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Can you replace just the RCD, instead of whole consumer unit?

Former Community Member over 4 years ago

My apartment failed it's EICR due to the electrician not being able to trip the RCD in the required time. I am told that the RCD cannot be replaced and a new metal consumer unit must be installed at a quote of £1180. The apartment was built in 2003 and seems overly wasteful to ditch the whole unit, however I am not an electrician so would welcome some guidance please before I commit to this remedial action.

This is the RCD currently fitted:
5760S | MK 63 A RCD Switch, Trip Sensitivity 30mA | RS Components (rs-online.com)

It appears it worked within spec for above 30mA, but failed for below, if that helps with whether the whole consumer unit must be replaced. See report.
Capture2.JPG

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0 Former Community Member over 4 years ago

mapj1:

To test an RCD fully involves more tests at different fault currents.

I presume it always fires smartly on the test button like you test it every few months... (yeah right...)

For that model it should always trip at 30mA or above. and may trip at faults between 15mA and 30mA

and should never trip below 15mA.

It is common to test at 30mA and 150mA, and perhaps 15mA as well.

That is not an IET standard form, but is presumably created by some testing sofware, and has most but not all of the same stuff.

It does look like a discontinued model, but there seem to be a few places still with stock, so if that is the only issue it may well be worth tracking one down.

One from the same family but say the 80A one should fit just as well - inside the contacts are a bit boskier.

Mike.

I phoned MK who advised that either another 5760s or the more readily available 7860s are identical and interchangeable so I will find a new unit for my electrician. Many thanks

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0 Former Community Member over 4 years ago

mapj1:

To test an RCD fully involves more tests at different fault currents.

I presume it always fires smartly on the test button like you test it every few months... (yeah right...)

For that model it should always trip at 30mA or above. and may trip at faults between 15mA and 30mA

and should never trip below 15mA.

It is common to test at 30mA and 150mA, and perhaps 15mA as well.

That is not an IET standard form, but is presumably created by some testing sofware, and has most but not all of the same stuff.

It does look like a discontinued model, but there seem to be a few places still with stock, so if that is the only issue it may well be worth tracking one down.

One from the same family but say the 80A one should fit just as well - inside the contacts are a bit boskier.

Mike.

I phoned MK who advised that either another 5760s or the more readily available 7860s are identical and interchangeable so I will find a new unit for my electrician. Many thanks

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Can you replace just the RCD, instead of whole consumer unit?

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