Staying Safe With RCD's |
Posted: May 25, 2017 |
When people hear the phrase "safety first" they often think of industries like those of natural gas and electrical power. The products that heat our homes and give us light come with a bit of danger if not handled correctly. Fortunately, the peril is mitigated by a little common sense training, and more importantly, by safeguards the industry has created. Everyone owes a debt to cut-off valves, safety switches, and fuses. The same way our ancestors knew not to stand too close to the flame, we are aware how to shut off the pilot light and throw the circuit breaker when necessary.
In electrical work, life-saving devices like the residual-current device (RCD) keep us safe. An RCD works to prevent electric shock. The devices detect an imbalance between the charged line of current and the neutral line. They disconnect the circuit within microseconds to avoid electrocution and cardiac arrest. They do not provide stoppage against power surges or energy spikes. They are, therefore, not a replacement for circuit breakers or fuses, and deliver the best safety when working in tandem with them. RCD's are good at reacting when there are electrical anomalies such as leaking. Sudden dips in the balance of either the live or the neutral conductor caused the device to 'trip,' cutting off the electrical flow immediately.
A primary method of categorizing RCD's is regarding pole wires. There can be anywhere from one to four poles, and there are custom-made designs for special purposes. Single-pole units disable the energized pole only. Double-pole RCD's disconnect both the neutral and the energized wires. Three-phased current uses three-pole (or higher) devices. Sometimes devices are also categorized by their response speed or even the method of their reaction. You can classify devices according to their location (within the power flow), as well as by their sensitivity, or even by the type of current (AC or DC) that they regulate.
RCD Installations are over ninety-five percent reliable. The devices have built-in testing features, which make it easy to determine whether you need to replace them or not. In different countries and systems, RCD's may go by different names. The term RCD is a usage from the United Kingdom. In Canada and the United States, they go by the name of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), and Australians refer to them as safety switches.
No matter what the name, all seven continents have officially adopted the usage of RCD. Codes and regulations are similar to them in most municipalities. As a low-priced but adequate safety precaution, their ubiquity is understandable as a safeguard against accidents.
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