RCBO-Protected Socket
A socket outlet fed through an RCBO, with its protective earth run straight from the earth terminal and a lamp standing in for a plugged-in appliance. One device covers both overcurrent and earth-leakage protection for the whole circuit.
Components Needed
Text Wiring Path
Live + Neutral → RCBO → Socket → Bulb (test load) Earth → Socket (E)
Schematic
Steps
- 1Place Live (L), Neutral (N) and Earth (E) terminals down the left of the canvas.
- 2Place an RCBO between the supply and the socket.
- 3Wire Live and Neutral into the RCBO at L-in and N-in.
- 4Take L-out and N-out from the RCBO to the socket's L and N terminals.
- 5Run Earth straight to the socket's E terminal — it must not pass through the RCBO.
- 6Feed a test lamp from the socket's Live and Neutral, then press Run.
- 7Open the RCBO: both outgoing conductors are interrupted while Earth stays connected.
An RCBO breaks live and neutral together, so an open device leaves the socket dead on both rails. Earth never passes through it — a protective conductor that can be switched is not a protective conductor.
An RCBO only protects if its earth reference is intact. Confirm it trips from its test button after installation, and never route the circuit protective conductor through the device or through a switch.
Terms used here
Defined in the glossary — each one opens at its own entry.
Now wire it for real.
Build this circuit in the browser, inject a fault, and watch the protection respond.