Discuss mcb question in the Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

Welcome to ElectriciansForums.net - The American Electrical Advice Forum
Head straight to the main forums to chat by click here:   American Electrical Advice Forum

Hi Mark, If you look at the title of the ECA page you refereed to, you will notice it's a design table for Standard Circuits (similar to those in the OSG 7.1 Tables 7.1). These easy design tables, by their simple nature make worst case assumptions. In the instance you highlight, for a 32A Type C MCB protection device for a RFC on a TN-S system, one of the assumptions made is that external earth loop fault impedance Ze is at the maximum quoted by the DNO ie. 0.8Ω. If you now look at BS7671:2008+Amt 1:2011 Table 41.3 the maximum design Zs for the 32A Type C MCB is 0.72Ω, therefore the assumed Ze>Zs max and cannot comply, and therefore is Not Permitted (NP) as shown in the ECA table.
 
Hi Mark, If you look at the title of the ECA page you refereed to, you will notice it's a design table for Standard Circuits (similar to those in the OSG 7.1 Tables 7.1). These easy design tables, by their simple nature make worst case assumptions. In the instance you highlight, for a 32A Type C MCB protection device for a RFC on a TN-S system, one of the assumptions made is that external earth loop fault impedance Ze is at the maximum quoted by the DNO ie. 0.8Ω. If you now look at BS7671:2008+Amt 1:2011 Table 41.3 the maximum design Zs for the 32A Type C MCB is 0.72Ω, therefore the assumed Ze>Zs max and cannot comply, and therefore is Not Permitted (NP) as shown in the ECA table.

So ia ssume if you come accross it on a PIR and it tests fine the its not worth mentioning? Most TNS supplies I see now are not true TNS, they are usually jointed to PME mains somewhere nearby, thus giving very good readings.
 
If you were to test and inspect such a final circuit and it's Zs <(0.8x0.72Ω)=0.576Ω, applying the 80% Rule of Thumb to compensate for testing at ambient temperature, then it would comply with BS7671:2008+Amt 1:2011 EFLI requirement.
Obviously, the example referred to assumes the RFC is NOT additionally protected by an RCD to BS7671:2008+Amt 1:2011, 415.1.1. Where such RCD additional protection is used the ELFI requirement (BS7671:2008+Amt 1:2011, Table 41.5) would be much less onerous, irrespective of the primary protective device or earthing system used.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What reason would you need to is it because the ICn 10ka as a possed to a 6ka on a type B?
No, it's nothing to do with the Icn rating.
The usual reason for choosing to use Type C MCB in preference to a Type B would be in situations where switching surges would be likely to operate a Type B MCB. Typical situations occur in commercial and industrial installations where there is a wide spread use of discharge lighting and small motors. For example the highly inductive nature of fluorescent lighting banks is a particularly common source of switching surges requiring a less sensitive MCB.
Type B MCBs typically operate in the conventional time (0.1 to 5s) at a trip current between 3 and 5 times the nominal current rating (In) of the device. Whereas Type C MCBs are less sensitive and typically operate at a trip current between 5 to 10 In.
 
A little bit misleading is that table IMO, as it seems to suggest the actual final circuit is not permitted where as its actually that particular protective device that doesn't comply due to the reasons mentioned above.


It would be much clearer if they simply stated that a 32A C type MCB would not comply on a TN-S system where the external Ze value exceeded the maximum permitted Zs for the device.
 

Reply to mcb question in the Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc

Electrical Forum

Welcome to the Electrical Forum at ElectriciansForums.net. The friendliest electrical forum online. General electrical questions and answers can be found in the electrical forum.
This website was designed, optimised and is hosted by Untold Media. Operating under the name Untold Media since 2001.
Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock