Matt wrote:
On 2 Oct 2006 10:19:09 -0700, "Ren"
wrote:

Don't worry - there is lots of info regarding split CUs in the d-i-y
archives. After a lengthy study, I have come to the conclusion that
the cooker stays off the RCD (as you have suggested) as most cookers
'leak' anyway.

Which is fine right until the point the oven element fails and the
break in the earth conductor in the consumer unit that has gone
un-noticed for months/years/forever means the fuse doesn't blow and
the oven casing rises to mains potential.

A fatal shock is about the 6 inches of reach between the oven and the
nicely bonded "split level" gas hob sat right above it.

Apart from the last bit which was narrowly avoided by the owner
switching off the cooker at the wall switch the above is actually what
happened on an installation a few weeks ago. The earth had failed
right in the middle of a sleeved run in the consumer unit. A simple
visual examination wouldn't have picked it up.

Put the cooker on the RCD!


--

I'm now as confused as a baby raccoon !!!

My first thought was to RCD everything apart from the lights, is this
sound? the cooker and hob both have seperate radials as they are more
than 2m apart (as per regs).
What size MCB should serve the cooker & hob (seperateley) the CU came
with five 32's one 40 three 6's and one 16.