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421.1.201.

Zoomup
Mornin' All,

                      is there available an insulated enclosure, non conducting, suitable for a double pole D.I.N. rail mounted R.C.D. that complies with 421.1.201 please.


Z.
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    Zoomup:

    Thanks all. I was just checking to see if anything had changed after the long discussions about this subject in the past. I intend to place a 100mA S type R.C.D. before a new metal cased consumer unit on a TT earthed installation.


    Z.




    Fit it as the main switch inside the consumer unit and install the meter tails correctly. 


    Andy Betteridge 

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    No I do not think that I will take your advice Andy. I prefer a pre-consumer unit R.C.D.


    Z.
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    2. Modern terminals are p.p. and do not reliably grip the tails in my opinion. They are only a single screw device with shallow grip on the conductor. .


    Good call that man!


    It does worry me that conductive metal housings for consumer units has become the norm. Fully insulated consumer units have their merits in the domestic market from a purely electrical viewpoint in real world situations. I perceive it as less of a problem in the none domestic although I might be deluded.


    Thankfully I rarely work on TT systems but like Zoom said a pre consumer unit RCD housed in plastic would be my choice (yes I know its unlikely to be 30mA or less therefore not counted as personal protection but hey ho makes it safer IMHO)


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    You could argue that its another 2 sets of rubbish terminals to come lose though. Alright its an insulated enclosure but it would just pull out of the REC2 if it got knocked etc leaving an exposed conductor
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    Good point Dbat but I`m sure that those of us who take the precaution of a pre RCD in insulated enclosure are the ones most likely to put additional effort in absolutely minimizing that risk with clamps, cleats and the like thereby making them almost "bomb proof" from that scenario.
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    Totally agree ebee
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    So this is what I did today.


    Installed a 100mA S type R.C.D. in a plastic enclosure before the metal consumer unit. Installed 30mA R.C.B.O.s in the consumer unit. The main switch is just a 100 Amp. double pole switch in the new consumer unit. Installed a new 4 foot long earth rod and 16.0mm2 earthing conductor. I do not know the condition of the original rod as it is 30+ years old and may be rotted away as it can't be seen obviously, and I ain't gonna pull it out to have a look. It is left in situ and connected though. Bonded up oil supply pipe with 10.0mm2 green and yellow cable. I was going to bond up the main water pipe as well, it is already bonded in 6.0mm2, but upon further investigation I found that the supply pipe coming in from underground is in plastic. Hoooorray. So I just left the 6.0mm2 in place anyway on the internal copper pipe. There are lots of old cottage type floor tiles and the floors are damp downstairs. Securely fixed all tails with nice plastic S.W.A. cleats to prevent movement. Tested the installation. All good.


    Z.
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    Zoomup:

    So this is what I did today.




    Where's the picture? ?

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    Yes sounds good to me
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    Going to throw my weight behind the 'insulated enclosure with a dedicated upfront RCD' on all TT installations crew.  It'd be nice if there was a manufacturer who had the nouse to go back to phenolic for the enclosure and lid. THAT is practically non combustible under normal use (yes it will char and degrade, but isn't all melty like plastic CU's) and satisfies both camps.  The technology is still around as almost all accessories are made of it!


    The only disadvantage is fragility

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