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30mA RCDs for sockets - AMD2

As you many (or may not) have noticed, AMD2 deletes the option to omit 30mA RCD protection for socket outlets (by documented risk assessment). So then ALL sockets rated ≤32A will need to be on a 30mA RCD.


This strikes me as unhelpful for some situations - e.g. feeds to server racks in data centres where the cumulative protective conductor currents will likely nuisance trip a 30mA device and hard-wiring instead using plugs & sockets is undesirable as non-skilled persons (electrically) are likely to need to be able to disconnect/reconnect the supplies to racks (sometimes under 'duress' conditions).


There are probably other situations too - I've seen 16A sockets used to feed lights high up in major railway station canopies (presumably so the fittings can be readily disconnected and brought to ground level for maintenance) - where I guess the risk of loss of lighting far outweighs the risk from shock.


OK we possibly get around the letter of the regs by hard-wiring to a short length of flex and having a connector (trailing socket) on the end of that (thus side-stepping the definition of a socket outlet which has to be connected to fixed wiring) - but that hardly seems to be in the spirit of the regs, nor necessarily a good technical solution where a fixed socket would have been the better solution.


Further thoughts?


  - Andy.
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  • I think that this is as OMS says, simply completing a job started many years ago. Whether it is technically feasible is more interesting. It will mean those larger appliances which have high inrush current will either have oversize sockets or be wired in directly.  This is probably not a good solution as the CPD will either be undersized for the socket or the flexible cable undersized for the CPD. Neither of these is a serious problem, but somewhat undesirable. My compressor tends to trip the circuit RCD occasionally due to inrush current, I put up with it as I do not want it permanently wired, the socket is also used for other things. I could fit more wiring but it is just too much trouble. The best choice, do nothing!
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  • I think that this is as OMS says, simply completing a job started many years ago. Whether it is technically feasible is more interesting. It will mean those larger appliances which have high inrush current will either have oversize sockets or be wired in directly.  This is probably not a good solution as the CPD will either be undersized for the socket or the flexible cable undersized for the CPD. Neither of these is a serious problem, but somewhat undesirable. My compressor tends to trip the circuit RCD occasionally due to inrush current, I put up with it as I do not want it permanently wired, the socket is also used for other things. I could fit more wiring but it is just too much trouble. The best choice, do nothing!
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