RCCB help please

fifer

NAIL

can you translate UK lingo into USA lingo?

goose134

I know that you are referring to what we know as a GFCI. Your main panel has the RCD located there, but I couldn't safely say what they are rated to accept. Whether it is based on a proportion of total available current, or if the device itself is rated for X amps. I'm hoping Marc is around (frenchelectrician) I believe he may have more insight.

Kingsmurf

I ws wondering why you'd even need forty amps for a shower . .unless that involves electric hot water or other such equipment ?

frenchelectrican

Thanks Goose for the insight for me .,,


Anyway let get to the topic right now related to the showerhead unit.,, if i recall the UK reguation required the showerhead instat heater unit it must be wired on seperated RCD circuit [ it can not tie into anything else ]

and for wire size you need at least 6mm2 X2 plus earth conductor flat cable.

how many KW that unit have i know most useally are about 3 to 6 KW range [ you may have to check with the latest UK reguation it may change a bit due i am more famiuir with both NEC and French codes.]

you will need either 32 or 48A [ if have one ] RCD breaker [ that area i will recomned to get a UK electrician to propely hook up because the customer unit hook up is somehow different than what we used to see it here on this side of " pond " ]


Merci, Marc

elkangorito

The domestic electrical regs in the UK are similar to that of Australia. Your questions (in black) & my answers (in blue):

1. Can I add a 40 amp for the shower or will this overload the rccb?
It may possibly cause the main circuit breaker to trip based on your existing circuit breaker sizes (& more importantly, loads). An electrician will be able to tell you the absolute answer to this question by carrying out a Maximum Demand calculation.

2. Will I have to install a seperate RCD?
As per UK regulations & as Marc said, you will have to install a separate RCD for the bathroom circuit.

I would just like to add that it is not a good idea to have a 30mA RCCD as the main circuit breaker/main switch in your switchboard. RCCD trip currents are not accurate but must trip at no more than 30mA leakage current. In your case, you could have an earth fault in your bathroom that causes the RCCD/MCB to trip instead of the bathroom RCCD. This is beacuse there will not be any "discrimination" between your RCCD/MCB leakage trip current & your bathroom RCCD leakage trip current (both have a max 30mA trip current).

At the end of the day, you should get an electrician as it is illegal in the UK for anybody but a qualified person to do what you wish to do.

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Switchboard design engineer & Licensed Electrician (Australia).