How do I tell if I have 3 phase power?

[another termite]

Was that just for domestic situations or for industry as well? At the moment in industry you dont even need to have an RCD. IMOA seperate RCD's are the way to go anyway saves reseting all the bloody clocks if the toaster trips it.... you only have to reset half.

[juan]

Clause 2.6.2.4 - Arrangement of RCDs
Where RCDs are required by the Standard, not more than 3 final sub circuits shall be protected by any one RCD. Where the number of RCDs installed exceeds one, and more than one lighting final sub circuit is installed, then the lighting circuits shall be distributed between the RCDs. In domestic installations having more than one final sub circuit, a minimum of two RCDs shall be installed.

[rileyp]

so 3 circuits per rcd.
That means the board is fine although he may need to add another rcd or 2 underneath
(rcd enclosure $5) and rcd itself $40
New board would have to be $500 and up to match what he has plus installation cost.
And even then the breakers would never be as good.
I rest my case.

[nev25]

Thats interesting we where told different at the Briefing the other Night
(Or maybe I heard wrong )
They did say they where trying to do is get way from a faulty appliance taking out the whole house

[patty]

I think all you guys are missing the point the golden rule is all supply authorities have their own set of local rules and guidelines and they vary from council to council !

[nev25]

I think all you guys are missing the point the golden rule is all supply authorities have their own set of local rules and guidelines and they vary from council to council !

Yeah but the info night I'm referring to was put on by chief electrical inspector

[patty]

thats it nev 25 he was an inspector but from what energy authority?your in Victoria mate, it really does not matter about states, i was working in newcastle then we went to work in sydney, and the local regulations guidelines differ slightly on what you can and cannot do! mainly talking from and distribution and metering point of view One of my mates also a spark went to West Australia to work and the nonsense he went to be able to perform elect work was unbelievable!The min sized consumer mains domestic situation you are allowed to run in our local supply not long ago was 16mm nothing less I still think that is the case it did not go on max demand, i also remeber it was common practice to earth the supply authority neutral also in this area then they changed it to earthing the consumer neutral instead another was the the min sized earth to a domestic earth stake was 6 mm they changed it to 16mm whilst these were common practice in our area at the time,no other supply authority in other areas at the time adopted these changes! As i stated different regulation for different LOCAL supply authorities

[nev25]

I think you guys are set up differently than us in Vic
The chief Electrical Inspector
Governs the whole kit and caboodle Including the supply authority

Yeah I come across a new house a week or so ago with a 16mm2 earth
I asked another sparkie why (as I have never seen it before) he said he had but it was some sort of earthing system the is buried in the ground (as apposed to a stake driven in) and very rarely used here
I'm still trying find more info


Gee how did you attach a 16mm2 earth to the earth stake I have enough trouble with 6mm2 at the best of times?

[another termite]

Attaching 16mm2 is a bitch... normally it takes at least three hands to get it done plus a little swearing i find can help as well.

Interesting in the new rules (2.6.3.4 very basically) if you add a socket outlet to an existing circuit then you need to add the RCD.(unless a lighting circuit) there is no different rules for industrial work. Looks like i had better stock up on the quicklag RCD/CB's. (Well that is the way i interpret it anyway)

[rileyp]

Even in Victoria the local supply authority looks after metering set ups and things do change from one area to another.
I would imagine 16mm earths being used due to poor earthing conditions.
ie... the ground is dry she no conduct
If you are on a rural propery and supplied via swer tranny
You need a good earth or all your lights dim and stay dim till you hose around the pole transformer.
A method of alleviating this situation is to use a grid in the ground rather than a solitary stake.
I would imagine in dryer parts to get a good earth on standard 2 wire supply a grid may be demanded by the supply authority in case of a fault.
All it would take is a dry year and a few earth faults on installations that went unnoticed until it rained /earth stake hosed around that was brought to the attention of the supply authority and they would mandate it as necessary.

[another termite]

16mm2 earth also needs to be used to earth conductive materials to the earthng point where an unprotected consumers main passes through any conductive materials . Actually i think it has to match the cross sectional are of the supply or something...(going from memory) unsless the cross section area is greater due to voltage drop.....

These new rules at leat have a index in them that helps not like th old 2000 ones

[nev25]

Maybe we need a new thread on the new wiring regs??

Interesting in the new rules (2.6.3.4 very basically) if you add a socket outlet to an existing circuit then you need to add the RCD

Yeah this IMO is going to cause a few problems
The Customer rings me up and says she wants a new GPO installed in her lounge room.
She has semi enclosed rewire-able fuses
Its going to cost he a new switchboard possibly $700 up-wards.
Or (as we where told) RCD GPOs but they still cost around $130
I know what the customer is going to say.

[another termite]

Yeah this IMO is going to cause a few problems
The Customer rings me up and says she wants a new GPO installed in her lounge room.
She has semi enclosed rewire-able fuses
Its going to cost he a new switchboard possibly $700 up-wards.
Or (as we where told) RCD GPOs but they still cost around $130
I know what the customer is going to say.

You could just add one RCD for that circuit, they only say you have to add it to the circuit you work on nothing about any of the others.

[another termite]

forgot to add.... maybe a new thread is a good idea

[elkangorito]

Gentlemen, I don't believe that the OP mentioned anything about additions or alterations. Nonetheless, if he feels that he may like to replace his distribution board, I could not find anything in the latest regs that indicates the need to purchase additional RCD's. Please note clause 2.6.3.4.


2.6.2.4 Arrangement.
Where additional protection of final subcircuits is required, in accordance
with Clause 2.6.3, the fin.....


2.6.3 Where additional protection is required.
2.6.3.1 Residential electrical installations.
Exceptions:
2. This requirement need not apply to certain alterations, additions or repairs in accordance with Clause 2.6.3.4.


2.6.3.4 Alterations, additions and repairs.
Socket-outlets that are added to an existing circuit shall be protected by an RCD.
Exception: The requirements of Clauses 2.6.3.1 and 2.6.3.2 need not apply to the following:
(a) Where socket-outlets or lighting points that are not RCD-protected are replaced, including the replacement of a single socket-outlet with a multiple socket-outlet assembly.
(b) Extensions to final subcircuits supplying lighting points only, provided that the existing final subcircuit is not RCD-protected.


The way I see it, even if the OP replaces his distribution board, he will not need to purchase & install any new RCD's PROVIDING that he is not in breach of any part of 2.6.3.4.