Hi Eric. You wrote:
<what is the trip current in gfc's used in europe? (Are gfc's used in Europe?)> We don't call them GFC's.We call them ELCB's (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) or RCCB's (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) or RCD's (Residual Current Device). Apart from medical use, which is <1ma, our normal trip values tend to be : 30mA - Personnel protection. 100mA - Electrical integrity protection. 300mA - Fire protection. The 30mA may also have intrinsic delays built in to prevent 'nuisance tripping'. <Being from a industrial control background, what European Directives would apply to, let's say a vacuum cleaner. I can't imagine susceptability being an issue but I suppose any motor that uses brushes may have troubles with emissions?> a) The Low Voltage Directive 72/23/EEC b) The Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 89/336/EEC c) The CE Marking Directive 93/68/EEC Surprisingly, vacuum cleaners do suffer immunity problems with EMC. Many have variable speed controls (Suck Control) and the Triac circuits which control the motor are susceptible to mains borne noise. We have an old Electrolux VC which when in use 'kicks' when the kitchen fluorescent lights are switched on... These same Triac controllers put out copious amounts of conducted emissions. This is why I have to explain to my wife that I can't possibly do the cleaning because I am morally bound not to make EMI. Hope that helps. Chris Dupres Surrey, UK.
