RCD test button

[Michal]

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

What was the reasons for changing intervals time between,from quarterly to every 6 months?.

 

[radiohead]

In order to justify their existence and salaries the IET boffins must continually find new superfluous regulations and changes to impose on the industry. Otherwise they are out of a job.
No other reason than that.

 

[Michal]

Well I'm in process of studying for 2396 and that was one of the question from previous exam last year.

 

[bill01803]

I read that because no one ever tests their rcd if they made the interval longer hopefully someone might test it. Some hope!!

 

[telectrix]

think the idea might have been to test when the clocks were put back/forward as that saves resetting all the clocks just for the RCD tests.

nah, can't be. it's too sensible.

 

[Dustydazzler]

6 months nah

I just wait for mine to trip naturally to prove it still works

 

[FatAlan]

All the IET need to do is issue a new mandatory label saying, 'Under No Circumstances Push This Button' . They'll be tested all the time then.

 

[Paignton pete]

Well I'm in process of studying for 2396 and that was one of the question from previous exam last year.

What was the answer?

 

[Michal]

What was the answer?

No idea. I would like to know myself.

 

[DPG]

Changing it to coincide with changing clocks rings a bell to me. Can't remember where I read it though.

 

[pc1966]

I think it was the "clocks change" argument for the 6-months label as you see different RCD saying monthly, quarterly, regularly, etc. I think the reality is they are tested when EICR are done and that is about it!

It is one of the reasons that I don't approve of ignoring the Zs or R1+R2 values and assuming the RCD side will cover their asses on any fault, the RCD should be for additional protection, not as the only means of disconnecting in under 0.4s because of poor design or degradation of the installation, since RCD electronics is more complex and they don't get tested in practice.

 

[Risteard]

What was the reasons for changing intervals time between,from quarterly to every 6 months?.

Because it's what the rest of the world does. As alluded to by @telectrix the ideal thing is to do it when the clocks change (as advised in many jurisdictions).