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Using RCBO to overcome high Zs but what about short circuits?

Sparkymania
This is something that occurred to me a while ago.

If the Zs is too high for the breaker to operate we ether install a downrated breaker is possible or an RCBO.

My supervisor said something about if an RCBO was installed for this reason then having to test for PSCC at the end of circuit but couldn't say why. He had been told this by NICEIC but no explanation as to why. I argued that this didn't make sense as PFC is only needed at the point where the protective device is and if it's lower at the DB than that of the PD then it will be even lower the further you go down the circuit. I've seen a video that has explained the reason. It's the current flow to trip the breaker on a short circuit rather than an earth fault. Obvious really when you think about it.

However, why would you use a max Zs for line to earth to make sure the resistance allows current flow to trip a breaker for a line to earth fault but not use the same for a line to neutral fault? Surely the impedances would be the same. You already have the max Zs to hand in many tables. With the PSCC you have to calculate what current is needed to trip the breaker or check the tables in the regs. Why do it one way for one and the other way for the other?

Therefore, if you had a C32 MCB with max Zs of 0.54 that would be the same for the line to neutral impedance. Why not just do a Ze then a Z line-neutral.

I see a problem with this as well. RCBOs are often used for higher measured Zs than max Zs if the breaker can't be downrated. But a lot of the time the impedance between line and earth and line and neutral can be almost the same and in a circuit wired with the same size CPC both impedances can be the same. So using and RCD to overcome Zs that's over the max still leaves a problem with a short circuit. This is never taken into account.

This is more an issue with thermal contraints than with shock protection.


I searched the post but couldn't find anything with this subject, although it might be there and I've used the wrong search words.
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    Thanks for the replies everyone.


    gkenyon. The last line in my comments was to Farmboy not to you. It was his post that didn't appear. Yours did. (You must of wondered what I meant by Farmboy. I wasn't calling you a farm boy, ha ha).


    Good points. It's hard to get it into my head because I was never taught this and no one I know does this. The forms only have Zs for each circuit.

    Sparkyninja's recent videos bring out the point that the standard test result sheet are not sufficient. 

    I've heard of the adiabatic equation of course, but have never used it. I don't know anyone who has. 


    Still, you've given me something to think about. The next time I test I will have this in mind, especially when I get a Zs reading higher than max Zs as that will give an indication that the line-neutral may have an issue as, especially if the CPC is the same size.

    With a little practice it should become clearer.



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  • 0
    Thanks for the replies everyone.


    gkenyon. The last line in my comments was to Farmboy not to you. It was his post that didn't appear. Yours did. (You must of wondered what I meant by Farmboy. I wasn't calling you a farm boy, ha ha).


    Good points. It's hard to get it into my head because I was never taught this and no one I know does this. The forms only have Zs for each circuit.

    Sparkyninja's recent videos bring out the point that the standard test result sheet are not sufficient. 

    I've heard of the adiabatic equation of course, but have never used it. I don't know anyone who has. 


    Still, you've given me something to think about. The next time I test I will have this in mind, especially when I get a Zs reading higher than max Zs as that will give an indication that the line-neutral may have an issue as, especially if the CPC is the same size.

    With a little practice it should become clearer.



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