Watch your wattage- buy an RCBO

Reducing the energy used by your house or office can save you money. Introducing dimmer switches or timing devices on lighting can save you a packet. The latest way to save money is the installation of an electric shower.  This is an economical way of washing, because the amount of water used is about a third of that used by having a bath. The shower only heats the correct amount of water so there will be no unused hot water. To ensure you are not electrocuted whilst showering, the electric shower is fitted with a form of circuit breaker called an RCBO. 

Circuit breakers are installed into our homes to give us protection from any electrical faults. 90 per cent of householders never bother to check if the circuit breakers within their appliances are correctly installed.

An RCBO is a residual circuit breaker with overload protection. It combines the functions of a main circuit breaker, with those of a residual-current device. This means your electrical circuit will be protected from damage by overload or short circuit, as well as protection from when the electrical current is not balanced between the energised conductor, and the return neutral conductor. The RCBO is to be installed into your breaker box, where a standard circuit breaker would be.

RCBO’s are designed to quickly cut-off the connection within the span of 40 milliseconds, but what causes a circuit breaker to trip. A circuit breaker if it is working properly, detects leakages through the earthing of the equipment. It is especially important for leakages to be detected within household equipment encased with a metal body. This means that within the appliance, an earth wire should be attached to the body of the equipment. 

Many DIY enthusiasts forgo this practice because they do not understand the dangers or consequences of such a mistake. If the earth wire is left disconnected, the equipment will work without any problems. If there is a leakage, the appliance will keep running and the exterior metal body will become electrified. Anyone who touches the appliance in this state will be electrocuted. If the earth wire is properly attached, the RCBO will detect there is a current present at the earth source which will trip the circuit, preventing any mishaps. 

Circuit overload can occur through lightening strikes, or more commonly loose connections within electrical appliances. Over many years of use, electrical connections can become loose. Once these terminals are loosened the contact points will heat up due to improper contact with one another. The appliance can get so hot that it will start to melt and a small fire will start. If this happens the RCBO will automatically cut off the supply. 

Make sure you purchase an RCBO when thinking about upgrading to an electric shower. Once the shower is installed, check that the RCBO has no voltage reading. Cut off the power before wiring it up and testing. Be sure to consult you instruction manual when testing.