RCD myth showers

Discussion in 'Electricians' Talk' started by Real Spark, Nov 14, 2006.

  1. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent New Member

    My shower has no RCD protection..:O (It's non electric)


    But it's run off a Combi Boiler..:)


    That's connected to the Ring main..:)


    Which is RCD protected...:O



    :^O
     
  2. Stoday

    Stoday New Member


    I would ask the question, if a manufacturer is
    requiring an RCD to be fitted, has he doubt about the
    safe operation of his product?


    No. He doubts the earth continuity can be maintained.

    How can a properly installed shower create a hazard? Only if the bonding/earthing becomes o/c. So the RCD is only protecting against this fault.

    I'd be happy to shower without an RCD if the plumbing were soldered copper throughout but less so with compression fittings. With plastic, I'd want an RCD because I don't have a second earth route as a back-up.
     
  3. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent New Member


    I would ask the question, if a manufacturer is
    requiring an RCD to be fitted, has he doubt about
    the
    safe operation of his product?


    No. He doubts the earth continuity can be
    maintained.

    How can a properly installed shower create a hazard?
    Only if the bonding/earthing becomes o/c. So the RCD
    is only protecting against this fault.

    I'd be happy to shower without an RCD if the plumbing
    were soldered copper throughout but less so with
    compression fittings. With plastic, I'd want an RCD
    because I don't have a second earth route as a
    back-up.


    Have you seen the 'Curvey Blonde In The Shower' thread?
     
  4. JP.

    JP. Screwfix Select

    I'd be happy to shower without an RCD if the plumbing
    were soldered copper throughout but less so with
    compression fittings. With plastic, I'd want an RCD
    because I don't have a second earth route as a
    back-up.

    Titter titter.....
     
  5. JP.

    JP. Screwfix Select

  6. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent New Member

    We won't discuss the cpc, then...:)
     
  7. JP.

    JP. Screwfix Select

    :^O
     
  8. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent New Member

    Not being funny like, but I've never ever seen a shower with plastic water pipes..


    Anybody..?


    A good/bad thing..?


    :O
     
  9. JP.

    JP. Screwfix Select

    Extension you can plumb showers completely in plastic pipe and a heck of a lot of other stuff to....however you will never ever beat good old copper tubing (thats my view anyway).
     
  10. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent New Member

    Extension you can plumb showers completely in plastic
    pipe and a heck of a lot of other stuff to....however
    you will never ever beat good old copper tubing
    (thats my view anyway).


    Mmm...Have to agree..perhaps the 'Curvey Blonde' had plastic fittings..


    :O





    :^O
     
  11. Stoday

    Stoday New Member


    Have you seen the 'Curvey Blonde In The Shower'
    thread?

    I have now.

    It does not cover my point, which is, how can a faulty shower electrocute the user if it's earthed properly?
     
  12. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent New Member

  13. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent New Member


    Have you seen the 'Curvey Blonde In The Shower'
    thread?

    I have now.

    It does not cover my point, which is, how can a
    faulty shower electrocute the user if it's earthed
    properly?


    There may be insufficient fault current to trip the mcb (which may be rated at 40A, for example) and if no RCD is fitted, current will pass indefinatley...

    If a fault current of say 10A is flowing, we only need 50mA to kill the person in the shower, thats just 0.5% of the total current..

    Assuming the other 99.5% is flowing down throught the pipe or the cpc.

    Who knows what possible fault senarios can occur..
     
  14. Lokkars Daisy

    Lokkars Daisy New Member

  15. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent New Member

    But LOKS..


    They are all shower faults..


    ;)

    Who knows..?
     
  16. fooman

    fooman New Member

    one guy was found with the shower unit on top of him ??

    did it fall off the wall and kill him ? or did he pull it off
     
  17. fooman

    fooman New Member

    The inquest heard Mr Eldon was using an extension lead from his mother's house next door for his electricity supply.

    having your shower running off an extenstion lead from next door is asking for trouble
     
  18. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent New Member

    Any electrical fault is unpredictable..


    There's no straight line..
     
  19. Stoday

    Stoday New Member

    None of these examples are directly caused by not
    having an rcd fitted to a correctly installed shower
    unit.

    The last link is related to wiring in the USA ,is
    that relevant to the British system?

    Quite so, LD.

    The USA link is interesting because it describes the sort of PME system that was allowed by the thirteenth edition (I think) in the 1960's. Of course that's now changed and the problems identified could not arise in the UK if the installation complies with current regulations.
     
  20. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent New Member

    I give up...
     

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