Hot tub help!

[Dave OCD]

No I think it's perfectly understandable for someone inexperienced in certain aspects of the trade to seek a little guidance and reassurance from those with more expertise, he knew an RCD was essential from what I've read.
None of us know it all [apart from Davesparks:biggrin:] and I don't think we should come across as critical and even scathing as this could put people off asking for clarification then ploughing on and potentially making a dangerous error.
Just my thoughts.

 

[davesparks]

No I think it's perfectly understandable for someone inexperienced in certain aspects of the trade to seek a little guidance and reassurance from those with more expertise, he knew an RCD was essential from what I've read.
None of us know it all [apart from Davesparks:biggrin:] and I don't think we should come across as critical and even scathing as this could put people off asking for clarification then ploughing on and potentially making a dangerous error.
Just my thoughts.

I don't know it all, but I am capable of reading the regs, guidance notes and other reference material before turning to a bunch of complete strangers for advice on such things.

He didn't know an RCD is essential, he thought an RCD was required for any new circuit and to protect an SWA!

 

[nickblake]

CONTROL GEAR / LEWDEN 240V S/P RCBO 30mA TYPE B & C 6A 10A 16A 20A 32A 40A 50A | eBay

Might find the RCBO here

 

[Dave OCD]

I don't know it all, but I am capable of reading the regs, guidance notes and other reference material before turning to a bunch of complete strangers for advice on such things.

He didn't know an RCD is essential, he thought an RCD was required for any new circuit and to protect an SWA!

Yes maybe complete strangers, but also fellow electricians, isn't that an important aspect of the forum - to try and help each other ?
If anything he was erring on the side of caution and quite frankly with the ever growing list of rules/regulations and red tape we have to wade through I can understand that.

 

[davesparks]

Yes maybe complete strangers, but also fellow electricians, isn't that an important aspect of the forum - to try and help each other ?
If anything he was erring on the side of caution and quite frankly with the ever growing list of rules/regulations and red tape we have to wade through I can understand that.

I'd love to reply properly, but no doubt I'll get told off. Suffice to say I don't think the percentage of people on here who could be reasonably called 'fellow electricians' is very high.

 

[Dave OCD]

I don't know ,there must be at least a dozen on here. :leaving:

 

[Pauldicker]

I'd love to reply properly, but no doubt I'll get told off. Suffice to say I don't think the percentage of people on here who could be reasonably called 'fellow electricians' is very high.

Maybe I did not come across clearly I was asking originally if there was a compatible brand to lewden.
I am fully aware that this circuit requires rcd protection, and intend on using one.
I was always under the impression that the entire circuit should be rcd protected not just the commando socket, which is where I think I've got confused.

 

[Pauldicker]

Nick Blake thanks, although I'm a bit cautious about buying off of eBay.

 

[davesparks]

Nick Blake thanks, although I'm a bit cautious about buying off of eBay.

You've got some sense about you then

 

[davesparks]

Maybe I did not come across clearly I was asking originally if there was a compatible brand to lewden.
I am fully aware that this circuit requires rcd protection, and intend on using one.
I was always under the impression that the entire circuit should be rcd protected not just the commando socket, which is where I think I've got confused.

The circuit doesn't require RCD protection if it has a TN earthing system and is wired in SWA, only the socket outlet/appliance requires RCD protection.
What did you think the RCD would be protecting?

 

[Pauldicker]

This is obviously where I have gone wrong! As referring to my on site guide 7.2.5 I was not aware that swa was exempt as I just believed it would protect the cable from mechanical impact. However I also thought that it was not more than 3mm thick and could be damaged, but on reflection as it's clipped direct, it's unlikely to be damaged. My bad. However I still don't see the harm protecting the whole circuit, and finding a compatible rcbo is a cheaper way of doing it as believe that modular commando sockets are quite expensive.

If I'm wrong it's something new that I have learned.

 

[Richard Burns]

This is obviously where I have gone wrong! As referring to my on site guide 7.2.5 I was not aware that swa was exempt as I just believed it would protect the cable from mechanical impact. However I also thought that it was not more than 3mm thick and could be damaged, but on reflection as it's clipped direct, it's unlikely to be damaged. My bad. However I still don't see the harm protecting the whole circuit, and finding a compatible rcbo is a cheaper way of doing it as believe that modular commando sockets are quite expensive.

If I'm wrong it's something new that I have learned.

If you consider that SWA has an earthed metallic covering (so long as you earth the armour!) and then read 7.2.5 in the OSG again and see the requirements that do not relate to cables with earthed metallic covering this may help.
As you say no problem with protecting it with an RCD, you just need to be aware that it may well not be required.

 

[Pauldicker]

If you consider that SWA has an earthed metallic covering (so long as you earth the armour!) and then read 7.2.5 in the OSG again and see the requirements that do not relate to cables with earthed metallic covering this may help.
As you say no problem with protecting it with an RCD, you just need to be aware that it may well not be required.

Richard thank you for explaining that.

 

[davesparks]

This is obviously where I have gone wrong! As referring to my on site guide 7.2.5 I was not aware that swa was exempt exempt from what? as I just believed it would protect the cable from mechanical impact. However I also thought that it was not more than 3mm thick what on earth has 3mm thickness got to do with anything? and could be damaged, but on reflection as it's clipped direct, it's unlikely to be damaged. My bad. However I still don't see the harm protecting the whole circuit protecting it from what? RCDs dont protect cables!, and finding a compatible rcbo is a cheaper way of doing it as believe that modular commando sockets are quite expensive.

If I'm wrong it's something new that I have learned.

What exactly do you think an RCD protects?

 

[davesparks]

If you consider that SWA has an earthed metallic covering (so long as you earth the armour!) and then read 7.2.5 in the OSG again and see the requirements that do not relate to cables with earthed metallic covering this may help.
As you say no problem with protecting it with an RCD, you just need to be aware that it may well not be required.

Earthed metallic covering is irrelevant, no cable requires RCD protection purely due to it being clipped direct.

 

[infinity]

You probably don't even need a modular commando! One I done recent required a commando,
So I supplied a rotary isolator, then a flex out of that with a commando plug on the end to plug into the hot tub. Job done and the flex and plug are hidden under/ inside the hot tub