Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
I have an RCD socket outlet feeding my workbench - where I do electronics
type stuff. One of these:-

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CM4901M.html

Yesterday I managed to produce a fault while fooking around with an ATX
power supply which didn't trip it - but did the one in the split load CU.

Would a socket with a lower fault current limit sort this - and who makes
one? Not much point in having this one if the main one is going to trip
first. Although it does pre-date the split load CU.


I have an RCD socket outlet feeding my workbench - where I do electronics
type stuff. One of these:-

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CM4901M.html

Yesterday I managed to produce a fault while fooking around with an ATX
power supply which didn't trip it - but did the one in the split load CU.

Would a socket with a lower fault current limit sort this - and who makes
one? Not much point in having this one if the main one is going to trip
first. Although it does pre-date the split load CU.

Dave,

Don't automatically blame your local bench RCD. It is possible that
there is enough leakage in the rest of your installation to be near the
threshold of your split CU RCD and a few mA extra from your ATX PSU
tripped that whilst being well below the threshold of your local one.

Maybe put a controlled leak (suitably rated variable resistor) on the
circuit before your bench and see how much current it will take before
the CU trips out?

The main problem I find with RCDs and experimental bench is the effect
of mains filters in test equipment can cause nuisance tripping. I'd
rather work carefully via an isolating transformer.

Bob