A residual current device or better known as an RCD is a key safety device in the electrical world. An RCD is used primarily to protect a human being from a hazardous electrical shock. If there is a defect with an appliance in the household, the RCD reacts because of the power surge and disconnects the electric current. The RCD is fundamentally designed to respond quickly. The residual current device oversees the electric current and the instant of any abnormal activity the device rapidly reacts.

The Simple fact is that a residual current device prevents many fatalities around the world from electrical shock. It can be classed as a life saver in due respect because of the safety capabilities it provides. Furthermore, the RCD prevents many non-fatal injuries too in the domestic and commercial sector where electricity is involved. Residual current devices are generally installed by qualified electricians who usually pair it with a consumer unit to house the device and connect it to the electrical network.

The appearance of a common RCD is a small switch which you can operate and is located inside a consumer unit or fuse board. It is quite easy to locate a consumer unit in a household. It generally looks like a white box and can be typically located anywhere from underneath the stairs, the garage, a basement or maybe even a kitchen cupboard.

In a case where a light bulb fails in a household the RCD will need to be reset in order for the lighting circuit to work again. The surge of electricity that causes the light bulb to fail will ultimately trip out the RCD. To enable the lighting circuit to work again just flip the switch on the RCD to reset the circuit. Once reset, the lighting circuit should come back on and return to normal.

Overall it is vital to have an RCD in operation located in a household. If there is not one installed there could be a risk of not having full circuit protection for the electrical circuits. Lighting or many other appliances could be at risk of failure if there is one power surge through the electrical current. In order to be protected from these power surges it is highly recommended that this key safety device is installed within the property.

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Originally consumer units housed fuses and were called fuse boards. Miniature circuit breakers have now replaced fuses. In the event of an overload a miniature circuit breaker can be reset by anyone, simply by flicking the switch. A fuse would have to be taken out and rewired by a professional which could be costly in some cases. A circuit breaker also can be used to disconnect the electricity supply allowing to safely change a light bulb or replace a plug socket for example.

To ensure safe and more reliable circuit protection, a safety device can be used to disconnect the electricity if there is an imbalance in the electrical current. The device is known as an RCD or residual current device. An RCD provides this extra level of protection as it trips out much quicker than the normal circuit breaker. This device has the capabilities of saving lives as it disconnects so quickly it prevents a human being from being electrically shocked. With the new enforcement of the 17^th Edition Regulations there has to be a residual current device installed within the consumer unit. Instead of using an RCD you can also use an RCBO which is a combination of both RCD and a miniature circuit breaker.

A common consumer unit manufactured by Chint is made out of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene).  ABS is a strong flame retardant polymer and it has great electrical insulation properties which makes it the ideal material. Consumer units can also be produced using other materials such as steel. Steel consumer units are mainly used in industrial premises or when armoured cable is used. The consumer unit is generally box shaped accompanied with a polycarbonate transparent lid and are available in many different sizes.

A typical example of a small sized unit would be a garage unit which has an RCD and one circuit breaker. The RCD would be used as the main incoming device and the circuit breaker as the outgoing device. A larger unit could be anything up to a double stacked unit, which would have two RCD’s and a main switch. This type could provide circuit protection for up to 32 circuits. These larger units are more commonly used commercially or in the industrial sector.

Overall the consumer unit is a vital component and it is the primary distributor of electricity in the household. It simply would be very risky and too dangerous to have one circuit running through the household with no circuit protection. We should be appreciative of the technology that goes into circuit protection because it saves thousands of lives every year.

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Expert Electrical Supplies

Consumer Unit

Welcome to the new range of Twister cable connectors, a great alternative and cheaper than a terminal connector block. The new range consists of 7 different cable connectors for both solid and stranded cable. To enable a guaranteed safe connection between two cables, just insert two cables and twist the connector. No tools needed!

There are two different types of cable connector. There is a standard variant which is used indoors and also a weatherproof version which is IP55 rated. The weatherproof version is pre-filled with silicone sealant to protect against corrosion and moisture. This means it can be used both indoors and outdoors. The IP55 rated cable connectors could be an ideal money saving solution because due to the weatherproof status, there is no need for expensive IP rated enclosures to house the connector.

The technology for the cable connector is actually quite simple. There are just two components of the cable connector which are the expanding square spring and the polypropylene shell. Once the cables are inserted, the twisting effect enables the square spring to grip the conductors and twists them together hence the name “Twister”. This enables the connector to produce a guaranteed safe and secure connection which stays strong over a period of time.

This design of cable connector has in fact been around for a number of years and was commonly known as “Scruits”. The older designs used an old style ceramic material but where effectively written out and banned due to more strict regulation requirements. The new Twister cable connector makes a big comeback and conforms to all regulations and tests due to the new design. The new connector is manufactured from a high quality and robust material which is polypropylene. This material will not split or crack, like the older ceramic versions.

The Twister cable connector is a great product and solution for everyday applications where a safe connection between two cables is needed. Expert Electrical Supplies Ltd aims to offer valuable expert advice and provide an expert service. Please see our website for the best and most competitive prices on the internet for Twister cable connectors.

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Author : Lewis Molloy

Twister Cable Connector

Twister Pro Cable Connector

The main issue is compatibility, first you need to make sure that the dimmer switch will work with the LEDs you have chosen. Our most popular remote control dimmer switch is the Green-I which is a budget priced remote control light switch. The Green I works with our H2 (formally Evo LED) LED downlights and can also be supplied with a built in PIR which turns the lights on and off automatically. However the Green I does not work with the Philips 7W Master GU10 LED bulbs. If you are looking for a remote control dimmer switch for use with the Philips 7W Master GU10 LED bulbs we now offer this in the form of a kit, made up of Rako parts.

The Rako parts wireless and more advanced, allowing scene setting and recalling of scenes. This basic kit can be easily upgraded to allow you to control all of the lights in your home from your PC or Iphone.

In current times of energy efficiency and renewable energy being popular. Solar photovoltaic panels are an excellent solution for an eco-friendly energy source. Due to the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the manufacturing of solar cells and photovoltaic design has advanced considerably in recent years hence why it is the world’s fastest growing energy technology.

State of the art and precision solar module manufacturing enables the solar cells to maintain peak power and minimize energy loss to allow maximum energy gains.  IV and EL tests are carried out to guarantee reliability and quality over a number of years.

Chint Solar Photovoltaic panels are very capable of providing a good renewable energy source for a sustained period of time. A Chint Solar Photovoltaic panel paired with an inverter could be used in a variety of applications where electricity is needed.  This could be ideal for remote locations or buildings where electricity mains access is difficult.

Expert Electrical Supplies Ltd offers two main types of photovoltaic panel being monocrystalline for a lower wattage output and polycrystalline for a higher wattage output.  All panels are assembled with high quality, smooth aluminium alloy frame to encapsulate the solar cell module. On request we can provide an array of different sizes of solar photovoltaic panels and inverters to accommodate the selected panel. Please feel free to contact us on: 01706 860011 for further information or to enquire about our range of Chint Solar Photovoltaic Panels and Inverters.

Chint Solar Photovoltaic Panel

Steel Enclosure Blog

Steel enclosures are a common product in the electrical world and can be adapted to be useful in lots of different industries. In simple terms, an enclosure is a metal box which is used to house delicate electrical components or many other types of products. There are lots of different sizes and varieties of steel enclosure produced by many well known manufacturers. Sometimes it can be a difficult choice to decide which size and brand of steel enclosure would be suitable and appropriate for the job in hand.

For example I will name a few manufactures: Hellerman Tyton, Chint, Schneider, Himel, Rittal and Sarel. All these manufactures can provide many different sizes of steel enclosure from 250x200x150mm to 1000x800x300mm (HeightxWidthxDepth). On special request some manufactures may even provide larger sizes to accommodate an industrial sized project.

In some cases the consumer can opt for a stainless steel variant of an enclosure. A good example of a stainless steel enclosure is the Schneider and Himel range. The benefits of using a stainless steel variant are the material offers a higher corrosion resistance which enables longer life and an immunity to rust unlike normal steel. Easy cleaning and better hygiene qualities makes it ideal for industries enforcing strict hygiene policies and aesthetic appearance for the attractive and modern look. The disadvantages are its more difficult to fabricate and weld which requires specialist machinery and methods to fabricate and weld to a high standard. The cost prices are considerably more and so are the costs of the final manufacturing processes such as polishing and finishing touches.

The standard IP rating of a steel enclosure is IP66 which ensures a higher level of ingress protection. The first number of the IP66 rating means that it is completely dust tight so no solid matter can enter the enclosure. The second number of the IP66 rating means it is protected against powerful jets of water meaning that a powerful jet can be aimed directly at the enclosure with no harmful effect. The Hellerman Tyton steel enclosure offers an IP66 rating which enables it to claim its weatherproof status. This can be beneficial if the steel enclosure needs to be installed outdoors or at a position where water or liquids can be hazardous. This is great for industries such as the food industry and chemical industry where liquids could possibly damage internal components.

Once an enclosure has been selected, in many cases the enclosure will need to be wall mounted. The Hellerman Tyton range of HT steel enclosures all include mounting plates which can be a convenience and reduces confusion of which mounting plate to select to accommodate the steel enclosure. Another option is to consider a wall fixing bracket but a mounting plate would be recommended as the best option.

Expert Electrical Supplies Ltd aims to offer valuable expert advice and provide an expert service. Please see our website for the best and most competitive prices on the internet for steel enclosures.

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Steel Enclosure

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