Fitting an RCBO in a Consumer Unit

[@nigelholmes6995]

Someone employ this man to make training videos! Accurate, clear and well thought through.

[@henryharesdene4164]

But his delivery would make me fall asleap......

[@Martin-xo7ds]

A man like that could run the country....😊

[@bengreen6980]

Mr Ward you have the best teaching voice I have heard in a very long time! Love your videos, very informative, thank you.

[@davidlaw2153]

The best electrical info on KZbin, very clear professional and concise

[@andrewfarmer8172]

John Ward, sincerely a big thank you for the content you provide, you have a clean and no-fluff presentation style and you have saved me from electrocuting myself many times. You are a legend in the game 💪🏻

[@mchgyle]

Hi John, simply the best. no additional explanation needed on any of your videos. I wish you were my college lecturer when I was at college, as I did not understand most of what he said it's only years later through practice I realise what he was trying to explain could have been said so much more in a simple and practical way. Good stuff, all the best.

[@burty1968]

Crickey John, where were you when i was going through my 1-3 C & G Electrical installations courses? . I'm watching your brilliant videos as a refresher .I'm not actually working as an electrician but in the electronics field. I do this as A DIY hobby. Found your approach and guidance more helpful than reading & spending hours at college. I'm watching all your videos , i only wanted a quick refresh on SWA. Cheers. regards Del

[@SadAnorak]

I needed to fit an RCBO filled consumer unit due to lack of space in a small cupboard. I usually fit MCBs, so your video was very helpful = thank you.

[@leejones1317]

john is a great tutor and very easy to understand.

[@cainweber1978]

Such a good teacher. Will use rcbos for my DIY solar powered pond project.

[@adrianshingler9783]

'Cheapomatic cu from some diy shed'.......love that, you crack me up John! Have to say your videos are excellent matey, keep them coming!

[@LdaHashZero]

Thank-you John. Ended up here because i was curious about what the white wire did.

[@PhlegmBrulee]

Double pole switching seems to be common in mini-RCBO’s available in GB this year. Now it’s arc fault detection (AFD) that fattens up the physical size to two slots wide.. and the price to about £120 for a combined RCBO-AFDD. Still, progress is being made!

[@retro80s22]

great video brilliant HD quality. ..And most of all I like your blunt honesty when it comes to cheap crappy anything. ..nice work

[@thegreygrappler6280]

Great video and your voice is perfect for explaining things. Thanks

[@socialprotection343]

Very Educational and well explained thanks for sharing your knowledge. please continue the good work Mr Ward

[@carltonlane8931]

Thanks for the video,cheapomatic,made me smile.

[@phunwithphiphi8055]

Thank you for making these videos, easy to understand and you take the time explain the terms you are using. I will definitely be using RCBO's for my CU.

[@Robert-ts2ef]

I can imagine that RCD testing now using an RCBO for every circuit is going to add a lot more time to the complete testing procedures.

[@georgeharizanov6094]

I don't think you have to fit RCBO per circuit, nothing stops you to have the RCBO shown here feed 2 or more circuit breakers/circuits after it..

[@garygrainger6691]

I never comment but I had to say Exceptional video thank you, explains everything, I can't thank you enough

[@icanacoustics-noisevibrati624]

Well done John, nicely delivered. Thank you.

[@jambojambo313]

Brilliant, RCBO's the way to go. thank you Ian

[@misribanda5555]

Wonderful explanation, what a great teacher...

[@michaelcostello6991]

Great explanation especially your discussion of functional earths.

[@steevek]

RCBO is common in China since 10 years back. Their RCBO has an additional square button to indicate if the trip is due to mcb side or RCB function in the event of a tripping.

[@Marcel_Germann]

This is depending on the manufacturer. I've got one made by ABB, if the RCD-part is tripping it's showing a blue "flag". You can see it here on this pic. If you switch it off manually or you've got overload or short circuit (L to N) the flag will not appear: www.klibo.de/fileadmin/_processed_/b/b/csm_40375243_640_41f6b34423.jpg

[@spike17100]

Excellent video as always , clear and easy to understand .

[@christastic100]

It is recommended to use a torque screwdriver now to tighten the breaker terminals . The torque range is now somtimes printed on the side of the MCB/RCBO .

[@warsameadam5572]

These particularly useful for lights circuit in case of any power trips you it won't effect your lights circuit and won't incomplete dark at night. Which could be hazardous.

[@ostwolf]

Amazing tutorial and explanation! Thank You!

[@bugoutvanrieser6790]

John thanks for the video ,you are the only one I who has actually explained what the white wire is for even though briefly.pity you didn't have one that was long enough to connect.as I have seen these grouped together .and I have seen these individually connect to each relative circuit on the earth bar,what is your take on this? thanks

[@jessiejames008]

What a great video, thank you 🙏🏻

[@fieldsofomagh]

Informative video and well presented. 👍

[@ernstpeterlegrand]

I am in the process of changing the MCB into RCBO. I plan first to measure with a leakage clamp meter each individual circuit. Then if there is see which device is the reason and if it can be adjusted/fixed fix it. Then see the final leakage value and based on that put a 10 or 30mA RCBO in. So, I can finetune each circuit with a 10 or 30mA.

[@Mikepragland]

What a guy! Brilliant teacher, subbed!

[@abdullahalahmadi695]

In KSA we have adopted the US system that is split phase 220 / 110 what confused me is that in my home panel there is no bonding between earth bus and the nutral bus like most panel in usa in fact the earh bus is isolated from the panel. Does the earth work in this condition. Any explanation

[@johnbower]

Excellent explanation

[@sp3c14l1st]

Here in Belgium , all RCD's and circuit breakers are dual pole / 3 fase+N in new installations.

[@johnburns4017]

Domestic installations in the UK are single phase.

[@ewenwilby6495]

At 10:15 you talk about the black lead of the RCBO having the end of the wire being welded into a solid piece, how would shortening the wire and soldering the new end of the wire affect the installation?

[@markforshaw7148]

Hi .. I have only just seen your series of videos. I wish I had these when I was doing my 2391. Thanks

[@davidbolam8667]

Hi John I started watching your channel about a year ago and all I can say is keep it up excellent, easy plain English description by far the the best on KZbin . Just got a question what do you think of the lewden populated 14 way consumer unit with rsbo and should I fit spd . Thanks keep up the good work

[@henreli]

great explanation. why the neutral cable size in the rcbo is smaller than the old RCD?. thanks

[@abdullahalahmadi695]

Does this device work when the 220 is two phase no nutral at all for 220 the old system in ksa is split phase in old houses because I noticed the load side has neutral and l1

[@jwflame]

The type shown in the video does not, they are designed for systems where the neutral and earth (via the white lead) are at the same potential.

[@Plumbermark]

John, you forgot to mention if you fit an RCBO alongside RCD's you'll also need to feed a separate live into the bottom and not take it from the busbar otherwise the RCD's trip before the RCBO.

[@edwardbirch3849]

Thanks to John and Mark for their advice.

[@jeremykemp3782]

This is what I was thinking, how is that done?

[@lilyjames8948]

Excellent video

[@NanaKwame-s6o]

Please thank you for ideas ❤

[@observersnt]

Thank you for taking the effort to share this. it was very helpful

[@ahmedelectricianofiraq5550]

I thank you alot john to this fantastic & great video

[@101TurnTable]

Best electrician on the land

[@gameclan5831]

Worst electrition on earth rcbo create extreme dirty electricity

[@simonreffell9758]

Very useful info.

[@cainweber1978]

John, if you were doing this in your garage for a hybrid inverter, off grid solar. Say you had 2 or 3 rcbo fed circuits, with the functional earth, will it matter if there's a neutral to ground bond or not? I think I want to keep neutral and ground apart due to the grid AC in cable in case of dull days not charging the battery. Any advice greatly appreciated.

[@train4905]

Exellent demo sir.

[@mikeshaw2968]

Thanks JW this helps

[@fishandreptileinfo]

Brilliant, Thank you.

[@david-ky7rt]

Nice one JW, explained perfectly

[@smartchip]

Thank you for the demonstration,

[@jchattey]

"El Cheapo"... brilliant, I'm using that one 😁

[@ekow218]

Great video John. Anyway from 9:30 you advice the RCBO's neutral is connected to the main neutral bar and the two RCDs as it were be connected to their own/different neutral bars, reason being it's best the current is kept separate. My question is the main neutral bar, from wiring standards will definitely have to be looped to the other two neutral bars hence the three neutral bars will be at the same potential, so is it really necessary to put each RCD on different neutral bars???????? Again, in the case where you don't have space to add more neutral bars, what do you do then??????

[@jwflame]

The three neutral bars are at the same potential, the difference is where the wires go before they get there. Both the line and neutral wires for a particular circuit must pass through the RCD. If the neutral was connected directly, the RCD would sense the full load current on the line, nothing for the neutral and trip with any load.

[@ekow218]

Well noted. Can you please do a video on the construction/building of an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)?

[@sbusweb]

Bigclivedotcom has done one on those:- kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJLFpalmZbdghMU

[@benharris2217]

Great video as usual. Could we have a follow up video on testing with RCBO's?

[@activateelectrical1720]

Hi John. I've always wondered why RCBO's functional neutral CSA are all the same size. I would have thought a 50Amp functional neutral would be larger than a 6A. It's most probably a stupid question. Thanks, James.

[@mixer7586]

I thought the same as you. Did you get answer to this question yet?

[@pete9501]

@@mixer7586 Cost. Someone in China has been shown how to put a blue wire in a plastic box and tighten it up. They have no idea what they are doing, but if they cut 6" of wire and put it in they get paid. You want to introduce half a dozen different wire sizes? Oh no, cheaper and quicker to jut buy one big roll of wire and that will do.

[@shilks8773]

What's your opinion on the merits of SP RCBOs vs DP RCBOs'. I see that Wylex (Siemens) have single width DP RCBOs. Can't see that there are other manufactures providing single width DP RCBOs.

[@Rafabenitez01]

looks like a nice Sheraton vase on the Hammond there John , watch it doesnt go over when your pounding your organ 👍

[@jwflame]

Looks can be deceiving. Vase is 100% Made in China.

[@d3891]

Good day John...wanted to ask ..say you need to add just one Rcd and the individual circuits will be with RCBO...will the RCD trip as well as the RCBO (if there is a fault) if they are both 30ma? Thanks

[@jeremyallard5449]

Hi J W nice channel, could you shorten the black cable and add a bootlace ferrule or would that be contravening the IEEE Regs?

[@alryan37]

Hi John. Great video as per usual but I have have one niggling question, and that is, are there some ones ashes kept in that urn on the shelf in your office?

[@jwflame]

It's empty, no ashes there or anywhere else.

[@azemnaji]

Thx For sharing your knowledge..... Really helpful .

[@davidmarsden8868]

Another superb video John, regarding not shortening the neutral lead on the RCBO, Is it ok to shorten then fit a Ferrule?

[@davidmarsden8868]

ooops... you answered the question at 11min 30sec

[@pianoandviolin]

Hi John I love your videos. If you get time would you be able to make a video on how to crimp lugs? Especially in things like change over switches which all seem to use bolts as connectors so where you need to use lugs to connect to the bolts.

[@movax20h]

Are the narrow RCBOs even available in other countries than UK or IE? In most of Europe you can't get them. My guess is because they are more expensive, contain electronics, and are usually a single pole, so only disconnect the live. The simpler and cheaper double width modules, usually disconnect both L and N, and usually don't contain electronic, and doesn't require extra functional ground.

[@zerosparky9510]

i assume somewhat like a GFI/ AFCI type breaker used in the US. it is interesting that on the UK breakers is more markings of what is going on.

[@desmcdowell2469]

Hi John, really enjoy your videos. Just wondering what approach do you recomend on say a 3 row CU if the neutral fly lead is to short to reach the neutral bar. Is it acceptable to put ferrule on the fly lead and extend it via a wago connector? Thanks

[@sajad459]

Hello JW, I think RCBO doesn't cover short circuit protection and just adds overload protection. Some electricians use it instead of RCD and main switch which I doubt is acceptable based on standards.

[@gameclan5831]

Rcbos don't help with short circuit all they do is increase dirty electricity the test buttons only make it worse

[@jwflame]

RCBOs cover short circuit, moderate overloads and current imbalance. It's the same protection as a separate circuit breaker and RCD.

[@gameclan5831]

@@jwflame can rcbos be replaced with mcbs as rcbos do have a live cable and neutral, the circuits would still work removing the neutral and using an mcb circuit breaker?

[@telosfd]

What about cables colors, etc black on N bar 7:34. Sorry its not working like this!

[@ellebambridge5342]

Great tutorial as usual

[@mmokhtari6591]

Thank you John very well explained.

[@adamjunid8111]

Thanks Mr Ward for the helpful video :-) Does the above 1P+N RCBO have differential trip indicator..? Or, is its indicator merely a contact indicator? :-)

[@shaunbeard593]

Hi John a great video what happens if you have more rcbo than the main neutral bar holds

[@jwflame]

Consumer units are supplied with enough terminal holes in the neutral bars and often a few spare, so that situation should never happen. However you can buy the bars separately for most consumer units if for some reason you needed more.

[@shaunbeard593]

@@jwflame thank you

[@krisbham]

Hello John, fantastic video as usual, Would you agree that another disadvantage of the RCBO is if it trips, how would you know whether it did it due to overload or due to current leakage? Disconnecting faulty consumer (i.e. from the socket) which exhibits either kind of the fault can be only class as a partial success (you can change the consumer) as you still don't know what kind of failure it suffers.How quickly and effectively would you recommend to detect it? Thanks very much, Great collection of videos, Kriss.

[@austin1722]

krisbham probably own multimeter would enable individual power points or lighting circuit testing for megohm readings.

[@peterfitzpatrick7032]

@@austin1722 not much use for the homeowner... 😒

[@davem1658]

without testing equipment I think there's no way to know. however both problems would require the same solutions implemented anyway, right?

[@rolfbishop7]

excellent video, I am impressed

[@harveysmith100]

Very clear, thanks JW

[@anthonycurran362]

Thanks John

[@michaelcostello6991]

Does it matter which side of main switch is used for the live and the neutral ?

[@jwflame]

No, both sides are the same - but it does matter inside the consumer unit, L must connect to the busbar and N to the neutral bar

[@peterjones3245]

I've noticed that Wylex CU's have a slightly offset connection for the line busbar at the main switch (and the RCD's for that matter). This is slightly annoying as it means that the busbars must have an end terminal/tab, offset from the rest. Would be nice for all busbar"tabs" to be in a straight line to give more flexibilty in upgrades - e.g. replacing an RCD controlling 3 MCB's with RCBO's means buying another longer busbar to connect to the main switch when the RCD had been replaced by the RCBO's

[@jamalnasir526]

hi just got a couple of cpn rcbo's one problem is that the busbar connection on them is set back from the other breakers how does one compensate for this and the other question does the neutral wire that fits into the rcbo have to be from the circuit or the neutral rail

[@jwflame]

If the busbar isn't in the right place, they are the wrong devices.

[@pramodgavit7666]

Nice video ,is RCBo require for AC 1.5Ton in Uk?

[@jwflame]

Air conditioners don't require RCDs / RCBOs unless the manufacturer states they do. The circuit cable may require one, depending on how it's installed.

[@rosco1024training]

Thank you John. That's me sorted in plain English.

[@g7eit]

Would it be acceptable to solder the end of that neutral run to make a nice connection to the N bus bar? I have terrible OCD and couldn’t cope with the untidiness of the extra wire.

[@jwflame]

No, solder is too soft to use under screw terminals, it tends to flow under pressure which results in a loose connection.

[@MT_T991]

We tend to fit these as rcbos most customers instantly see the benefits

[@markfalzon987]

I understand the main advantage of RCBOs that would trip only one circuit. Some apartments have the electricity attached to a distribution box a ground floor but have another distribution box in their apartment. Is is useless to install RCBOs in the apartment if at ground floor is installed an RCD for protection of the wire going up to the apartment?

[@markfalzon987]

Is there a way to go round this to install RCBOs? Thanks for your educational clips. They are really useful. Thanks again.

[@jwflame]

Submains supplying a consumer unit should not be RCD protected, they should be installed in cables that don't need RCD protection such as armoured, MICC or singles in steel conduit.

[@markfalzon987]

@@jwflame Thanks for taking time to answer my query and of course provide a solution. Great man,

[@Henry-fh7uh]

can you run two radial circuits on the one rcbo?

[@DavidofSteele]

great videos. very helpful thank you. you make a great teacher.

[@SeanBZA]

Not a pin but a bootlace ferrule, as the typical pin is not rated for 32A of current flow. Interesting, as here in South Africa the Heinemann breakers are top entry only, so all the wiring is power in at top and tails at the bottom as opposed to the UK style. Makes for fun with DIN boxes as well, as those RCD devices will not fit here, you need a reversed one.

[@Marcel_Germann]

The normal circuit breakers and RCDs can used in both directions, it doesn't matter if you go in from the upper side and go out on the lower side or the other way arround. Only this style of RCBO demands it to go in from the lower side and go out through the upper side. But standard in Europe is to go into the lower side and go out through the upper side.

[@rightonpierre]

Hello John, I live remotely and am prone to power cuts. I have a 4kVA generator to get things running again whenever this happens. My problem is the RCBOs trip as soon as I connect the gen. I've put a good dedicated Earth on the generator but to no avail. I'm considering replacing the RCBOs with MCBs but thought I'd first pick your brains. Peter

[@ChrizRockster]

How are you changing between Generator and Grid Supply, Peter? Changeover Switch?

[@nomadicsoul34]

Type Cs may help. designed for use with motors. Anyone care to comment?

[@michaelcostello6991]

Are the live bus bars standard. I mean will any live bus bar fit in any manufacturer's MCB's and RCB's

[@jwflame]

They are not standard, components in a consumer unit must be those from the same manufacturer, and suitable for that particular one as some manufacturers make more than one type.

[@michaelcostello6991]

@@jwflame Thanks. It would be good if you covered this subject in one of your videos. Thats why not to mix different manufacturers items in a consumer unit.

[@ProckerDark]

someone said to me that the top of breakers is the (IN) and the bottom is the (OUT), you here said the opposite, is there a standard to this or polarity doesn't matter in breakers?

[@paulstone7655]

An RCBO is not suitable for all cases. The problem with having each circuit with its own RCD is that there is no combined value of earth leakage. This means that if there is another RCB further down the line (such as with a caravan - an external box fitted with RCBO) this device will trip because it goes by the total value of earth leak (vs individual circuits as on the consumer unit) leaving your consumer unit switches still on. In short, if there is an earth leak, you will have too many nuisance trips further "upstream" which are much more annoying to keep having to switch on. You may have guessed this happened to me 😅 (this after the alcoholic electrician friend of the family insisted this more expensive install would be top notch lol)

[@jwflame]

Upstream RCDs would not be of the same rating as those for individual circuits, 100mA or 300mA time delayed would be the usual choices.

[@bFORCe2003]

Do you have to use a busbar and would it matter if the RCD is 2P and the MCB's are 1P?

[@jwflame]

Yes, a busbar is required. Doesn't matter in normal installations if the MCBs are single pole, although 2 pole are available.

[@bFORCe2003]

@@jwflame thanks for your reply, one last thing, are busbars universal where one bus bar fits all brand MCBs and how many MCBs/circuits would one connect to a single RCD.

[@ianmarsh_uk]

A very interesting video on RCBO’s. I am looking at installing a 50A MCB - Type C (not RCD protected) in my current consumer unit and running a 10mm armoured cable to the garage consumer unit. In the garage I intend to install a 6A RCBO - Type B for lights and a 16A RCBO - Type B for a double power socket (no ring, no spur). My question is do I install in my garage consumer unit a 40A - Type C MCB for my EV circuit on the basis the EV circuit has a Matt:e RVD Protection Device that switches both live and neutral circuits and if there is a fault. Also, if I fitted a 40A RCBO it would just fight with the RCD protection in the Matt:e Device and it would just be a toss-up which tripped first?

[@gameclan5831]

These rcbo devices create extremely high levels of dirty electricity, in turn creates fibromyalgia increases to the suicide rate, hopefully these devices are phased out in the future just stuck with mcbs

[@electro3976]

Hi John thank you for the great video as always. On my older CU the main switch is only single pole which isolates the Line side of the mains supply and the main Neutral in is connected directly to a busbar. There is also and RCCB and a second Neutral busbar both of which are populated. My question is does it matter which of these Neutral busbars i connect the RCBO Neutral to. My RCBO does not have the attached Neutral and Earth wires like the one you used in the video

[@jwflame]

Yes it does matter - the RCBO connects to the same neutral bar as the rest of the circuit breakers, and not the second one which is only for devices covered by the other RCCB. A single pole main switch is not compliant now, and never was.

[@electro3976]

@@jwflame Thank you very much John for your reply and clarification , Always enjoy your videos keep up the great work.

[@Михаиллеви]

'Some diy shed'. I buy nearly everything bar my groceries from these places (naming no names)...🤣

[@rusrus29]

Mr J.w You are the best !

[@pianoandviolin]

ps you also mention you could crimp on a pin on the cable in your video at the end if you cut it to make it shorter. Could you show you would do that if you get a moment as a video on crimping would be excellent.

[@jwflame]

+Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh Video covering that will be available on Saturday.