Recommend me a RCD please

[PaulRainbow]

The RCBO in your link is not double pole switched The diagram on the side shows it to be single pole switched and the spec describes it as "single pole and neutral".

ITYWF that all the switching; isolator (when applicable), circuit breakers , RCDs and socket switches, should be double pole with a non polarised system ( or if the polarity will be reversed) to avoid the situation where the neutral might be switched off by a single pole switch leaving the circuit or an appliance still live .

A reverse polarity indicator and a reversing adapter might be a better idea.

There is no requirement for socket switches to be double pole in unpolarized systems. but reverse polarity indicators are a requirement.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I’ve read about on these and am considering them for our installation/refit - especially now that more single module versions are available.

I particularly like the idea of double pole, single module RCBOs because, as I understand it, the circuit remains protected in the case of reverse polarity (say in an overseas marina):
40A Double Pole 1 Module B Curve 6kA 30mA Type AC Mini RCBO

With a standard shore power arrangement (no generator or inverter to supply power at a greater current than the shore power) you could fit a RCBO in the consumer unit in place of an RCD, with a rating that matches the sore power current rating (16a or 32a, usually). This gives you you electric shock protection and also means that if you exceed the total current of the shore power supply, your RCBO should trip, saving having to go reset the marina supply.

Individual circuits can then be single pole MCBs to protect against overload and a warning system against reverse polarity (light and/or buzzer). Yo could fit double pole MCBs, but not much point if you have the warning lamp/buzzer.

 

[dankilb]

The RCBO in your link is not double pole switched The diagram on the side shows it to be single pole switched and the spec describes it as "single pole and neutral".

ITYWF that all the switching; isolator (when applicable), circuit breakers , RCDs and socket switches, should be double pole with a non polarised system ( or if the polarity will be reversed) to avoid the situation where the neutral might be switched off by a single pole switch leaving the circuit or an appliance still live .

A reverse polarity indicator and a reversing adapter might be a better idea.

With a standard shore power arrangement (no generator or inverter to supply power at a greater current than the shore power) you could fit a RCBO in the consumer unit in place of an RCD, with a rating that matches the sore power current rating (16a or 32a, usually). This gives you you electric shock protection and also means that if you exceed the total current of the shore power supply, your RCBO should trip, saving having to go reset the marina supply.

Individual circuits can then be single pole MCBs to protect against overload and a warning system against reverse polarity (light and/or buzzer). Yo could fit double pole MCBs, but not much point if you have the warning lamp/buzzer.

Ah fair enough, understood now... thanks both.

I had presumed that the individual circuit RCBOs could give you that benefit of (emergency) reverse polarity protection in a single module... did sound a bit too good to be true.

Our system is 32amp, so the ability of a main RCBO to protect the marina breakers is a bit more limited.

This thread and others seem to come back to an ‘if it ain’t broke...’ conclusion regarding the merits of a standard consumer unit (of, say, the Screwfix ‘garage’ model variety)...

 

[PaulRainbow]

Ah fair enough, understood now... thanks both.

I had presumed that the individual circuit RCBOs could give you that benefit of (emergency) reverse polarity protection in a single module... did sound a bit too good to be true.

Our system is 32amp, so the ability of a main RCBO to protect the marina breakers is a bit more limited.

This thread and others seem to come back to an ‘if it ain’t broke...’ conclusion regarding the merits of a standard consumer unit (of, say, the Screwfix ‘garage’ model variety)...

You can fit a 32a RCBO if you want. Cudis CPN RO232B/030 32A Type 'B' Double Pole 2 Module 10kA 30mA RCBO