass cutter just a strimmer style with just plastic string 'blades' (actually I use fishing line) so unlikely to cut the flex but you never know. Will look into your diy version , have seen some on ebay not Thai socket but  would this one with a US socket work....

"rated voltage:200-260v

rated current :13A

Endurance test time:more than 20000

Color:white

Tripping time:less 0.1s

Breaking Capacity :250A"

 

Edited September 13, 2016 by alphason

[Crossy]

No earth leakage protection in that Square-D unit

 

[alphason]

35 minutes ago, Crossy said:

No earth leakage protection in that Square-D unit

 

 

Not a lot I can do its a rented house.

 

I've looked for an in line RCD to make my own but not much choice and more expensive than a plug in,  I can get one with a US socket with the spec I mentioned above, a UK socket version is a bit more exensive.

[bankruatsteve]

Those type of grass cutters are almost always double insulated.  I wouldn't give it a worry.

 

[Lamkyong]

are almost always double insulated.  I  mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Crossy]

It's not necessarily the mower you need to be protected from, as noted they are invariably double-insulated, but when you cut the cable you want to be protected from bare and live ends.

 

I would be wary of relying on anything intended for use in the US, 220V there is balanced about ground, here it's 220V relative to ground.

 

This is my (well used) DIY one, RCBO and box was about 500 Baht from HomePro, cable (3 core with a moulded plug) and traily Shuko outlet were "in stock".

 

Note the RCBO is 30A / 15mA, I'm not interested in the over-current rating as the circuit is on a 20A MCB anyway, so it's being used as a 15mA RCD.

 

 

 

 

 

[bankruatsteve]

What does need protection from the mower is when shit happens.  But, not from electrical.  When using this type of mower - or any type of mower, one should wear protective eye-ware, gloves, boots, and protective clothing.  IE: mowing in a bikini and flip-flops is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

When I have "cut the cord" on occasion, it always tripped the over-current breaker.  But, Crossy's RCD solution adds protection.

[longball53098]

Safe T Cut sells this product. I own one and use it all the time outdoors.

 

http://safe-t-cut.com/en/?option=com_content&view=article&id=300%3Arcd-plug

[Crossy]

Interesting Longball, do they sell it with the right plug?

 

[wayned]

Dave,

 

Where did you buy the Schuko trailing sockets?

[Crossy]

6 minutes ago, wayned said:

Dave,

 

Where did you buy the Schuko trailing sockets?

 

Megahome, Rangsit.

 

[kamalabob2]

When my wife uses a Bosch electric lawn mower or Makita electric hedge trimmer is the garden she uses a Haco extension cord with Earth Leakage protection or the Sumo electric cable on a reel with Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker Protection. There might be better products sold in Thailand. The outdoor sockets at our home have RCBO breakers in the Schneider Square D load center for those sockets. 

[longball53098]

You get the RCD unit and add whatever trailing socket you want be it a full length extension cord or a short "pigtail" as I have. I use the Schuko adapter to get the earth pin.

 

[Crossy]

So that would be a "no" to my question in post #11

 

It beats me  (actually, no it doesn't) why a Thai outfit like Safe-T-Cut sell a unit in Thailand which has an inherent safety flaw (no ground continuity without buying an adaptor), grrr.

 

In reality most power and garden tools are double-insulated anyway, so no ground is required, but it's still the wrong plug.

 

Does it open both L and N poles? If not it's worse than useless

 

[alphason]

Thanks for the replies, Ive looked around a bit yesterday and did not come across any ready made solutions, a few extension leads said safety cut out and the assistants said this is what was needed, but I don't think they understood properly and I was not convinced it was an RCD from the packaging.

 

Still the most handy thing would be a plug in solution so can use with any other appliances as needed,  If I had seen that T-Cut unit I would have probably bought it, I don't understand exactly what is wrong with that if anything, (The black & decker grass cutter has no earth anyway), out of interest how much are they?

 

Crossys response to the plug in RCD ith  US socket version I found on ebay suggest maybe a UK plug in RCD would be better with an adaptor to Thai sokets ?? (or maybe I just carry on without anything as I have done for a few years anyway)

 

Thanks.

Edited September 15, 2016 by alphason

[Crossy]

The Safe-T-Cut unit will be just fine with Class-2 (double-insulated) appliances, but it still has the wrong plug for Thailand, like so many other (mostly Class-1) appliances

 

[alphason]

16 hours ago, Crossy said:

The Safe-T-Cut unit will be just fine with Class-2 (double-insulated) appliances, but it still has the wrong plug for Thailand, like so many other (mostly Class-1) appliances

 

 

Thanks

[kamalabob2]

Slightly more expensive than the Sumo brand when comparing cable wire size and length is the fine quality Haco brand outdoor safety extension cable I bought at the Buriram HomePro store in 2012. This is also a three wire grounded electrical extension cable reel my wife uses in our garden.