GEN3 RCD2-40A 2 Pole 40A Safety Switch RCD Only 30mA Type A

Description

Earth-leakage protection for a group of circuits.

The GEN3 RCD2-40A is a 2-pole, 40-amp residual current device (RCD) with a 30mA trip and Type A detection. It provides residual-current (earth-leakage) protection only, switching both the active and neutral conductors when it detects a fault to earth. It is commonly used as an RCD main switch, protecting a group of downstream circuits, with each of those circuits fitted with its own circuit breaker (MCB) for overload and short-circuit protection.

Key Features

• 2-pole, 40A residual current device (RCD)
• 30mA residual-current trip, Type A
• RCD only – provides earth-leakage protection, not overcurrent protection
• Switches both active and neutral on an earth fault
• Two module wide (approximately 36mm)
• Suited as an RCD main switch ahead of separate MCBs
• Body approximately 82 × 36 × 75mm
• Australian/NZ approval or compliance certificates held
• Interchangeable with other major brands

Buy now for fast dispatch across Australia.

RCD Only – What That Means

An RCD detects current leaking to earth, for example through a person or a fault, and disconnects the supply quickly to reduce the risk of electric shock. Being RCD only, the RCD2-40A does not provide overcurrent (overload or short-circuit) protection on its own, so it is paired with separate circuit breakers on the circuits it feeds. This differs from an RCBO, which combines RCD and MCB protection in a single device for one circuit.

A Practical RCD Main Switch

Rated 40A across two poles, the RCD2-40A is well suited to acting as a residual-current main switch for a sub-board or group of circuits. It switches both active and neutral, and its Type A classification detects both AC and pulsating DC residual currents. The 30mA trip threshold is the standard level used for protection against electric shock on general-purpose circuits.

Q: Does the GEN3 RCD2-40A protect against overload?
A: No. It is an RCD only, providing earth-leakage (residual current) protection. It does not provide overcurrent protection, so it must be used with separate circuit breakers on the downstream circuits.

Q: What is the difference between this RCD and an RCBO?
A: An RCBO combines RCD and MCB protection in one device for a single circuit. The RCD2-40A is RCD only, typically used as a main switch protecting a group of circuits that each have their own MCB.

Q: What does the RCD2-40A switch when it trips?
A: Being 2-pole, it disconnects both the active and neutral conductors when it detects an earth-leakage fault.