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FAQ’s – Residual Voltage Technology (RVT-VMD)
Residual Voltage Technology (RVT -VMD) provides enhanced electrical safety solutions in both ‘earthed and uniquely unearthed’ environments, significantly reducing the risk to personnel of experiencing an electric shock incident. Some of the outcomes of embracing the technology are:
- A safer environment for all users, domestic to industrial,
- Raises the bar in terms of workplace and personal safety,
- Mitigates the electrical safety risk,
- Dove-tails to the ALARP approach of reducing risk and ultimate aim of zero harm,
- Demonstrate to your customers/ employees commitment to safety.
What is the RVT-VMD?
RVT-VMD is a unique but complementary electrical safety technology which works in combination with an RCD (Residual Current Device) or RCBO (Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Over Current Protection) and provides additional ‘layers’ of electrical protection to the RCD. The RVT-VMD comes in the form of a single pole (width) housing (shunt), designed to sit along-side any brand of RCD or RCBO.
The RVT-VMD overcomes the shortcomings of conventional safety devices- RCD’s or RCBO’s, which will not provide electrical protection in certain conditions or situations whereby electrical safety can be compromised. Some areas of concern include ‘unearthed’ or ‘bad’ earth scenarios and other situations such as caravans, generators, power inverters & other alternative power sources.
How does it work?
The Residual Voltage Technology (RVT-VMD) provides ‘additional layers of electrical protection’ in earthed or unearthed systems by detecting a ‘voltage leakage‘ to the frame of the equipment being protected. The RVT-VMD when coupled to an RCD or RCBO, provides enhanced electrical protection within all earthing systems and complements the RCD operation by providing protection within high impedance environments. The concept ‘raises the bar on electrical safety’ and dove-tails very well with the ALARP (As low as reasonably practical) approach to risk management.
Why use the RVT-VMD?
When it comes to safety, the safeguarding of family, personnel, colleagues and equipment, together with the continual improvement process, is high on every Electrical Engineer, tradesman and users agenda. The obligation of ‘Duty of Care’ is becoming more important than ever with high penalties in place for those who do not comply with their requirements:
“Where it is possible to safe-guard against a foreseeable risk, which….. by adopting a means which involves little difficulty or expense, the failure to adopt such means will in general be negligent.” Chief Justice Sir Harry Gibbs of the High Court of Australia