Tips for choosing a differential machine for home and apartment

Safety requirements for the arrangement of electrical networks intended for a private house, apartment or cottage provide for the installation and connection of two types of protection. The first is from short circuit (short circuit) and current load control. The second is the protection of human life and health from the damaging effects of electricity in the event of contact with live parts of electrical equipment, as well as in cases of current leaks. In both cases, you can protect yourself by connecting in the shield differential automaton. However, for the device to work correctly, you need to approach the choice of its characteristics with understanding. Next, we will tell you how to choose a difavtomat by power and leakage current.

What are the analogues?

Short circuit protection and current overloads perform electric machines (AB), long ago displaced cork fuses from everyday life. Tripping by current leakage is provided by products that have recently become an indispensable element of electric networks, called the residual current device (RCD) Recently, differential machines with protective functions both from short circuits and from leakage currents. A person who is not particularly sophisticated in matters of electrical engineering, sometimes cannot decide what to choose as a protection for the electrical equipment of the electric network, a differential circuit breaker or a combination of circuit breaker and RCD.

Protective devices

There is no definite answer to the question in favor of which equipment to make a choice, because both advantages and disadvantages are peculiar both to the difavtomat and the residual current device. Ultimately, it all depends on the specific circumstances. In one of our articles, we addressed the issue what to choose: differential machine or RCD.

When is it rational to choose a differential automaton?

There are a number of factors that testify in favor of installing an RCD, but one of the most important advantages of choosing a difavtomat remains indisputable - it saves space for installing equipment in a switchboard. A high degree of energy saturation of a modern person’s housing requires an appropriate level of protection of equipment from short circuit currents, power overloads, and reliable electrical safety. Particular attention should be paid to the arrangement and selection of protection against current leaks, designed for a washing machine, electric boiler, water heater, bathhouse, bathroom and pump.

When designing the circuit of the electric network, it is necessary to take into account that the RCD connected to the circuit of each of the above consumers must be protected against short circuit and overcurrent, that is, a circuit breaker will be required for each RCD. As a result, it may turn out that there will not be enough space for this din rail shield.The choice of a difovtomat, combining the functions of AB and RCD, allows a more rational use of the electric shield.

Criterias of choice

Having preferred the difavtomat, it is necessary to carefully consider the process of its selection. Initially, you must familiarize yourself with the product’s performance.

Rated voltage and phase. It is not difficult to choose the differential automatic machine in accordance with the necessary parameters. Devices designed for operation in a single-phase network (220 V) are equipped with three connection terminals, difavtomaty for three-phase networks (380 V) are equipped with four poles. The rated operating voltage is indicated in the passport and marked on the product body.

Current rating and characteristic. In order to ensure high-quality operation of a differential automaton, it is important to choose the current rating and characteristic correctly. Information about these parameters is indicated by a letter of the Latin alphabet and a number, for example, C25, which means a device of characteristic C, with a rated working current of 25 A. The most common difractomats for apartments and private houses are products of characteristic C. When choosing a differential power machine, it is recommended to adhere to values ​​indicated in the table:

Leakage current. It is indicated by a delta symbol with a number corresponding to the rated leakage current in milliamps. The data of the second table will help to choose the right difavtomat for leakage current:

Difference values

Important! For a water heater, washing machine, bathroom or bath, you need to choose a device that works at 10 mA. For a group line, it is enough to select a characteristic of 30 mA, if you decide divide the wiring into groups. To enter a private house, to protect against fire, it is recommended to put a difavtomat at 300 mA, and in apartments it is enough to use a device designed for 100 mA.

RCD class. RCDs built into a differential automaton are divided into two classes:

  • A - triggered by exposure to DC leakage. To connect consumer electronics to the network, choose an RCD of this class
  • AC - turn off the difavtomat when AC leaks appear on the network and on the electrical equipment.

Earth conductor break protection. Some of the diflavomatov is equipped with blocks disconnecting consumers at zero wire break. Arranging the protection of equipment from current leaks, it is advisable to choose just such a product. Another important characteristic is shutdown time (denoted by Tn). It should not be more than 0.3 s.

For a person who is not sure that he will be able to choose a difavtomat, it is recommended to make an acquisition in trading enterprises with a high reputation, in which you should seek the help of a qualified consultant. With him, you can discuss issues of reasonable prices and in favor of which company-manufacturer of differential machines should give their choice.

Finally, we recommend watching a useful video on the topic:

So we looked at how to choose a difavtomat for power and leakage current. We hope that the information provided has helped you figure out the choice of a suitable differential machine for your home, cottage or apartment!

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