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Plug in RCD 230V or 110V transformer

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
I'm curious to see what peoples opinions are on the two different options available for safer power tool use either using 110V tools with a site transformer alone or 230V tools however using these with the plug in RCD. 


I'm aware of the center tapped site transformer splitting the voltage into 55V so there is the arguement that it's only 55V pushing through your body, vs the RCD option, you're exposed to the potentially full 230V but the RCD cuts the supply almost instantly. However this is based on the RCD actually working and detecting a fault and even if it does perhaps even that brief exposure to 230V may be enough for some people to be fatal. Then again 55V maybe enough for some people too to be fatal. 


Thought?


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    I think it`s a horses for courses type thingy.

    Depends upon the amount of use and what mitigations are in place or easy to do.

    There is no one answer for all situations.

    All that aside purely for theoretical (electrical only) safety considerations we should be asking some "starter for ten" type questions.

    How easy is it to produce a potentially harmful fault and what mitigation (probability of adequate mitigation) will either system achieve?

    RLV gives us a shock hazard between live conductors of 110V and 55V (63V) live to earth hazard.

    RCD gives us a quick disconnection which might have a up to 7% failure rate and a 95% theoretical success (life saving) outcome of the L to E fault on the 93% of those correctly functioning  RCDs .


    Obviously batteries, at first glance, appear a safer option, but do have some potential dangers to consider too - they are not totally foolproof.


    I have a suspicion that, amongst UK electrics trades, RLV might well win in a poll (for power tools) even before BOFDs mentioned 55V is really 45V explaination
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  • 0
    I think it`s a horses for courses type thingy.

    Depends upon the amount of use and what mitigations are in place or easy to do.

    There is no one answer for all situations.

    All that aside purely for theoretical (electrical only) safety considerations we should be asking some "starter for ten" type questions.

    How easy is it to produce a potentially harmful fault and what mitigation (probability of adequate mitigation) will either system achieve?

    RLV gives us a shock hazard between live conductors of 110V and 55V (63V) live to earth hazard.

    RCD gives us a quick disconnection which might have a up to 7% failure rate and a 95% theoretical success (life saving) outcome of the L to E fault on the 93% of those correctly functioning  RCDs .


    Obviously batteries, at first glance, appear a safer option, but do have some potential dangers to consider too - they are not totally foolproof.


    I have a suspicion that, amongst UK electrics trades, RLV might well win in a poll (for power tools) even before BOFDs mentioned 55V is really 45V explaination
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