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What does BS7671 mean by an "installation coupler" 411.3.3 Note 5?

JHFE

What does BS7671 mean by an "installation coupler"  411.3.3 Note 5?

Is this a proprietary connector or standard connector used in a singular and specific way purely for a particular installation application?

I will be providing a new circuit in a domestic setting which supplies power to a yet-to-be-installed garden office pod.

 

The Pod supplier/builder has specified a 32amp 230v BS EN 60309-2 Commando socket at the end of the circuit.  They then deliver and build their pod and connect a flexible lead from the back of the pod to the socket/circuit I provide.  This in turn powers a 40A 30ma 2-way consumer unit, pre-wired at the pod building factory. In other words, outlets and lighting in the pod are RCD protected.

 

My circuit will come from CU (DB2) which I will fit and SWA will run from DB2 all the way to the outlet near the garden pod. (15-18 metres on 6mm2 SWA)

 

My question relates to RCD requirements.

 

In the interests of Selectivity, I could run the SWA from just an MCB, as the SWA negates RCD protection for the cable itself.  However, if the 32amp commando I fit is classed as a "socket outlet", I could be failing to provide RCD protection where BS7671 requires it.

 

411.3.3 Note 5 pg65 A2:2022 - states that an "installation coupler" "is not regarded as a socket outlet for the purposes of this regulation"

 

Would it be fair to class this connection between pod and circuit as an installation coupler?  It is unlikely to be accessed by lay persons to, let's say, power a lawn mower and will be behind the pod and not readily accessible to lay persons, once the pod is installed.  It will more than likely be connected once and stay permanently connected for many many years without interference.

 

Or

 

The 32amp outlet used to connect the pod to power is without question a socket outlet and therefore 411.3.3 must be obeyed and the cable run from DB2 to the outlet must be RCD protected?  Even if I sacrifice selectivity as the lesser of 2 evils and have 30ma upstream and downstream?  (or fit time delay upstream)

 

Any advice is much appreciated. Thumbsup tone1

 

Cheers

James

 

Other info.  single phase, domestic setting, TNCS, 8-year-old property, "17th edition" dual RCD (AC wave) split board for the main house, no existing SPD.

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  • 0

    There is no way I would install the supplied socket at a domestic property.

    553.1.201

    The circuit to the pod should be hardwired, not connected using this plug, socket and SY cable.

    There is absolutely no reason whatsoever why the circuit SWA cable cannot be connected straight into the consumer unit.

    Non-compliant and creating unnecessary work.

  • 0 in reply to Sparkingchip
    OlympusMons said:
    Wanted tripping is where it saves a life surely.

    Yes, you would want that.

    Perhaps "intended" and "unintended" would be better words.

  • 0 in reply to Sparkingchip

    Sparkingchip - I suspect that the manufacturers of the outside pod unit will want to legally disassociate the safety of the electrics inside their pod from that of the customer; the customers state of supply - including RCD, (size and type), earthing and bonding, IR etc needs to be kept totally separate legally from their wiring internal to the unit.  

    How else might they do that, other than to demand a finished socket circuit is provided for them to plug into?

    An isolator may do the same job, if not better? But then they'd need to send electrically competent guys to site to build the pod.......I'd probably ask for the commando socket too. 

    Same as a caravan, but the other way around; the caravan site owner is only responsible for the supply up to his hook up point and the state of the caravan electrics is the caravan owners problem.

    I like AJs suggestion of an interlocked commando socket, that can only be turned on with the rotary switch above, when the male end is installed. 

    I recon that this circuit from the house with the commando socket on the end of it must be treated as if its a simple socket circuit complete with 30mA RCD. Whatever gets plugged into it is besides the point; the pod may never arrive. 

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  • 0 in reply to Sparkingchip

    Sparkingchip - I suspect that the manufacturers of the outside pod unit will want to legally disassociate the safety of the electrics inside their pod from that of the customer; the customers state of supply - including RCD, (size and type), earthing and bonding, IR etc needs to be kept totally separate legally from their wiring internal to the unit.  

    How else might they do that, other than to demand a finished socket circuit is provided for them to plug into?

    An isolator may do the same job, if not better? But then they'd need to send electrically competent guys to site to build the pod.......I'd probably ask for the commando socket too. 

    Same as a caravan, but the other way around; the caravan site owner is only responsible for the supply up to his hook up point and the state of the caravan electrics is the caravan owners problem.

    I like AJs suggestion of an interlocked commando socket, that can only be turned on with the rotary switch above, when the male end is installed. 

    I recon that this circuit from the house with the commando socket on the end of it must be treated as if its a simple socket circuit complete with 30mA RCD. Whatever gets plugged into it is besides the point; the pod may never arrive. 

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