On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:38:48 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

won't the requirements for RCDs significantly increase base-load power
consumption? All the RCDs I've come across dissipate a few watts.

Can't say I have ever noticed a RCD getting warm, but then again I have
never measured their power consumption.

There is a difference between "dissipate" and "consume". The key is does
and RCD get warm when it is not passing any load? I don't think they do so
they don't "consume" any power in their own right. They simply "dissipate"
a bit when carrying a load, just like the cables do as well. No increase
in base load.

--
Cheers
Dave.