Bringing

power to life.

TECHNICAL BULLETIN
Connection of Unidirectional and Bidirectional Residual Current
Devices (RCDs) and Miniature Circuit-Breakers (MCBs) to power
supplies e.g. battery storage, Photovoltaic (PV) systems, Electric
Vehicles (EV) to home, a micro-generator, or grid (mains) supply

+
_

August 2023

BEAMA Power supplies Tech bulletin.indd 1 14/08/2023 10:59

 ABOUT BEAMA
BEAMA is the long established and respected trade association for the electrotechnical sector.
The association has a strong history in the development and implementation of standards to
promote safety and product performance for the benefit of manufacturers and their customers.
This publication addresses the requirements for the correct connection of Residual Current Devices
(RCDs) and Miniature Circuit-Breakers (MCBs) to power supplies e.g. battery storage, Photovoltaic
(PV) systems, Electric Vehicles to home, a micro-generator, or grid (mains) supply. The publication
aims to clarify the differences between connections for unidirectional and bidirectional RCDs and
MCBs. For comprehensive requirements, BS 7671 must be consulted.

This publication has been produced by BEAMA’s Building Electrical Systems Sector operating under
the guidance and authority of BEAMA, supported by specialist central services for guidance on
UK Internal Market, European Single Market, Quality Assurance, Legal and Health & Safety matters.
BEAMA’s Building Electrical Systems Sector comprises of major UK manufacturing companies.
Details of other BEAMA publications can be found on the BEAMA website www.beama.org.uk

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BEAMA would like to thank BSI and IET for allowing references to their standards and
Electrical Safety First for allowing references to their publication.

DISCLAIMER
This publication is subject to the copyright of BEAMA Ltd. While the information herein has been compiled in
good faith, no warranty is given or should be implied for its use and BEAMA hereby disclaims any liability that may
arise from its use to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

© BEAMA Ltd 2023

Copyright and all other intellectual property rights in this document are the property of BEAMA Ltd. Any party
wishing to copy, reproduce or transmit this document or the information contained within it in any form, whether
paper, electronic or otherwise should contact BEAMA Ltd to seek permission to do so.

BEAMA Power supplies Tech bulletin.indd 2 14/08/2023 10:59

 BEAMA MEMBERS INVOLVED IN THE
PRODUCTION OF THIS PUBLICATION

ABB Ltd
Tower Court, Courtaulds Way GreenBrook Electrical Schneider Electric Ltd
Foleshill Enterprise Park 62 West Road, Harlow, Sta ord Park 5, Telford, Shropshire TF3 3BL
Coventry, West Midlands CV6 5NX Esssex CM20 2BG Tel: +44 (0) 1952 290029
Tel: +44 (0) 2476 368 500 Tel + 44 (0) 1279 772772 Fax: +44 (0) 1952 292238
https://new.abb.com/uk www.greenbrook.co.uk www.schneider-electric.co.uk

Eaton Electric Limited Hager Ltd

252 Bath Road, Slough, Hortonwood 50, Telford,
Timeguard Ltd
Berkshire SL1 4DX Shropshire TF1 7FT
Victory Park, 400 Edgware Road
Tel: +44 (0) 8700 545 333 Tel: +44 (0)1952 675 689 London NW2 6ND
[email protected] [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 20 8450 0515
www.eaton.com/uk www.hager.co.uk
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8450 0635
[email protected]
www.timeguard.com

Electrium Sales Ltd (a Siemens Company) Legrand Electric Ltd

Walkmill Lane, Bridgetown Great King Street North, Western Automation R&D
Cannock, WS11 0XE Birmingham B19 2LF 2 Atreus Place, Poolboy, Ballinalsoe,
Co. Galway, Ireland H53 TD 78
Tel: +44 (0) 1543 455000 Tel: +44 (0) 345 605 4333
[email protected] www.legrand.co.uk Tel: +353 (0) 90 9643359
www.electrium.co.uk Fax: +353 (0) 90 9643094
Email: [email protected]
www.westernautomation.com

+
_

BEAMA Power supplies Tech bulletin.indd 3 14/08/2023 11:00

 Contents

1. Introduction 05

2. BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations 05

3. Solar PV connections on shared circuit RCCBs in dual / split load consumer

units / distribution boards 06

4. Connection of Unidirectional and Bidirectional Residual Current Devices (RCDs)

and Miniature Circuit-Breakers (MCBs) to power supplies 07

5. Installed Unidirectional RCDs and MCBs incorrectly connected 09

6. Product standards 09

+
_

BEAMA Power supplies Tech bulletin.indd 4 14/08/2023 11:00

 1. Introduction

This publication addresses the requirements for the correct connection of Residual
Current Devices (RCDs) and Miniature Circuit-Breakers (MCBs) to power supplies
e.g. battery storage, Photovoltaic (PV) systems, Electric Vehicles (EV) to home, a
micro-generator, or grid (mains) supply. This publication aims to clarify the differences
between connections for unidirectional and bidirectional RCDs and MCBs.

2. BS 7671 Requirements for

Electrical Installations

BS 7671:2018 A2:2022 Regulation 551.7.1 Switched Neutral, requires that when a

generating set is used as an additional source of supply in parallel with another source
e.g. a PV System in conjunction with a mains (grid) supply, an RCD providing additional
protection in accordance with Regulation 415.1, shall disconnect all live conductors,
including the neutral conductor.
The importance/significance of disconnecting all live conductors is not a new
requirement. This requirement was addressed in 2007 in the Electrical Safety Council Best
Practice Guide on connecting a microgeneration system to a domestic or similar electrical
installation (in parallel with the mains supply).
The latest edition of this publication is available on the Electrical Safety First website:
https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/professional-resources/best-practice-guides/

This requirement for switching the neutral was introduced in BS 7671:2008

Seventeenth Edition.

Where an RCD providing additional protection does not meet the requirements of
Regulation 551.7.1 for switching the neutral conductor, an assessment is required by
an electrical installation inspector to determine the appropriate inspection and testing
classification code.

05 BEAMA TECHNICAL BULLETIN – POWER SUPPLIES INVERTERS AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE CONNECTION

BEAMA Power supplies Tech bulletin.indd 5 14/08/2023 11:00

 3. Solar PV connections on shared circuit
RCCBs in dual / split load consumer units /
distribution boards

There is differing guidance from industry bodies on whether a microgenerator should or

should not be installed to the load side of any RCCB that is shared with other circuits
(see figure 1).

Solar PV supply

RCCB
Spare
Spare

Spare
Spare

RCCB RCCB Sw/D/I

MCB
MCB
MCB

MCB
MCB
MCB

Figure 1. Example of a split-load consumer unit with a solar PV connection where differing guidance questions
its acceptability.

Due to this differing guidance:

• Electrical installation designers will need to decide on which method to use for new
installations, and
• Electrical installation inspectors will need to determine if any, the appropriate inspection
and testing classification code for a shared circuit RCCB with a Solar PV system
installed to its load side.

BEAMA TECHNICAL BULLETIN – POWER SUPPLIES INVERTERS AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE CONNECTION 06

BEAMA Power supplies Tech bulletin.indd 6 14/08/2023 11:00

 4. Connection of Unidirectional and Bidirectional
Residual Current Devices (RCDs) and Miniature
Circuit-Breakers (MCBs) to power supplies1

RCD and MCB product standards require that if it is necessary to distinguish between the
supply and the load terminals, they shall be clearly marked e.g. by “in” and “out” or “line” and
“load” placed near the corresponding terminals or by arrows indicating the direction of power
flow. Therefore, if an RCD or MCB is marked “in” and “out” or “line” and “load” or with arrows
indicating the direction of power flow, this connection method must be followed. Under
no circumstances is it acceptable to connect any power supply e.g. battery storage, PV
systems, EV to home, a micro-generator, or grid (mains) supply to the load terminals of
such unidirectional devices.
An RCD marked “in” and “out” or “line” and “load” or with arrows indicating the direction of
power flow can have their RCD function rendered permanently inoperable when connected
incorrectly e.g. if, under certain conditions, there is a voltage present on their load terminals.
The damaged RCD could remain in use without indication that its RCD protective function
no longer operates.
Circuit-breakers e.g. an MCB marked “in” and “out” or “line” and “load” or with arrows
indicating the direction of power flow can have their arc extinguishing / short-circuit
characteristics impaired if they are incorrectly connected.

1 LINE 3
Figure 2.
L in Examples of devices marked
with “in” and “out”or “line” and
LOAD 1 LOAD N “load” or arrows indicating
the direction of power flow
(unidirectional) where it is
O.OFF TEST O.OFF unacceptable to connect any
power supply1 to the load and
out terminals.
O.OFF

N out L out LINE 2

2 LOAD 4

BS 7671 requires persons to employ good workmanship and to use proper materials, as
a fundamental principle in Regulation 134.1.1. Additionally, the installation of electrical
equipment must take account of the manufacturer’s instructions as stated in both Regulation
134.1.1 and Regulation 510.3. Contravening these requirements could be deemed to be non-
compliant with BS 7671 and not following manufacturer’s instructions will invalidate any
device certification and warranty.
RCDs and MCBs NOT marked “in” and “out” or “line” and “load” or with arrows indicating
the direction of power flow, typically referred to as bidirectional (see figure 3), are available.
These devices mitigate any potential safety issues for power supplies connected to either set
of terminals.
1 Power supply e.g. battery storage, Photovoltaic (PV) systems, Electric Vehicles (EV) to home, a micro-generator, or grid (mains) supply.

07 BEAMA TECHNICAL BULLETIN – POWER SUPPLIES INVERTERS AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE CONNECTION

BEAMA Power supplies Tech bulletin.indd 7 14/08/2023 11:00

 Solar PV supply

Spare
Spare

RCCB RCCB RCBO Sw/D/I

MCB
MCB
MCB

MCB
MCB
MCB

Solar PV supply
Spare
Spare
Spare

RCCB RCCB Sw/D/I

MCB
MCB
MCB

MCB
MCB
MCB

MCB

Figure 3. Examples of a consumer unit / distribution board with RCDs, and MCBs (MCBs used when additional
protection is not required) NOT marked “in” and “out” or “line” and “load” or arrows indicating the direction of
power flow (bidirectional) when power supplies1 can be connected to either set of terminals.

1 Power supply e.g. battery storage, Photovoltaic (PV) systems, Electric Vehicles (EV) to home, a micro-generator, or grid (mains) supply.

BEAMA TECHNICAL BULLETIN – POWER SUPPLIES INVERTERS AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE CONNECTION 08

BEAMA Power supplies Tech bulletin.indd 8 14/08/2023 11:00

 5. Installed unidirectional RCDs and MCBs
incorrectly connected

It is recognised that some installed unidirectional RCDs and MCBs will have been incorrectly
connected i.e. a power supply e.g. battery storage, PV, EV to home, a micro-generator, or
grid (mains) supply connected to the “load” or “out” terminals.
Proportionate action is required and BEAMA recommends contacting the RCD / MCB
manufacturer seeking their advice as to the correct course of action. After obtaining the
manufacturer’s advice as to the correct course of action, electrical installation inspectors,
when carrying out Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) on existing installations,
will need to determine if any, the appropriate classification code for an incorrectly installed
unidirectional RCD and/or MCB.

6. Product standards

Residual Current Devices (RCDs) in the scope of this publication include:

• Residual Current Operated Circuit-Breaker without Integral Overcurrent protection
(RCCB) conforming to BS EN 61008 series
• Residual Current Operated Circuit-Breaker with Integral Overcurrent protection (RCBO)
conforming to BS EN 61009 series

Miniature circuit-breakers (MCBs) in the scope of this publication include:

• Low voltage circuit-breakers for use in household and similar installations such as
offices, commercial and industrial premises, hospitals, public buildings, etc conforming
to BS EN 60898 series

NOTE: The connection principles in this publication also apply to RCDs and MCBs
conforming to withdrawn product standards, e.g., BS 4293 and BS 3871.

09 BEAMA TECHNICAL BULLETIN – POWER SUPPLIES INVERTERS AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE CONNECTION

BEAMA Power supplies Tech bulletin.indd 9 14/08/2023 11:00

 Rotherwick House
3 Thomas More Street
London E1W 1YZ
www.beama.org.uk

BEAMA Power supplies Tech bulletin.indd 10 14/08/2023 11:00