What sort of RCD to fit?

[KittenKong]

The pinned topic has this to say about safety improvements:

 

The first step is to install a Front End RCD, you can get a Safe-T-Cut RCBO which goes before the consumer unit, or now you can replace the main switch with an Safe-T-Cut RCD depending on type and make. The Safe T Cut has settings of between 5mA and 30mA. You can get ones that are am 100mA, so I will use this for my illustration for now. Even without earths installed this is a life saving device, if you touch something that becomes live, then your body will make the path to earth, and open the RCD.

 

In my condo my small consumer unit is made by Safe-T-Cut. Model number STC6A. It contains one double-width 45A Safe-T-Cut breaker, and five single width breakers of less amperage. It looks like this but with a couple more slots:

 

 

There is just one empty single-width slot in mine. There are no earth leads anywhere in my condo or (as far as I know) in the building, and probably no real prospect of fitting them in my lifetime.

 

With a view to increasing safety as much as is practical I would quite like to fit an RCD. I would like to avoid drilling and additional wiring, and so I wonder if the quoted text in bold above applies to my situation and, if so, what model number RCD should I buy? Is it a direct replacement for the larger 45A breaker?

 

TIA.

[Crossy]

Can you post a photo of your distribution box with the lid off? Need to see if it's plug-in or DIN mount.

 

You need a 2-pole RCBO if you want to replace the incomer, plug-in ones are reasonably easy to find, DIN less so.

 

Or, you could replace the breaker for your outlets with a single width RCBO, also reasonably easy to find. Again need to know if it's DIN or plug-in.

[KittenKong]

18 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Can you post a photo of your distribution box with the lid off?

 

Thanks for your reply.

 

Well, that was an interesting experience. I've always avoided looking inside the consumer unit in case I found something nasty in there but in fact it's quite tidy and I even seem to have a few earth leads (though I dont know which sockets they go to or whether there is any outward connection to earth in the building). We live and learn.

 

Here is the photo:

 

 

 

[Crossy]

OK, it's plug-in which probably makes life easier

 

You can replace the incomer with an RCBO, 45A / 30mA. As to where to obtain same, do you have a specialist electrical place nearby?

 

Schneider or Square-D units should fit. Try a forum search for Schneider RCBO to get some links.

 

Do you have a man who can do the job for you? The incoming tails need to come out of the existing unit and go into the new, they will be live!! Not a job I particularly like doing, definitely not a job for the less experienced DIYer.

 

 

[KittenKong]

Thanks for that info.

 

I'm in Jomtien and the usual HomePro/Watsudu type places are all nearby. Not sure about specialist dealers though, but I'm sure they exist. I will keep my eyes open while driving about over the next week or so.

 

I'm happy with updating wall sockets (which is why I thought that I had no earth leads) and doing other minor electrical work if I can cut the power but I would not normally choose to work on live wires as you mention. So I had already thought about getting someone to do it. Having seen the inside of the box I am feeling happier about it as I do have decent insulated tools and suitable gloves, and there seems to be quite a lot of slack on the two incoming wires. There is also the possibility of cutting the supply temporarily at the meter, and I think the technicians in my building can do this. I dont know my own man but wherever I buy the device from may offer some sort of installation service also: the big names here certainly do though they probably cost more.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

When the technicians cut the supply, be sure to verify that fact yourself, and while working, be always aware the power could come back on when the 'techmicians' decide that you've had long enough to do the job.

 

Of no help to you, but helpful to readers with DIN mounts, ABB do some nice 2 pole RCD devices. I have one in my house. Theses are not RCBOs though, so you'll need separate overcurrent device alongside it.

Edited September 17, 2016 by NilSS