12 installation tips for implementing a

good residual protection

Earth leakage current

All installations have an earth leakage current that is mainly due to the conductor’s
capacitive leakage and to anti-parasitic or EMI filtering capacitors, for example class I
equipment.

12 installation tips for a good implementing of RCD in electrical network

The sum of these leakage currents may cause highly sensitive residual protection – RCDs
to trip. Tripping becomes possible from I∆n/2 without it endangering safety to personnel.

Leakage currents can be limited by:

 Using class II equipment,

  Isolating transformers,
 Limiting the number of receptors protected by the same RCD.

Installation tips for residual protection

Let’s discuss now about installation tips for correct implementing of residual
protection:

1. Improving RCD performance

2. Indication of test conditions of differential devices
3. Choosing a differential device according to the protection to be provided
4. Choosing a differential device in IT load
5. Choosing a differential device according to auxiliary power supply principles
6. Characteristics of a differential device with auxiliary source
7. Precautions when installing toroids on armoured cables
8. Choosing class of differential devices according to loads
9. “Industrial” loads
10. Speed variator type loads
11. Grouping of uses according to load type
12. Signalling or pre-alarm of a leakage or fault

1. Improving RCD performance

1.1 Implementing at the origin of a TT installation
At the origin of a TT installation (and only in this case), it is possible to replace the detection
toroid placed around live conductors by a single toroid linking the HV/LV transformer neutral
to the earth.

This arrangement improves immunity to disturbances and has the advantage of being
more economical.
 Figure 1 –
Implementing at the origin of a TT installation
1.2 Increasing immunity to disturbances of a toroid
Increasing immunity to disturbances of a toroid by:

1. Symmetrical arrangement of the phase conductors around the neutral conductor,

2. Using a toroid with a diameter of at least equal to twice that of the circle formed by
conductors: D ≥ 2d,
3. Possible addition of a magnetic shield, with a height at least equal to 2D.
 Figure 2 – Increasing immunity to
disturbances of a toroid

Where:

 d is the centring of the cables in a toroid guarantees the local non-saturation of the
toroid. A saturated toroid causes spurious trippings.
 L is distance between the toroid and the bend in the cables.
Go back to contents ↑

<="" ins="" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 280px;

width: 336px; display: block;">

2. Indication of test conditions of differential devices

Complementary marking should be provided to indicate to the user that the test must be
activated regularly (every 3 to 6 months is recommended).

Go back to contents ↑

3. Choosing a differential device according to the

protection to be provided
Standard NF C 15100 § 531.2.3 stipulates a choice depending on the type of
protection to be provided:

 Protection against indirect contact (sensitivity to be chosen depending on admissible

contact voltage),
 Complementary protection against direct contact (I∆n 30 mA),
 Protection against fire risk (I∆n 300 mA).
Go back to contents ↑

4. Choosing a differential device in IT load

Standard NF C 151 00 § 531.2.4.3 – To avoid spurious tripping of RCDs protecting against
indirect contact, for average sensitivity RCDs the device’s rated residual differential current
(I∆n) must be higher than double the value of the leakage current (If) that flows during a first
fault (I∆n > 2 x If).

Go back to contents ↑

5. Choosing a differential device according to auxiliary

power supply principles
The level of operator skill and the operational purpose of the installation will, according to
standard IEC 60364. determine the choice of the differential protection
devicesdepending on the type of operation linked to the power supply principle.

Possible choice depending on type of installation

Type of differential device Uninformed Tried and checked by
personnel (BA1) personnel at least informed
(BA4)
With auxiliary source independent of the NO YES
network
Operating independently of the network YES YES
voltage
With operation dependent on the NO YES
network voltage or on any fail-safe
auxiliary source
With operation dependent on the NO YES
network voltage without a fail-safe except PC 16 A circuits
With operation dependent on the voltage NO YES except PC 16 A circuits
of an auxiliary source without a fail-safe and signalling of an aux.
source fault
Note //
A transformer connected to the network does not constitute an auxiliary source independent
of the network.
Go back to contents ↑

<="" ins="" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 280px;

width: 336px; display: block;">

6. Characteristics of a differential device with auxiliary

source
Characteristics of a differential device with auxiliary source:

1. Monitoring independent of the monitored circuit voltage.

2. Suited to networks with high and rapid fluctuation.
3. Monitoring independent of the load current (surge of non-balanced currents, coupling of
inductive loads).
4. Better immunity to tripping in cases of transient faults (integration time in the region of 30
ns, whereas a device with its own current risks tripping in a few ms).
Go back to contents ↑

7. Precautions when installing toroids on armoured

cables
Armoured cable: insulate electrically from the connection box, and connect it to earth.
 Figure 3 – Precautions when
installing toroids on armoured cables

Go back to contents ↑

8. Choosing class of differential devices according to

loads
Equipment is increasingly fitted with rectifying devices (diodes, thyristors, etc.). Earth fault
currents downstream of these devices have a DC component capable of desensitising
the RCD. Differential devices must be of the class suited to the loads.

Standard EN 50178 stipulates the following organisation diagram which defines

requirements when using electronic equipment behind a differential device.
 Figure 4 – Requirements when
using electronic equipment behind a differential device

Transportable electronic equipment whose rated apparent input power does not exceed 4 kVA, must be

designed to be compatible with type A RCDs (protection against direct and indirect contact).

Any electronic equipment which risks generating DC component fault current that risks
interfering with the operation of the differential protective devices must be accompanied by a
warning label which says so.

When the RCDs cannot be compatible with the electronic equipment to be protected, other
protection measures must be adapted, such as: isolating the electronic equipment from its
environment by double or reinforced insulation, or insulating the electronic equipment from
the network by using a transformer, etc.
Standard EN 61800-5-1 offers a choice of RCD class according to the internal
electronics of the receptors.
Table 1 – Choice of RCD class according to the internal electronics of the receptors

Go back to contents ↑

9. “Industrial” loads
The most common devices are of AC class, but the real situation of industrial installations
justifies the use of at least A class devices.

Go back to contents ↑

10. Speed variator type loads

As this type of load fluctuates considerably, class B relays, independent of the voltage and
current, will be even more particularly suited to prevent risks of non-tripping.

Go back to contents ↑

11. Grouping of uses according to load type

Installations must group together the types of devices which cause identical faults. If
loads are liable to generate DC components, they must not be connected downstream of
devices intended to protect loads that generate, in fault, only AC or pulsed rectified
components.

Go back to contents ↑

12. Signalling or pre-alarm of a leakage or fault

In installations where continuity of operation is imperative and where the safety of
property and people is particularly at risk, insulation faults constitute a major risk that it is
particularly important to take into account.

The signalling function may be performed in two ways:

First way – The automatic breaking of the power supply for imperative reasons of protection
(protection against direct and indirect contact, or limiting the leakage current) is provided by
differential devices, the signalling function may be provided by the pre-alarm relays which
are incorporated in certain differential relays.
These products with pre-alarm that meet the recommendation in § 531.2.1.3 requiring that
the sum of prospective leakage currents be limited to a third of the rated operating current.
Second way – The automatic breaking of the power supply for imperative reasons of
protection (protection against direct and indirect contact, or limiting the leakage current) is
provided by other devices, such as for example, protection devices against overcurrents.
The relay contact alarm may therefore be used only for signalling a differential current.

Preventive signalling of insulation faults provides optimisation of an electrical

installation by:

1. Anticipating a machine repair before the process is stopped or on fault,

2. Locating insulation faults in TNS neutral loads,
3. Preventing risks of fire, explosion, etc.,
4. Anticipating the operation of an overcurrent protection device and thus avoiding the
replacement of the fuse or the ageing of the circuit breaker,
5. Controlling the leakage currents and thus reducing the homopolar currents in protection
circuits, and reducing the generating of particularly disturbing electromagnetic fields,
6. etc.
Go back to contents ↑

Reference // Application Guide 2011 by Socomec