RCD's?

[Kram]

Anyone use them? or any other electrical safety thing..

Its been a few years since I was at college (electrical enginering, which I quit after a few months). I remeber being told that any outside work you need to use an RCD and there is a EU law that requires it..?

I doubt RCD's will like mig welders, im not even sure if its safe to use a mig on a normal rcd (it might melt?)

This would be for 240v 13A socket.

 

[Wozzaaah]

A normal plug in RCD is designed to handle 13 amps safely and to trip ONLY if a fault occurs. Remember that they're RCDs only not MCBs, it's not the actual current draw that trips them, it's any imbalance (usually >30mA) between live and neutral. My workshop is supplied via a 30mA RCD and it only ever trips if I run my mig too high for too long, thus overloading the actual SUPPLY not the RCD. Common sense tells you that if you're working outside you need to take precautions to ensure you're safe and if you're working around other people this is especially important.

 

[Haze]

safety should always be observed, I hope you are using a welding tent or screens to prevent innocent bystanders getting arc eye

 

[malcolm]

I run on an RCD protected supply in the workshop, but the RCD is on the consumer unit rather than plug in.

Never had any trouble with a MIG welder. Did have trouble with a great big TIG welder that popped trip switches due to the start up current, but a "D" type trip fixed that, and it was the trip (MCB) that kept going not the RCD. The MIG just runs off the ordinary "B" type trip fed through the RCD without trouble.

The RCD just checks for leakage to earth and MIGs don't leak to earth - everything that goes into the primary circuit comes back out again unless it's broken. Secondary circuit after the transformer would be harder for the RCD to check I'd guess, though I'm not very knowlegeable in these things.

 

[Kram]

thanks. I just assumed becuase the high surge currents that it might give rcd's problems (think they work on the balance of supply/return coils)
I havent got the welder yet, got an rcd not sure if its good enough for 13A though.

Welding tent/screens - wasnt planning on buying any. However I would face the side of the car, which i am working on, towards my garage.
Ive got a huge plastic sheet (think its blue - would need to be another colour?) which I could use as a screen.

 

[malcolm]

Surge currents can be a pain for anyone watching TV nearby but not for the RCD. Check for an RCD on your consumer unit - I'd thought they came in when trip switches replaced fuse wire in the 1980s.

Definately a good idea to protect passers by. Just about any screen would work. The car will act as a good screen and might be enough. Watch out for neighbours that can overlook your work. Any colour of tarp should be fine to screen off the arc from the unlucky bystanders. Couple of bits of wood and nails and a tarp should be fine.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Not all new consumer units come with an RCD much to my surprise. I bought one from wickes a few years ago which just has a 100a DP main switch and no RCD. I was in there the other day and they still sell the same ones...with no RCD and they don't seem to sell a main switch/RCD to fit it either I could probably get one to fit it from a wholesaler but I'd have to cut the tamper seal on the main fuse and pull it out just to be able to take out the switch to get it matched up or replace it. Grrr, don't get me started on Part-P. The screen issue, like Malcolm says, anything will do to stop people looking directly at the arc, kids find it especially mesmerising but adults can be just as fascinated if they don't know the dangers.