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Did the SPD work?

Northern Spark

Domestic installation. PME supply. 50A type b mcb in meter cupboard, 16mm armoured to consumer unit in house. BG consumer unit with type 2 SPD.

There was a power cut, and seemingly a network born over voltage(a neighbour reported that their type 3 spd incorporated into a plug board operated). Unclear wether the over voltage was when the power failed or when it was restored. The 50A mcb in the meter cupboard and a 20A type b rcbo in the consumer unit protecting the kitchen socket circuit both tripped. The 32A type b mcb protecting the spd did not trip. A day or two later the customer noticed that their google nest mini smart speaker(other smart speakers are available) was not working and discovered its plug and the socket it was plugged in to were charred. It was plugged into a socket that is probably the closest one to the consumer unit. The spd indicator remained green. No other signs of damage to anything.

Did the spd work?

Why did the 50A and 20A breakers operate, but not the 32A breaker protecting the spd? If the spd works, shouldn't it shunt the fault current and therefore trip its breaker?

Parents
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    There is lot of sensative and electronic equipment in the average home these days compare to 10 - 15 years ago.  I would always advocate a type 2 & 3 combined SPD.  If only a type 2 is in the CU/DB then it can be changed or a type 3 place closer to the appliance.  Eg type 2 in CU and then a type 3 on a 4 way trailing socket for your media wall.  The SPDs are more effective when applied in a cascading manner.

    Points to note.

    Type 2 SPD can take multiple hits before the flag turn red.  (confusingly enough some are green for good state and some are red)

    Type 3 SPD can only take so much abuse without a type 2 upstream

    In my opinion the type 2 only clearly what it could and probably did work to within it's parameters.  It is also worth checking the colour flag on the SPD and see what colour for that model means it is still working effectively Green or Red.  In effect SPDs type 2 & 3 are consumable items.

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  • 0

    There is lot of sensative and electronic equipment in the average home these days compare to 10 - 15 years ago.  I would always advocate a type 2 & 3 combined SPD.  If only a type 2 is in the CU/DB then it can be changed or a type 3 place closer to the appliance.  Eg type 2 in CU and then a type 3 on a 4 way trailing socket for your media wall.  The SPDs are more effective when applied in a cascading manner.

    Points to note.

    Type 2 SPD can take multiple hits before the flag turn red.  (confusingly enough some are green for good state and some are red)

    Type 3 SPD can only take so much abuse without a type 2 upstream

    In my opinion the type 2 only clearly what it could and probably did work to within it's parameters.  It is also worth checking the colour flag on the SPD and see what colour for that model means it is still working effectively Green or Red.  In effect SPDs type 2 & 3 are consumable items.

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