In Canada we use 115-120 volt GFCI outlets in certain domestic
situations.Especially in new construction. They are now manadatory in
many jurisdictions for 'wet' or 'outside' locations. Bathrooms, garden
pools, electric lawn mowers/trimmers patio outlets etc.

Typically there are six to eight three prong duplex outlets on each
radial circuit (the limit varies somewhat depending on jurisdiction
and usage) provided at approximately intervals of six feet along each
appropriate wall.

For certain 'heavy' locaions such as kitchens there may be several
dedicated radial circuits for such things as toasters, electric fry-
pans etc. After all for the same wattage we need twice the amperes of
the 230 volt system!

AFIK 'ring' circuits are not used at all. Duplex outlets are
unswitched

The GFCIs, which cost about $10 to $15 each compared to a basic good
quality duplex outlet at around $2 or $3, can either be wired
individually or most can be wired as the first or any intermediate
outlet on a radial run and thereby 'protect' all regular outlets down
stream of them.

For example if installed as the first outlet in a run the GFCI can
protect all outlets further along that circuit. However that is
frequently not convenient or necessary. Because one has to remember
which is the actual first outlet on a circuit and go and find it if it
becomes tripped!

With my luck it would be behind the TV set or something!

As an example; we have one circuit with two outlets; one in the garage
and higly accessible and one outside for electric garden tools etc. So
the GFCI was installed in the first outlet in the garage and protects
both. It is highly visble and accessible if it does trip.

GFCI are generaly not recommended or used for 115 volt appliances with
motors such as fridges/freezers because unbalances during start can
trip the GFCI. And one comes home to bad food!

Actually 'Ground fault ...... ' may be a misnomer because they
actually operate to disconnect when an unbalance occurs betweeen the
live and neutral wire currents. Although all outlets have the third
prong earth/ground GFCI operate without it. A potentially lethal
leakge of a few milliamps to any earth/ground would also cause an
unbalnce and safely disconnect the voltage.

By the way they DO work; nothing dangerous yet but leaving something
out in the rain/damp has caused them to disconnect.

For heavier appliances, such as cooking stoves, hot water tanks,
clothes dryers etc. 230 volts is used. Those circuits are dedicated to
each appliance with individual two pole circuit breakers.

Understanding that in the UK RCDs, mounted in or near the consumer
unit (main fuse/circuit breaker panel) are used? Here is the nub of my
question.

Is there any such thing as a 230 volt GFCI (or RCD equivalent) that
can be mounted as an individual outlet, or an immediate adjunct to
it.

Reason for asking is that I will inherit some 230 volt appliances and
already have some 230 volt tools, and if when using these in a damp
location such as garage, patio etc. it would be nice to have an outlet
that would trip on slight leakage etc.

I also occasionaly do at-home servicing of some 230 volt items and
again the equivalent of a resettable GFCI/RCD on the work bench would
be nice to have.

Any advice appreciated; am presently in a country that 'sort of'
follows UK 230 volt 50 hertz wiring practices. So may be able to
purchase one or two of something and take back to Canada?