Residual Current Device (RCD)
In any environment where there is a risk of improper current flow RCD’s or ‘Residual Current Devices’ should be used. This includes the garden and garage where items such as lawn mowers, trimmers, saws and drills are often used and hence heightens the risk of accidently severing electrical cables. The kitchen and bathroom are also at risk due to their damp conditions.
These are also known as ‘trip switches’ or ‘safety switches’ and their purpose is to detect when the electrical current is imbalanced and then disconnect the circuit in a matter of milliseconds before any damage can be caused to the user. The most serious example being lethal electrical shocks, thankfully the RCD can break the circuit faster than the time required for the current to cause the shock.
There are four main types of this device:
- Plug RCD’s -
These are wired directly onto the end of an appliances power cord in place of the standard fused plug. - Adapter RCD’s -
These plug directly into a wall socket, conventional plugs can then be plugged into the adapter protecting the device. These are portable and can be moved around the home - Socket RCD’s -
Instead of a conventional plug socket, this one features a test and reset button and are normally seen in shed or garages - Whole Home RCD’s -
These are wired in at the meter and will protect all the items in your house
Our products come with Plug RCD’s which are wired directly into the appliance to ensure that should anything go wrong regarding the current of the device you will remain safe and unharmed.
Further Reading
http://www.diynot.com/pages/sa/sa008.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residual-current_device