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Step 1 – Find The RCD ‘Domestic Unit’
The RCD domestic (consumer) unit will usually be in an ‘out of the way’ place, for instance next to the electricity meter, at the back of a kitchen unit, in an airing cupboard, the cupboard under the stairs.
See below for 4 pictures of an RCD domestic (consumer) unit.
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This web page explains how to find and turn a domestic electrical RCD on and off to connect, or remove, the supply to an electrical circuit.
Follow the advice on this web page to ‘reset an RCD’ - the procedure is the same. |
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How To Turn An RCD On And Off |
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Step 3 – Turn The RCD On And Off |
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RCD Domestic (Consumer) Unit 1 |
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RCD Domestic (Consumer) Unit 2 |
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RCD Domestic (Consumer) Unit 3 |
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RCD Domestic (Consumer) Unit 4 |
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The image on the left shows an RCD domestic (consumer) unit (top) and an enlarged RCD (bottom).
The RCD will be about 2 inches (5cm) by 1 inch (2.5cm) and will have a ‘standard’ toggle switch (the ‘main’ switch) and a push-button ‘push-button’ (test) switch.
Each electrical circuit in a house has an RCD; each RCD will remove, or connect, the electrical power to a circuit.
The electrical circuit each RCD controls should be written on the RCD domestic unit next to the RCD.
If the circuit each RCD controls is not written on the domestic unit you will have to switch each RCD off in turn to find the correct RCD.
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To remove, or apply, the power to a circuit, switch the main toggle switch, see the image on the left, to the opposite position.
Usually:
· Main toggle switch up connects electrical power to a circuit.
· Main toggle switch down removes electrical power from a circuit. |
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Electricity can kill – if turning an RCD off to work on a circuit always double check that there is no power in the circuit:
· If working on an electrical socket connect an appliance, for instance a lamp, into the socket and check the lamp does not work.
· If working on a lights circuit check that the lights do not light.
Whatever the circuit you are working on double check that there is no power before starting work.
Links
Advice & Help – Domestic Electrical Faults
Links – Domestic Electrics & Central Heating Advice
Home Lighting Troubleshooting Tips
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Home > Advice – Domestic Electrical & Central Heating > How To Turn An RCD On And Off |
