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RCD socket outlet.

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Hi all,
Any comments on this one most welcome!
A customer wants me to replace an existing one gang 13 amp socket outlet with a double.
The problem is that there's no rcd protection there, so i'm thinking that as I am in effect adding a socket outlet I should fit an rcd protected one?
If I were replacing like for like it wouldn't bother me at all but the fact it's going to be a double makes me think an rcd protected one is the thing to do, just seems a bit ott to fit one rcd protected socket when there are probably 20 others that aren't rcd'd!
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  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    We should remember that members of the public with no training are perfectly entitled to change the accessories to any installation. If an untrained person chooses to replace a standard socket outlet plate for one with additional protection in the form of a RCD then that must surely be a good thing, regardless of what is upstream. 

    However, John is right to highlight the change to the regulation to professional installers. I don't think it is a mistake by the committee. In my view they are righting a longstanding wrong whereby the SRCD was designed not to compensate for an electrical installation which couldn't provide safe protection, but was designed as a supplement to an already good installation. Proffessional electricians are being encouraged to upgrade and improve existing installations rather than just opt for the soft option of fitting a SRCD on the end of it. 

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  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    We should remember that members of the public with no training are perfectly entitled to change the accessories to any installation. If an untrained person chooses to replace a standard socket outlet plate for one with additional protection in the form of a RCD then that must surely be a good thing, regardless of what is upstream. 

    However, John is right to highlight the change to the regulation to professional installers. I don't think it is a mistake by the committee. In my view they are righting a longstanding wrong whereby the SRCD was designed not to compensate for an electrical installation which couldn't provide safe protection, but was designed as a supplement to an already good installation. Proffessional electricians are being encouraged to upgrade and improve existing installations rather than just opt for the soft option of fitting a SRCD on the end of it. 

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