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mcb or rcbo for interlinked smoke alarms

  • 14-11-2020 03:27PM
    #1
    lostman666
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19 ✭


    just wondering if a dedicated mcb with rcd protection is compliant with the regs or if a dedicated rcbo would be required?


Comments

  • #2
    meercat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,941 ✭✭✭meercat


    lostman666 wrote: »
    just wondering if a dedicated mcb with rcd protection is compliant with the regs or if a dedicated rcbo would be required?

    Mcb only is the requirement


  • #3
    2011
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,717 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    MCB for maximum reliably.


  • #4
    Westernworld.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 177 ✭✭Westernworld.


    Wired as a separate radial but doubled up on a lighting MCB is prob best but it's not allowed here

    Stops the householder simply powering off the alarms and removing the batteries


  • #5
    EHP
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 173 ✭✭EHP


    It can be either an MCB or RCBO but not dedicated it must share with another circuit such as a lighting circuit. Reason is if it trips it will be noticed and reset. I've had it once where a homeowner replaced all batteries to stop the beeping and when that didn't work removed all the smokes thinking they were faulty when the real issue was the MCB was tripped. Not sure which rule actually covers this but I got pulled by a safe electric inspector for having the smoke alarms on a dedicated circuit and made change it a few years ago.


  • #6
    Westernworld.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 177 ✭✭Westernworld.


    EHP wrote: »
    It can be either an MCB or RCBO but not dedicated it must share with another circuit such as a lighting circuit. Reason is if it trips it will be noticed and reset. I've had it once where a homeowner replaced all batteries to stop the beeping and when that didn't work removed all the smokes thinking they were faulty when the real issue was the MCB was tripped. Not sure which rule actually covers this but I got pulled by a safe electric inspector for having the smoke alarms on a dedicated circuit and made change it a few years ago.

    True about sharing the MCB but it's not allowed

    RCBO no benefit there


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  • #7
    2011
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,717 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    EHP wrote: »
    It can be either an MCB or RCBO but not dedicated it must share with another circuit such as a lighting circuit.

    I don’t think that is a rule.


  • #8
    Westernworld.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 177 ✭✭Westernworld.


    2011 wrote: »
    I don’t think that is a rule.

    I was sure there was a rule said they had to have their own MCB?

    I can't find it now


  • #9
    EHP
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 173 ✭✭EHP


    Westernworld. wrote: »
    I was sure there was a rule said they had to have their own MCB?

    I can't find it now

    It was definitely meant to have a dedicated circuit once but it was changed, i think it's more to do with the circuit having to be monitored and sharing a lighting circuit is accepted as a method of monitoring the smoke alarm circuit. Just to note I'm only referring to interlinked smokes etc in a domestic house not an actual full fire alarm system.


  • #10
    Westernworld.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 177 ✭✭Westernworld.


    EHP wrote: »
    It was definitely meant to have a dedicated circuit once but it was changed, i think it's more to do with the circuit having to be monitored and sharing a lighting circuit is accepted as a method of monitoring the smoke alarm circuit. Just to note I'm only referring to interlinked smokes etc in a domestic house not an actual full fire alarm system.

    Yes definitely the best way if allowed

    The smokes should be wired as a separate radial though and then just doubled up at the MCB


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