been told we need an RCD board. old house, 4 bed (technically) usual kitchen appliances and PC running a lot of the time, telly, dvd player chargers on and off all the time. extensions, printers etc but I'm looking at the variety on offer and I'm a bit confused as to what type to get. i gather it should be dual but unsure what er um capacity to get, and gather also that some RCDs are tripped by just plugging in an appliance so i want to avoid too sensitive one. or should I ask an electrician to provide it? I know I need to get a NICE qual electrician but what else should I look for when bookng one?
the wiring in the house is mostly about 25 years old so if that would make an RCD pointless and likely to trip all the tme without a completely rewire then it will just have to wait. can't afford a complete rewire yet
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Hello
I would recommend that you leave it to the electrician to provide the new ccu (fusebox) as is qualified to choose the proper one.
When you plug a device and the RCD trips doesn't mean is too sensitive rather that this specific device is faulty and the RCD picks up the fault. Its purpose is to protect you from this kind of thinks. 30ma it's the one that you should have in a residential premises.
You mentioned that the house is old. If it's far too old you may need to re-wire it as well. Just recently I re-wired this flat where its installation was so old and replacing the ccu wouldn't solve anything. In short if you get a new ccu and the RCD trips that means is something wrong with the rest of your electrics.
The two RCDs is not a requirement from the regs but it's practical in case that one of the two can't be reenergized, after a fault, you won't end up with your house completely without power, but you need at least one. Some people prefer RCBOs where every individual circuit has its one RCD but it's and bit pricy option.
Hope this helps
George
Eru Electrics
I suggest by your questions that you leave it up to the electrician. He will know all the right stuff to get and why. As some of your conclusions are a bit off beam. By the way, don't get a qualified electrician confused with a registered one. You require on completion an Electrical Installation Certificate & notification to building control, a part p registered one can install, test, self certify and notify building control. NICEIC are not the only part p providers, go online and look for some on the register of competant electricians in your area.
