In article , Andrew Gabriel
writes
In article ,
Tim Mitchell writes:
In article 0, mike
ring writes
"Chris Oates" wrote in
om:

Perhaps the old description 'Earth leakage' was
more informative than 'Residual Current'

I think you're right, but the great and the good prolly thought we wouldn't
get the idea and try to connect it across earth.

Earth leakage trips are not the same as residual current trips. The
principle of operation is very different (although the terms are
sometimes, incorrectly, used interchangeably)

Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker is generic and covers both types.

RCD is a Current Operated ELCB, whereas the older ones which
monitor the voltage on the CPC verses a ground spike are,
unsurprisingly, called Voltage Operated ELCB's.

The term RCD resulted from Which? and That's Life! suggesting
that the industry adopt a common term, and it needed to be shorter
than "Current Operated ELCB" which Joe Public wouldn't understand.

An interesting bit of history which I didn't know (Esther Rantzen's
contribution to electrical engineering. Who would have thought it)
--
Tim Mitchell