30mA RCD as main switch

[leep82]

Done a little bit of searching and found that a situation such as the title of this thread would be against current regs, heres my situation. Been to look at a few jobs on a bungalow. The customer wants lights on there garage, ( which already has a supply present), an outside socket, and an extra lighting point in there living room. Currently the installation has no RCD protection whatsoever. Supply is TNCS and feeds a DB with only 5 circuits ( sockets, cooker, lighting, garage and burglar alarm ). Could it be argued that i have improved the state of the installation and note it as a deviation if i fitted a 30mA RCD as the main switch. Its just that cost is a big issue for the customer and i already have in my possesion the RCD so this would be much cheaper than going down the 3 separate RCBO's route for the individual circuits i would be working on.

 

[davesparks]

design to the best without going to the full rcbo boards (no chance of getting these quotes) and then present the options, the customer has all the required info and also weighs up their own needs of the install, communication is key there should be no customer out their unaware about what they are paying for and what they sacrificed in going cheaper,

I almost always fit RCBO boards, I do however fully discuss things with the customer and not just for the CU but for everything. I have won jobs despite being the higher quote on occasions because of this.
But like everything there are other factors to consider, I get all my work through recommendations so have an advantage there to start with. Plus I don't do a lot of domestic work and what I do do is smaller jobs and not new houses or whatever.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Really? Sounds a bit cheap...

1. 32A wylex RCBO £12.99 (new) Wylex Nhx 32amp 30ma Type B Rcbo | eBay
2. Starbreaker RCBO £12.99 (new) Crabtree Starbreaker RCBO Choice 6Amp, 16Amp, 32Amp, 40Amp **NEW** Type B | eBay
3. 6a Wylex RCBO (new) £16.20 NEW WYLEX 6A TYPE B RCBO NHXSBS1B06 | eBay

Total price £42.18

ps.. Took me 5 minutes!

 

[baldsparkies]

If the alarm system has a dedicated circuit, chances are the reference methods used would not necessitate the use of an rcbo or rcd.
A correctly rated MCB on high integ would be within regs.
A good solid earth at the panel, assuming its a metal enclosure, and satisfactory earth loop, is always the primary concern.
To much blanket RCD protection these days.