Installing ‘ green technology ’ in existing and new builds , and failing to take adequate precautions increases the risk of electrical fires . Off-grid energy generation and energy saving technologies contain ‘ power electronics ’, generating non-linear waveforms , increased harmonic distortion and higher earth leakage currents . Inadequate electrical specification could lead to increased carbon emissions when the building disappears in a few puffs . Electrical contractors must have the appropriate expertise to design , install , inspect and test installations containing green technologies . Even with specialist electrical knowledge , defining and agreeing a safe electrical specification can be a real challenge . Some manufacturers associated with green technology give limited information relating to the connection of their equipment to |
RCD protected circuits . Consulting the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations may be equally as confusing , when trying to interpret some of the clauses relating to RCD protection and equipment containing power electronics .
Significant variations in prices quoted by electrical contractors at the design stage could indicate that there are errors in the electrical specification . The lack of clarity and understanding surrounding the ‘ Types ’ of RCD that can be used with power electronics , can lead to ineffective protection ( fire hazards ), nuisance tripping and increased costs to correct errors in original electrical installation .
To address some of these issues , HD60364-5-53 ( 2015 ) contains additional information relating to the safe association of RCDs and equipment containing semiconductors ( power electronics ). This includes a recommendation to limit total protective
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‘ Inadequate electrical specification could lead to increased carbon emissions .’ |
conductor current , to 0.3 times the rated residual operating current of the upstream RCD . Annex A contains detailed information relating to the power electronics topology and the different Types of RCD to be used . This will help to raise questions relating to erroneous information provided by some equipment manufacturers and identify possible errors in electrical specification at an earlier stage in the project . The up and coming publication of the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations will hopefully clarify many of these anomalies , with the addition of at least some of the new information and recommendations contained in HD60364-5-53 .
For further information on RCDs principles and selection download Doepke Techpub-16 : www . doepke . co . uk / download / Techpub-16
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