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Supply failure warning device

Grumpy

Hi All,

The RCBO that supplies the compressor in my treatment plant tripped randomly the other day. As I have been doing some maintenance on it and subsequently monitoring it I noticed quite quickly. This was the first time it had tripped since installation 20 months ago and hasn't tripped again.

The RCBO is in a CU in the detached garage which itself is supplied via sub main direct off the incoming supply to the house.

So I thought some sort of monitoring device might be prudent. Originally I thought I could utilise a non maintained emergency light that I have kicking about but realised it wouldn't have enough life if the supply failed at night. I go into the garage daily but not necessarily first thing. Has anyone any (low cost) suggestions?

I'm thinking maybe batten lampholder, red lamp, supply from garage lighting circuit and, what, an NC relay with a supply from the outgoing terminals of the plant's RCBO?

We're not talking life critical, hospital standard here, but if the supply's off too long my poor little microbes suffer!

Thanks for any suggestions!

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  • 0

    Depending on the RCBO, and space in the CU, could you use an auxiliary contact side-mounted on the RCBO itelf (example)? Doesn't tell you if the supply's lost due to an upstream device of course.

    What you do with it then is another matter. Perhaps binary input to an RPi for a rudimentary logger, and perhaps email notification if you can get wifi? Or just use it to switch a lamp in the window on your lighting circuit.

  • 0 in reply to Jam

    Nice one Jam, never heard of those before. Just checked and Lewden do them so I think that's the way to and no coils permanently energised!

    Thanks all.

  • 0 in reply to Grumpy

    No worries (c: I use them quite a lot for indication to SCADA systems on remote plant, which is pretty much what you're doing.

    Do check when you order which type you're getting: Some indicate Open/Closed, some Open/Tripped and some are selectable / both. Plus obviously it needs to be compatible with the RCBO it's fitting to.

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  • 0 in reply to Grumpy

    No worries (c: I use them quite a lot for indication to SCADA systems on remote plant, which is pretty much what you're doing.

    Do check when you order which type you're getting: Some indicate Open/Closed, some Open/Tripped and some are selectable / both. Plus obviously it needs to be compatible with the RCBO it's fitting to.

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