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RCD arrangement for garden workshop

I would like to supply a small workshop/shed with power, which is approximately 5m from my house. The house is a TN-S system

I’ve had a couple of electricians suggest several different ways

They all seem to have different ideas where the RCD should be?

 
  • RCD in main property

  • RCD in workshop (no RCD on SWA to workshop)

  • Two RCDs main property & workshop


Which would be the preferred method?
Parents
  • ebee:

    The preferred method in your particular instance would depend upon 1/ Safety and 2/ inconvenience & cost.


    If, as you say it is a TN-S system then no need for an RCD in the workshop if you are feeding it in SWA cable.

    You will need a RCD (30mA) somewhere and that be via RCCB or RCBOs in the workshop.

    If you feel you need to mitigate, to some degree, Possible RCD failure, you might decide put one RCD in the house and one in the workshop (if they are both standard 30mA non delayed then either one or both might trip during a fault). Plunging the shed say into darkness whilst you go to the house to reset might be a pain to do and it might have safety issues (do you have an emergency light in the workshop).

    You might decide to have a 100mA Time delayed RCD in the house and (double pole switching) 30mA RCD in the workshop - note the 100mA TD RCD does not count as personal protection. 

    If the workshop is for you and only you that might give you a different answer than if it is to protect others (employees too)


    I like the idea of having the RCD in the workshop, not in the property. but one electrician said that the SWA supplying the workshop must be protected with an RCD


    The other said a fused switch in the main property was fine with the RCD in the workshop 


    The workshop is for private use only, but I do want it to be safe ?


Reply
  • ebee:

    The preferred method in your particular instance would depend upon 1/ Safety and 2/ inconvenience & cost.


    If, as you say it is a TN-S system then no need for an RCD in the workshop if you are feeding it in SWA cable.

    You will need a RCD (30mA) somewhere and that be via RCCB or RCBOs in the workshop.

    If you feel you need to mitigate, to some degree, Possible RCD failure, you might decide put one RCD in the house and one in the workshop (if they are both standard 30mA non delayed then either one or both might trip during a fault). Plunging the shed say into darkness whilst you go to the house to reset might be a pain to do and it might have safety issues (do you have an emergency light in the workshop).

    You might decide to have a 100mA Time delayed RCD in the house and (double pole switching) 30mA RCD in the workshop - note the 100mA TD RCD does not count as personal protection. 

    If the workshop is for you and only you that might give you a different answer than if it is to protect others (employees too)


    I like the idea of having the RCD in the workshop, not in the property. but one electrician said that the SWA supplying the workshop must be protected with an RCD


    The other said a fused switch in the main property was fine with the RCD in the workshop 


    The workshop is for private use only, but I do want it to be safe ?


Children
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