New install for social alarm system PSU

Hi

I'm going to let the photo speak for it's self. The RCBO is powering a PSU with battery back up, which is powering a social housing alarm system. All the equipment is mounted in a steel cabinet on the outside wall of a bungalow. The supply is a TNCS.

All comments will be gratefully received.

Thanks

Parents
  • Thanks for the replies.

    My main issue is the power supply being protected by RCDs. If one of the RCDs was to trip, it would leave "X" number of properties without a social alarm system and no way of calling for help. The power supply does have battery back up, but there is no monitoring of the system. Unfortunately I am not familiar with BS8604-1 and the requirements for not using RCDs. 

  • It will depend if it has been wired in a way that can avoid an  RCD - perhaps SWA or steel conduit but if it is in twin and earth or something there may not be much choice.

    Mike.

  • Its all surface. Out of the consumer unit and straight into the PSU, less than 50cm of flex. All contained in a metal cabinet.

  • I wouldn't be overly worried about a RCBO feeding the alarm supply, it clearly isnt needed, but what really is going to cause it to trip?

    Very little, and if it does trip, it shows the RCD could have been needed.

    Overall, it's a poor installation, no discrimination between the RCDs, and no real need for the RCDs.

    I suspect it would have been a domestic installer, or someone who mainly does domestic work that installed it, as anyone with a clue wouldnt have done it that way. I've had 2 'discussions' with different people in the last week about codes for EICRs. 1 was a single socket outlet , 2.5mm T+E, fed by a 32A CB. It was coded as a C2. His reasoning was that the cable rating was 27A, so should have a breaker less than that, and, another with a 6mm T+E feeding a 8.5kW shower on a 45A CB. Another C2 was given due to the cable only having a CCC of 41 Amps, when the shower could only pull 35 amps at 240V. That he was going to fit a  32Amp CB to replace the 45 did not register that it would not comply as the demand was greater than the overcurrent device.

Reply
  • I wouldn't be overly worried about a RCBO feeding the alarm supply, it clearly isnt needed, but what really is going to cause it to trip?

    Very little, and if it does trip, it shows the RCD could have been needed.

    Overall, it's a poor installation, no discrimination between the RCDs, and no real need for the RCDs.

    I suspect it would have been a domestic installer, or someone who mainly does domestic work that installed it, as anyone with a clue wouldnt have done it that way. I've had 2 'discussions' with different people in the last week about codes for EICRs. 1 was a single socket outlet , 2.5mm T+E, fed by a 32A CB. It was coded as a C2. His reasoning was that the cable rating was 27A, so should have a breaker less than that, and, another with a 6mm T+E feeding a 8.5kW shower on a 45A CB. Another C2 was given due to the cable only having a CCC of 41 Amps, when the shower could only pull 35 amps at 240V. That he was going to fit a  32Amp CB to replace the 45 did not register that it would not comply as the demand was greater than the overcurrent device.

Children