what has to be protected by an RCD?

andy85

under the new regs,what has to be protected by an RCD in a domestic installation?

meercat

andy.hope i havent missed any but top of my head
socket circuits
immersion circuit
freezer circuit (on its own rcd or spur outlet with no rcd)
any light circuit in bathroom with shower or bath
any light circuit that fittings are not fixed to house(i.e driveway lights or garden lights)
instant shower
pumps and electric water heating appliances
its more practical to put some of these on an rcbo though

M cebee

pumps and electric water heating appliances

meercat

Thanks m cebee
silly me. I have added them to my list
cheers

RoundyMooney

Was going to mention freezers, but I see that's covered:)

Can anyone tell me whether that applies to chest freezers only? It's presumably for nuisance tripping, but I did a major rejig here recently, and I ended up with a freezer in one of the garden sheds on a dedicated circuit, and an american fridge jobby with the water feed on an outlet connected to one of two radials in my kitchen.

Bit late now, as everything's closed up, but wondering if that's ok?

edit: I put in solar panels as well, and the controller switches a single immersion heater as backup, so that got an outlet on a dedicated supply too, handy as I just used the old-skool immersion supply as well (Bob the Bodger was there ahead of me and put the house alarm on that as well, so that had to get it's own feed also).

M cebee

dedicated circuit -no rcd is best for freezer


just confirm the loop-impedance is ok

an rcbo increases the risk of losing contents imo

glic83

so are you saying to put it on its own breaker and for it not to be protected by the rcd?

meercat

glic
freezers must be on their own circuit either
protected by its own rcd (rcbo better) or
on a fused spur outlet not protected by rcd(this is the preferred option)