RCD protection in Bathrooms

[Andy™]

an mcb won't tom because it could flow well more than a human can takebut an rcd will limit the current to 30ma hence saving you

not from shock but death

and RCD does not 'limit' current.

 

[Robin Spark]

if you touched live and neutral your still earthed via everything else you would have to draw 55ma to die as you say. but the rcd will trip well before that at 30 and hey presto you live.

the very reason that rcd's save you

But, if you are insulated from paths to earth ie your wearing rubber soled shoes whilst standing on an insulating mat, and you simultaneously touch line and neutral conductor, then their would be none or very little current flowing to earth. However all of the current flowing in that cct would now flow through your body from the line conductor to the neutral which is normally gonna be in amps not milliamps.

 

[Apache]

But, if you are insulated from paths to earth ie your wearing rubber soled shoes whilst standing on an insulating mat, and you simultaneously touch line and neutral conductor, then their would be none or very little current flowing to earth. However all of the current flowing in that cct would now flow through your body from the line conductor to the neutral which is normally gonna be in amps not milliamps.

Path of least reistance.

If you grab L&N in 1 hand it will only flow through that hand. You'd have to grab one with each hand for it to pass across your chest.......

 

[Riggy]

and RCD does not 'limit' current.

Spot on. I've seen in a few threads recently people saying that with a 30mA RCD you can't have a earth fault current of more than 30mA, or words to that effect.

Of course once the earth fault current reaches 30mA the RCD will trip, but in the 30ms or so that it takes to trip, the current may well increase to much higher levels, hence you can feel the shock when 30mA is apparently imperceptible to humans.