EV & Solar Ready: The Type B RCBOs You Need for Modern Installations

The New Landscape of Electrical Safety

The electrical landscape is evolving. Modern installations frequently include non-linear loads like electric vehicle (EV) chargers, solar panel inverters, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and advanced medical equipment. These technologies are efficient and powerful, but they also introduce a hidden danger: smooth DC residual currents. This type of current can render traditional Type A and Type AC RCDs ineffective, a phenomenon known as “blinding,” where the device fails to trip during a genuine fault. For comprehensive protection in these modern environments, the Type B RCBO is the mandatory solution. Our commitment to unmatched reliability in these critical applications is why we back our Type B RCBOs with an industry-leading 5-year warranty.

The Non-Negotiable for EV Charger Installation

When it comes to an RCBO for EV charger installation, compromising on safety is not an option. EV chargers can produce more than 6mA of smooth DC leakage current during operation—a known hazard that can disable a standard Type A RCD, leaving the circuit unprotected against life-threatening faults .

A Type B RCBO is specifically engineered to detect both AC and smooth DC currents, ensuring a guaranteed trip when a fault occurs. This not only protects your client’s high-value vehicle but also safeguards your professional reputation. By choosing a device backed by a 5-year free replacement service, you are installing confidence and long-term peace of mind.

Ensuring Long-Term Safety for Solar Panel Systems

For effective solar panel system RCD protection, installers must account for the unique characteristics of photovoltaic (PV) inverters. Many modern transformerless solar inverters can inject DC fault currents back onto the AC side of the installation, creating a significant fire risk and a serious compliance issue .

A Type B RCBO is critical for protecting the AC connection point of a PV system. It ensures the entire installation remains compliant and safe from DC-related faults. Given the long lifespan of solar installations, a protective device with a corresponding long-term warranty is not just a benefit—it’s a necessity for ensuring system integrity for years to come.

Critical Protection in Medical and Sensitive Environments

In medical facilities and other sensitive environments, the reliability of safety devices is paramount. A Type B RCBO for medical equipment is essential because diagnostic imaging machines (MRI, X-ray) and other specialized devices can generate complex and unpredictable leakage currents . In “Group 2” medical locations, where applied parts are used in procedures like intracardiac operations, protection failure is simply not an option. The superior sensitivity and proven reliability of Type B RCBOs make them the only appropriate choice. Our 5-year warranty underscores the trust and engineering excellence required for such critical applications.

Building a Complete Shield: RCBOs and Surge Protection

Total system safety demands a multi-layered approach. While a surge protection device RCBO combination is a common point of discussion, it’s vital to understand their distinct roles. An RCBO provides essential protection against residual current (earth leakage) and overcurrent (overloads and short circuits). A Surge Protection Device (SPD), on the other hand, is designed to handle transient overvoltages from events like lightning strikes or utility switching.

A robust, reliable Type B RCBO serves as the core of this protective system. It is the foundational safety component upon which other protections like SPDs are built. By installing our Type B RCBO—a cornerstone device backed by a 5-year warranty—you ensure the entire safety system is built on a foundation of dependability.

Technical Snapshot: Built to a Higher Standard

Our Type B RCBOs are designed to provide superior protection and meet the highest international standards.

Compliance: Fully compliant with IEC 61009-1, ensuring top-tier safety and performance.
Voltage/Current Ratings: Available in a wide range of configurations to suit your specific application needs.
Tripping Sensitivity: 30mA for personnel protection, providing a rapid response to dangerous earth leakage.
Breaking Capacity: Offered in 6kA and 10kA options to match the fault level requirements of residential, commercial, and industrial installations.
Waveform Detection: Senses and trips on sinusoidal AC, pulsating DC, and smooth DC residual currents.

For detailed specifications, you can review our technical documentation 5.

Installation Best Practices

To ensure optimal performance and safety, always follow these tips:

Torque Correctly: Always use a calibrated torque screwdriver to tighten terminal connections to the manufacturer’s specified value. This prevents overheating and nuisance tripping.
Perform a Trip Test: After installation, press the “Test” button on the RCBO to verify that the mechanical trip function is operating correctly.
Ensure a Dedicated Circuit: Modern applications like EV chargers require a dedicated circuit with individual RCBO protection to ensure safety and prevent unwanted tripping of other circuits.

The 5-Year Warranty Advantage: Our Commitment to You

Why do we offer a 5-year warranty when the industry standard is often just one or two years? The answer is simple: we have absolute confidence in the quality of our products. This warranty is a direct result of superior design, premium components, and rigorous testing that goes far beyond the minimum requirements.

For you, the installer, this translates into tangible benefits:

Peace of Mind: Install it and forget it, knowing you’re covered for five full years.
Zero Replacement Cost: If the device fails due to a manufacturing defect within five years, we replace it for free.
Enhanced Reputation: Demonstrate your commitment to quality and safety by using components that carry an industry-leading warranty.
Happier Clients: Provide your clients with the long-term reliability they expect.

Call to Action: Upgrade to Modern Protection Today

Don’t leave your installations exposed to the risks of modern electrical loads. Make the switch to the new standard of safety.

Primary CTA: Protect your installations and your reputation. Browse our full range of Type B RCBOs and download the datasheets today.

Secondary CTA: Have a complex project or need technical advice? Contact our technical support team for a free consultation.

Feature	Specification	Why It Matters for Modern Installations
Type B RCD Sensitivity	Detects smooth DC residual current ≤ 6mA	Essential for EV & Solar: Protects against potentially undetected DC fault currents from PV inverters and EV chargers, which Type A devices may miss.
Rated Residual Current (IΔn)	30 mA	Gold Standard Safety: Provides the highest level of personal protection against electric shock, as required in residential and commercial settings.
Surge Withstand Capability (Uimp)	e.g., 4 kV	Built-in Durability: Withstands transient overvoltages from lightning or grid switches, reducing nuisance tripping and ensuring reliability.
Circuit Breaker Rating	e.g., 16A, 20A, 25A, 32A, 40A	Perfect Fit: Matches the common current requirements of dedicated EV charger circuits (32A/40A) and solar PV string combiners.
Standards Compliance	IEC/EN 62423, IEC/EN 61009-1	Global Assurance: Certified to the specific international standards for Type B RCDs and integrated RCBOs, ensuring safety and compliance.

2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why do my EV charger or solar PV system specifically need a Type B RCBO, not a standard Type A?
A: Modern EV chargers and solar inverters convert AC to DC and can generate smooth DC fault currents in case of an insulation failure. Standard Type A RCDs may become “blinded” by these DC currents and fail to trip, leaving a dangerous fault undetected. Type B RCBOs are specifically designed to reliably detect and interrupt these mixed AC/DC fault currents, providing essential safety.

Q2: Is a Type B RCBO mandatory for EV and solar installations?
A: Electrical regulations are rapidly evolving to address new technologies. In many regions (following IEC/EN 62423), Type B or equivalent protection is now a code requirement for EV supply equipment and certain solar PV installations. Using a Type B ensures your installation is future-proof and compliant with the highest safety standards.

Q3: How does the “surge withstand capability” benefit my installation?
A: Devices like solar inverters can generate internal switching surges, and external lightning strikes can induce surges in wiring. A high Uimp rating means our RCBO is less likely to suffer internal damage or cause a nuisance trip from these common events, ensuring greater system uptime and longevity.

Q4: Can I use this RCBO as a main switch or only for a single circuit?
A: Our Type B RCBOs are designed as final circuit protection. They should be installed on the dedicated branch circuit supplying the EV charger or solar PV system, providing combined overload, short-circuit, and life-critical earth fault protection for that specific circuit.

Q5: Your table mentions standards like IEC 62423. What does this mean for me?
A: Compliance with IEC/EN 62423 is the definitive international standard specifying the requirements for Type B RCD functionality. It is your guarantee that the device has been rigorously tested to perform its core safety function: detecting smooth DC faults. Always look for this standard when sourcing protection for modern installations.