We have a reasonably modern fuse box already - only trip switches in it - no old ceramic fuses.. The main substantive recommendation was upgrade the Switchboard / fusebox to modern RCDs. Its a 1970s apartment building. old Ceramic grey circular fuses are present in some common areas.
Our fuse box uses the now outmoded TN-C wiring, and the trip switches you press to test every 6 months. And that is not perfectly compatible with the newer TN-S norms, (which requires the Neutral to be completely isolated separately throughout), or else the tiniest earth leakage will trip the highly sensitive circuit breakers. So that is my concern, will upgrading the circuit board means the whole apartment rewired, and maybe the building?
QUESTION - hoping for electrical engineers out here/experienced renovators
If we upgrade -
a) will the wiring for the whole apartment need to be re-done too?
b) does the whole building need to get its connection upgraded to TN-s, or just the feed to our apartment from whatever main junction box feeds it?
c) is this a *legal* must or an *insurance* must? or a "nice to have to be up with the latest norms" - I cant imagine all swiss homes having to be being on the very latest, surely ?
Background. "Residual current device (RCD) switch off power extremely fast if there is a fault. RCDs are very sensitive trip switches (30mAmp), and they go beyond the safety levels offered by regular fuses and circuit breakers."
Please no speculation, just informed answers. or just reply "Switzerlanded" if you are certain this is its over-zealous compliance reporting with absolutely no impact on insurance in case of electrical fire/death... :-)
I wondered if maybe had been a massive change in regulations requiring the ALL homes to finally and suddenly upgrade to the highest sensitivity RCD trip switches ( and no more ceramic Grey 'poppers' as a call them, which seem to be everywhere).
Maybe its just for new works and renovations?.
But - are RDC trip needed to keep a insurance company happy ?
I am not concerned about safety/fire as such. We had everything checked ourselves previously by an electrician to address obvious dangers from broken power sockets to non-functioning lights. (which suggests a previous lack of enforcement )
thanks for previous replies that its not "needed".
From a legal point of view, it OK and the recommendation is only that a recommendation, as has already been said. Any circuit where the earth an neutral are (or can be) cleanly separated downstream is a candidate for RCD protection. I'd certainly consider it for any circuit which has power sockets for portable appliances. Especially in the case where an extension lead could be plugged in to power garden tools etc. You can just get a quote from an electrician if you need that additional protection and then decide. You can't (or shouldn't) use the same electrician who did the inspection to also do work on your installation.
That is how it is here but wasn't sure if this was a cantonal rule or a federal rule.
Here, you are notified by your electricity supplier that an inspection is due. You chose an authorised inspector who generally also works as a contract electrician. He reports any defects. You commission another electrician to do any remedial work. After completing the works, the electrician informs the inspector who in turn informs the electricity supplier. The checks in this system fail if the same guy does everything.
I got the notice from the electric company, and contacted the local electrician, who put in touch with the inspector (of course who was a school friend), inspection was a fixed price.
He made a list of things to fix, most of which I did myself, and the electircian came and verified my work, and did two other things, RCD for the bathroom, and hardwire my 3P extension circuit to the kitchen which had been attached to a 3P plug. My doing the work cut my bill in half of his estimate based on the to-fix list.