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GFI Plug with a plastic earth pin

Well could I say (with foot in the mouth) that this masterplug attached to portable tools inserted  into a 13amp socket uses the human body ,or animal as the earth wire to trip the 10mA RCBO device in the event of an earth fault.( PRCDKB Non-Latching RCD Safety Plug).  Rated at 16A it also has a 13 amp fuse with BS 1363 marked on the pins side . I think myself that it is so sensitiive that there is no need for an earth connection.

PROTECTS AGAINST DAMAGING AND DANGEROUS POWER SPIKES: The RCD adaptor is non-latching, so the power needs to be reset after each use, making it ideal for the protection of home appliances

SAFE FOR HOME USE AS MANUFACTURED TO BS 7071 1992: With the one socket for

  connecting devices to the RCD adaptor

BUT could Mr pat really ask for £3 for pressing a test button. 

Regards

jcm 



  • Well could I say (with foot in the mouth) that this masterplug attached to portable tools inserted  into a 13amp socket uses the human body ,or animal as the earth wire to trip the 10mA RCBO device in the event of an earth fault.( PRCDKB Non-Latching RCD Safety Plug).  Rated at 16A it also has a 13 amp fuse with BS 1363 marked on the pins side . I think myself that it is so sensitiive that there is no need for an earth connection.



    Sounds odd, do you have a link?


    The only application for a RCD (rated 30mA or below) without a c.p.c. that comes to my mind if it were to fed a class II (double/reinforced insulation) appliance, but for some reason additional protection was also needed (perhaps the two-core flex was considered vulnerable to damage, potentially allowing direct contact).


    If they're using the term GFI or GFCI then it perhaps has a US influence, where I understand they do allow (in certain circumstances) a socket to be supplied via an RCD instead of being provided with an earth (ground) connection - but then I'd expect a nominal rating of closer to 6mA rather than 10mA.


       - Andy.
  • An RCD does not need an earth connection to work. They can give useful extra shock protection if used with a double insulated/all insulated appliance.

  • I do not understand the point being made.


    RCDs are specifically for occasions when a person, or animal, is the earth path.


    Googling the model number results in https://cpc.farnell.com/masterplug/prcdkb/rcd-safety-plug/dp/PL14216  which appears to have a metal earth pin.


  • It is  RCCB Type A'' symbol shown on plug  AC 50Hz pulse. 10Ma.

    www.doepke.co.uk/.../Techpub-08.pdf


    You can see this plug (with plastic earth pin) on the Diamond stone cutter in Aldi store.


  • It sounds to me more like a Inline RCD that has been wired up with a plug that has a plastic earth pin.


    If the equipment it is protecting is hard wired to it and double insulated it should be just as well protected, unless the RCD device is referenced to earth.


    But if it’s on an extension lead with a trailing socket that any appliance can be plugged into then there’s a major issue.


    Andy Betteridge
  • JCM said in his original post that it also says protects against dangerouse spikes so is it possible it's a combined RCD and surge suppressor I've never seen such a beast so don't know if it's even something that's made if it is then it certainly should have a proper plug on the end this device sounds iffy all round is it possible we could have a photo of it? That would help a lot Ok silly me I've seen he photos now it is an inline RCD as others have said but I don't see how it can protect against spikes think that's a miss translation somwhere

  • You can see this plug (with plastic earth pin) on the Diamond stone cutter in Aldi store.



    So sounds like it might be an RCD plug dedicated to a double-insulated appliance. If so that doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

     

    I don't see how it can protect against spikes




    A double insulated appliance that desn't have a c.p.c. can't 'see' the voltage difference between line conductors and earth(*) - so a single SPD connected between L and N would provide all the protection it needs.


    (* OK it might be able to see the voltage difference between live conductors and true earth if it was left outside on the lawn or somesuch, but then I would expect the substantial plastic case to provide adequate separation)

     




    RCDs are specifically for occasions when a person, or animal, is the earth path.




    Just to be absolutely clear in case someone else reads this - RCDs can be used in at least two different ways (sometimes simultaneously) - firstly to provide ADS (usually where the earth loop impedance is too high for overcurrent protective devices to do the job) - in these cases the earth path is intended to be a c.p.c. (not the victim) and potentially allows disconnection to occur before any person or animal risks a shock; and secondly for additional protection where RCDs rated 30mA or below (but never higher rated ones) where the earth path may only be via the victim. UK wiring regs specifically prohibit relying on additional protection alone - it may only be used in addition to ADS (thus requiring a c.p.c. to be present) or some other equally effective measure (such as double/reinforced insulation) - and I would expect appliance standards to follow similar principles.


      - Andy.