Wylex 3rd Amendment CU - TT recommendation

[Midwest]

Take a look at these two vids; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj_plR6lU3o for the wiska gland

and this one from Wylex; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjaEQJBDhts

Interestingly, if you watch this vid' at 4 mins, you'll see that Wylex suggest you can use a 'plastic' time delayed RCD to protect the tails prior to the CU on a TT. My scheme - Elecsa - says NO, and when I rang Wylex (it was in that flyer I posted at the start of this thread), their Tech Support quickly bated me off to some sales person, whom I rang. After a bit of discussion on 421.1.201, he said using such a insulated RCD was the lesser of 'two evils'. I don't think this reg. is going to be completely ironed out for a while.

 

[darkside]

Sorry for late reply, I was thinking about this recently. The wording of 421.1.201 is "Within domestic (household) premises, consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies...".

I think you can make a strong case that a standalone RCD is not a "similar switchgear assembly". It is not an OPD and it is not associated with a reduction in current carrying capacity of cables. It performs a totally different function to a CU.

A switchfuse or isolator plus OPD is effectively a one-way CU so does need to be non-combustible.

If you take this new reg as banning RCDs in plastic enclosures, then it also bans Wylex REC series isolators (and the Hager equivalent) where these are owned by the consumer.

 

[Midwest]

Here's the reply from Elecsa, when I asked about Wylex recommendation for using a 100ma time delayed RCD prior to metal CU with TT supply (I forgot to post it here,sorry);

'Regulation 421.1.201 does indeed state “consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies”.

However, what regulation 421.1.201 states in full beforehand is “within domestic (household) premises, consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies shall comply with BS EN 61439-3 and shall: 1) have their enclosure manufactured from non-combustible material or, 2) be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material complying with Reg 132.12”.

Whilst the data sheet you provide seems to indicate a domestic installation when you first look at it, whether or not it’s actually showing a domestic installation is something that the manufacturer needs to clarify.

However, if t is a domestic installation shown in the data sheet, I would agree with you that the separate RCCB unit would have to be in accordance with points 1 or 2 of Regulation 421.1.201'.

 

[YoungScud]

Sorry for late reply, I was thinking about this recently. The wording of 421.1.201 is "Within domestic (household) premises, consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies...".

I think you can make a strong case that a standalone RCD is not a "similar switchgear assembly". It is not an OPD and it is not associated with a reduction in current carrying capacity of cables. It performs a totally different function to a CU.

A switchfuse or isolator plus OPD is effectively a one-way CU so does need to be non-combustible.

If you take this new reg as banning RCDs in plastic enclosures, then it also bans Wylex REC series isolators (and the Hager equivalent) where these are owned by the consumer.

I work as a metering trainer for a REC and this has raised an interesting question. For some time now, our company has talked of making the isolator the property of the consumer, thereby making them responsible for replacement of faulty isolators. However, I can't for the life of me see how this is possible, and I have two main reasons for saying this. Firstly, the REC seals the top end of the isolator, making it impossible for the consumer to legally replace the isolator. Secondly, the top of the isolator is live at all times and the consumer would have no legal way of isolating this. With this being the case, I feel the isolator would have to remain the property of the REC and so would be essentially part of the supply, not the installation. That would mean that the requirements of the regs would not apply to the isolator.

 

[Midwest]

That's what I've been told by Elecsa (think it was them) regarding the aforementioned plastic isolators not forming part of the 'domestic' installation. Doesn't make sense though, when sometimes these isolators are in the same location as the CU. Perhaps the DNO's can be more trusted than your domestic electrician

 

[YoungScud]

That's what I've been told by Elecsa (think it was them) regarding the aforementioned plastic isolators not forming part of the 'domestic' installation. Doesn't make sense though, when sometimes these isolators are in the same location as the CU. Perhaps the DNO's can be more trusted than your domestic electrician

I do agree with you. It seems odd to me that an isolator placed at almost exactly the same point as the CU wouldn't be subject to the same safety concerns as far as fire risk is concerned. I suppose it's possible that at some point the ESQCR will catch up with BS7671, but don't hold your breath.