RoSPA NI : Electricity and You
Garden Electric Safety
For Greater Safety
When using electrical equipment in the garden use a protective switch which cuts off the electricity if it detects leakage of electricity to earth. These devices are called residual current devices (RCDs). Care in use is still necessary.
RCDs give additional protection against electric shock if a machine develops a fault or if you accidentally make contact with a live part. They work by automatically monitoring the circuit and sensing any leakage of current to earth. If leakage occurs, they quickly cut off the electricity supply to the equipment. Devices of various ratings are available to suit different requirements.
To comply with wiring regulations, sockets that are intended for outdoor equipment must be protected by an RCD with a sensitivity of 30 mA or less.
You can have an RCD fitted
- to protect a particular circuit
- as part of the socket outlet
- between the socket outlet and the equipment being used.
RCDs fixed at the meter position will protect a whole circuit.
You can buy a socket outlet RCD which protects only the socket outlet with which it is used. These are particularly useful if you always use the same socket outlet for your lawnmower or other portable garden equipment.
There are also two main types of portable RCD. One is a kind of adaptor, the other is a 13 amp plug with an RCD built in. These have the advantage that RCD protection is not restricted to a particular socket. Always test a portable RCD to make sure it has not been damaged. RCDs that protect the whole circuit are particularly recommended because they are not moved about. Installing this type of RCD is a skilled job - make sure it is done by a qualified electrician. Test the RCD at recommended intervals.
Although RCDs are additional and recommended safety devices, they are not substitutes for the routine precautions of handling electrical equipment correctly. Always switch off and unplug equipment before checking, adjusting, cleaning or repairing equipment.
Note: Your RCD may not trip if you cut the flex as there may not have been a current leakage to earth. Never touch the flex until you have unplugged at the mains.
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RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
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