External RCD/sockets

There are quite few caveats…

1. BS 7671 (The wiring regs) doesn't recognise RCD sockets to BS 7288 as providing the required 30mA RCD additional protection required for sockets (you need to use RCDs to BS EN 61008, BS EN 61009 or BS EN 62423. The reasons behind this have been debated at length, and it might be that a BS 7288 device actually provides perfectly adequate protection, nevertheless such an approach can't be said (or more importantly certified) as meeting wiring regs.
2. RCD sockets only provide RCD protection to its own in-built socket. Anything directly connected to the back won't benefit from RCD protection at all (unlike the US version, there's no ‘after-RCD’ set of terminals to connect to).
3. The new consumer unit in the garage (plus the new circuits formed downstream) would make the job notifiable under building regulations … you can still do it yourself if you choose but should pre-notify your local building control dept (or equivalent) and pay the appropriate fee (usually several hundred pounds); otherwise you should be involving a member of one of the registered compentant persons schemes for part P.

   - Andy.

There are quite few caveats…

1. BS 7671 (The wiring regs) doesn't recognise RCD sockets to BS 7288 as providing the required 30mA RCD additional protection required for sockets (you need to use RCDs to BS EN 61008, BS EN 61009 or BS EN 62423. The reasons behind this have been debated at length, and it might be that a BS 7288 device actually provides perfectly adequate protection, nevertheless such an approach can't be said (or more importantly certified) as meeting wiring regs.
2. RCD sockets only provide RCD protection to its own in-built socket. Anything directly connected to the back won't benefit from RCD protection at all (unlike the US version, there's no ‘after-RCD’ set of terminals to connect to).
3. The new consumer unit in the garage (plus the new circuits formed downstream) would make the job notifiable under building regulations … you can still do it yourself if you choose but should pre-notify your local building control dept (or equivalent) and pay the appropriate fee (usually several hundred pounds); otherwise you should be involving a member of one of the registered compentant persons schemes for part P.

   - Andy.