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#1
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
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? |
#2
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
"terry" wrote in message
... 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? You can purchase outlets that incorporate an RCD or connectors for your appliances that incorporate one very easily( as well as extension leads etc): http://www.screwfix.com/prods/83049/...ex-13A-RCD-FCU http://www.screwfix.com/prods/15263/...Ds/RCD-Adaptor http://www.screwfix.com/prods/16930/.../RCDs/RCD-Plug http://www.screwfix.com/prods/12374/...ker-2G-RCD-Skt http://www.screwfix.com/prods/16353/...-RCD-Skt-White -- Bob Mannix (anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not) |
#3
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
On Feb 21, 2:00*pm, "Bob Mannix" wrote:
"terry" wrote in message ... 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? You can purchase outlets that incorporate an RCD or connectors for your appliances that incorporate one very easily( as well as extension leads etc): http://www.screwfix.com/prods/83049/...ex-13A-RCD-FCU http://www.screwfix.com/prods/15263/...Ds/RCD-Adaptor http://www.screwfix.com/prods/16930/.../RCDs/RCD-Plug http://www.screwfix.com/prods/12374/...er-Breaker-2G-... http://www.screwfix.com/prods/16353/...er-Breaker-1G-... -- Bob Mannix (anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Thank you Bob. Went and had a shower, came back and there was your reply! Thanks much; exactly the sort of thing looking for. Terry. |
#4
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
I'm surprised that Canadian GFCI/RCD's sockets also protect further sockets downstream on the radial. UK sockets RCD's are designed for ring mains so only protect that outlet. |
#5
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
terry wrote:
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. Yup, same here... in fact becoming mandatory for most circuits in the near future. 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. We don't have a fixed limit on the number of sockets per radial since each appliance has a fuse in its plug the main breaker does not need to be sized to protect the appliance flex, it just needs to be sized to protect the radial wire. 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! Its become common place to run a dedicated 7.2kW ring circuit for the sockets in a kitchen here, plug dedicated radials for any big fixed loads like cookers. AFIK 'ring' circuits are not used at all. Duplex outlets are unswitched Rings seem to be mostly uk specific. Its a concept that only works because we have fused plugs. However they are very well suited to typical patterns of modern usage with lots of sockets and appliances and diverse usage. 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. OK, we don't usually do it like that, although there is nothing that would actually stop you in practice. 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. Yup, sockets with built in RCD protection are often used like that here as well. 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! Traditionally, one would have provided non RCD sockets on a radial dedicated for that purpose... 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. Yup, what we call a RCD - residual current device 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. Yes, you can get RCDs in a number of different forms: http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?...D#Types_of_RCD 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. Well worth have RCD protection in the situation, even though most tools these days will be class II insulated so will pose little indirect shock risk. However chopping through a cable is still an issue. -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#6
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
In article ,
" writes: I'm surprised that Canadian GFCI/RCD's sockets also protect further sockets downstream on the radial. That's standard practice in the US and Canada. -- Andrew Gabriel [email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup] |
#7
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
RCBOs may be another possibility is you want to protect individual
ring circuits |
#8
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
On Feb 21, 5:21 pm, wrote:
RCBOs may be another possibility is you want to protect individual ring circuits sorry - this is probably not relevant |
#9
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
On Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:54:48 -0800 (PST), terry
wrote: 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? Is the 230v supply in Canada 155 - 0 - 115 ? Our 230v is 230 - 0 - Gnd. Not 100% sure how well one of our RCDs would work on a 115 - 0 - 115 installation. It might be alright ;-) DG |
#10
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
In article ,
Derek Geldard writes: On Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:54:48 -0800 (PST), terry wrote: 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? Is the 230v supply in Canada 155 - 0 - 115 ? Our 230v is 230 - 0 - Gnd. Not 100% sure how well one of our RCDs would work on a 115 - 0 - 115 installation. It might be alright ;-) There certainly have been some that detect excessive Neutral-Earth voltage and trip. I don't think this is the norm though. The other thing is that you need a double-pole switching type -- again I don't know how common that is with the socket outlet types, hardly ever having used them myself. -- Andrew Gabriel [email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup] |
#11
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
Derek Geldard wrote:
On Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:54:48 -0800 (PST), terry wrote: 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? Is the 230v supply in Canada 155 - 0 - 115 ? Our 230v is 230 - 0 - Gnd. Not 100% sure how well one of our RCDs would work on a 115 - 0 - 115 installation. It might be alright ;-) DG Our RCDS dont use, or care, about ground. What they care about is more current coming in one wire than goes out or vice versa ;-) So as long as the lakage to earth is not on average, the same from both 'live'and 'neutral' they should be OK.. |
#12
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
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#13
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
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#14
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:29:24 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
wrote: Our RCDS dont use, or care, about ground. What they care about is more current coming in one wire than goes out or vice versa ;-) So as long as the lakage to earth is not on average, the same from both 'live'and 'neutral' they should be OK.. Just because they dont *use* the ground connection you can't assume that. a) There may be differential capacitive effects. b) They will certainly not have been type tested under those conditions. DG |
#15
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Derek Geldard wrote: On Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:54:48 -0800 (PST), terry wrote: 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? Is the 230v supply in Canada 155 - 0 - 115 ? Our 230v is 230 - 0 - Gnd. Not 100% sure how well one of our RCDs would work on a 115 - 0 - 115 installation. It might be alright ;-) DG Our RCDS dont use, or care, about ground. What they care about is more current coming in one wire than goes out or vice versa ;-) So as long as the lakage to earth is not on average, the same from both 'live'and 'neutral' they should be OK.. There are some that do additional checking involving ground, and those ones would not work on 115-0-115. Then again they would if you fed the right one of the incoming live wires to the RCD ground connection, and the output side had its ground wire rerouted to the real ground. RCD sockets cost about £20, and RCD plugs around £7. But I dont know why the OP doesnt get one back home. Theres no connection on our RCD skts to allow them to cover other sockets, so plugs are a far cheaper option. Dont forget to get sockets for the RCD plugs! Its also possible to make RCDs - though not worth bothering unless you really need something specialist, eg a 0.5mA trip or something. NT |
#16
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UK equivalent of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote: Derek Geldard wrote: On Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:54:48 -0800 (PST), terry wrote: 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? Is the 230v supply in Canada 155 - 0 - 115 ? Our 230v is 230 - 0 - Gnd. Not 100% sure how well one of our RCDs would work on a 115 - 0 - 115 installation. It might be alright ;-) DG Our RCDS dont use, or care, about ground. What they care about is more current coming in one wire than goes out or vice versa ;-) So as long as the lakage to earth is not on average, the same from both 'live'and 'neutral' they should be OK.. There are some that do additional checking involving ground, and those ones would not work on 115-0-115. Then again they would if you fed the right one of the incoming live wires to the RCD ground connection, and the output side had its ground wire rerouted to the real ground. RCD sockets cost about �20, and RCD plugs around �7. But I dont know why the OP doesnt get one back home. Theres no connection on our RCD skts to allow them to cover other sockets, so plugs are a far cheaper option. Dont forget to get sockets for the RCD plugs! Its also possible to make RCDs - though not worth bothering unless you really need something specialist, eg a 0.5mA trip or something. NT Oh, afaik ours only switch one pole, so you'd need to either a) use the RCD output to drive a 2 pole relay and accept longer disconnect times or b) use a 110v RCD, with a minor mod to make it work ok on 230v. The dropper that supplies the internal electronics would need replacing with one of twice the resistance and half the capacitance, and twice the capacitor voltage rating. FWIW we do have 2 pole 240v RCDs that fit into CUs (breaker panels), and it shouldnt be hard to make up a case for them back home. Might be your best bet, a row of them in a case. All the types are he http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;js...&fh_search=rcd NT |
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