Text 9991, 82 rader
Skriven 2010-08-18 08:03:56 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
   Kommentar till text 9990 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
Ärende: Just Curious
====================
Michiel van der Vlist wrote to Robert Bashe on Tuesday August 17 2010 at 22:13:

MV>>> But what is stopping an idiot from replacing a 16A breaker with a
MV>>> 50A one if it keeps triggering?

RB>> Availability would be my answer - I'm not even sure if they make
RB>> breakers in the particular form you need with higher ratings than
RB>> 16A.

MV> Sure they do, no problem. These dircuit breakers are pretty standarad
MV> and available up to 63A in the same housing.

MV> http://tinyurl.com/27ywxzu

Our circuit breakers look different - about half the thicknesss of the ones you
show.

MV> And if you can not find one... what is stopping an idiot from bridging
MV> it with a piece of wire?

;-) Or a penny... OK, if you are absolutely determined to do something, there's
not much to prevent you doing it. I was assuming some modicum of
responsibility.

RB>> And of couse, that would be more work than shorting a fuse. Have to
RB>> think of the laziness of people ;-)

MV> Not if they are of the new "just insert, no screws type"...

Maybe. The ones I have are attached by screws and you have to remove a piece of
metal to get at them. It's not a huge job, but it is work.

RB>> The fuses are _after_ the meter, not before.

MV> Ah, I see.

RB>> No way you can get at the lines going into the meter unless you
RB>> actually work with the live wires - and something like that would be
RB>> evident the next time the meter is read or the electricity company
RB>> wanted to check anything.

MV> I would not be too sure of that. Things like that HAVE been done you
MV> know.

I know. What is possible will be done. But it's not something somebody with two
left hands does in 15 minutes - and of course, such work is very dangerous.

MV> Here the main fuses are befort the meter.

None afterward except for the breakers for the various internal circuits in the
house?

Your description of the electric setup is interesting, but for me pretty
confusing. I've never gone into the subject seriously, and a lot of this is the
"great unknown" for me.

RB>> There are circuit breakers for the various circuits in the house, and
RB>> a line of FI switches at the top of the electric cabinet for the
RB>> various circuits in the house.

MV> So each circuit has its own FI switch?

To be honest, I don't know. However, I think that several circuits are on one
FI switch, as there are more circuit breakers than FI switches.

RB>> I might add that 30 mA seems a little low to me. I think we have 50
RB>> mA here,

MV> Doubt it. 30 mA is a EU standard. Heve a close look at the thing, the
MV> rating wil be on it. In small print....

Have to check that later.

MV> There exists a 10 mA variety. Maybe you had one of those. One can
MV> indeed overdo things.

You may be right. I'll check and get back to you.

Cheers, Bob

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