Our RCD Test Set (Series 6) meets European CE Directives and offers automatic voltage selection from 110V to 240V 50Hz. It accurately tests RCDs up to 1000mA and tests trip time from 1mS up to 1 second. It can test RCDs for the effects of pulsating DC and check for correct wiring and voltage. The set also tests RCD transformers with C.T.E. and provides the option to test at 0°, 180° within the current wave form or at random.

See at our Online store here.

The traditional mainstay of UK specialist enclosure, cabinet and panel builders – IP65 L and T configuration door handles are now available in stainless steel from our Online store.

Standard versions include quarter-turn non-locking or locking with keyed alike (1333) or keyed different/mixed. Quarter-turn lever handles for padlocking are also available, as is an anti-vandal swinghandle type for profile cylinders and flat rods.

All are produced in surface polished AISI 316 stainless steel and may be installed in left hand or right hand orientation. They are pre-assembled but require a separate stainless cam of choice and back nut, also available from the store at www.fdbonline.co.uk.

Our extruded window and door sealing profiles are now available at FDB Online for use on enclosure and cabinet doors as well as for clip-in windows. They are offered in natural rubber, EPDM, neoprene, silicone, NBR and PVC. Extruded Gasket, Sealing profiles, window sealing and associated accessories are now Online for virtually all industrial applications.

Where electromagnetic compatibility is necessary, we can also supply special profiles with EMC/RFI shielding in combination with water and dust sealing.

For further information, refer to our Knowledge Base article KB01.1 or contact us to discuss your needs with our expert team.

Our new 72 series spring hinges suit doors and opening panels in environments from domestic to office and industrial. With an attractive concealed spring, butt type design and black or clear corrosion resistant anodised finish, their looks match their performance whether used on furniture, filing cupboards or machine control cabinets.

The FDB 72 series hinges feature a zero play mechanism with spring openings in free moving or torque mode and are also available with detent facility. They offer spring forces up to 0.70 Nm in sizes up to 67mm x 55mm to allow selection for various door weights and dimensions – they are manufactured from 6060 T5 aluminium with countersunk screw fixing provision.

The FDB 72 series aluminium spring hinges are now available from the FDB online store at www.fdbonline.co.uk.

The VEF2 Earth Leakage Protection Relay forms part of our extensive range of low cost, high specification RCDs which are user adjustable to a wide range of trip levels and response times for precise system protection. It is designed for high current applications where it can be connected to any of the FDB wide range of external C.T.’s.

The fully encapsulated construction of the VEF2 provides excellent temperature stability, together with high immunity against shock and vibration. It is housed in a compact flame retardant halogen-free Din-rail mounting polycarbonate enclosure which is complete with integral test, reset buttons and LED status indication.

The VEF2 features fail-safe operation with manual reset after fault trip, auto reset after power failure and trip status latched until reset (with power supply on). A Non-Failsafe version is available to special order for use in applications where shunt tripping of primary/supply breakers makes failsafe impractical.

It is powered from an isolated ac/dc power supply from 24-240V so allowing external C.T. earthing if required. It also features, via terminal connection, a very wide settable current range, from 0.02 Amps to 30 Amps over 3 ranges. The VEF2 is designed to react to alternating current only and reject stray DC signals. Accuracy is maintained from 5Hz to 800Hz thus making the unit suitable for application on variable frequency drives.

The VEF2 can be used on solid, medium or high resistant grounded installations and by using the FDB Electrical recommended artificial ground.

We are delighted that our online shop includes a wide range of locks and components such as 1/4 turns, slam latches, combination locks, inserts, cylinders, tabs/cams, O rings, various length bodies in black and chrome, budget locks and earthing washers.

Additional guidance is available free in the form of a booklet on “Latch and Hinge Technology” – contact us for your free copy.

The engineers here at FDB Electrical developed the PEF-5 Percentage Earth Fault Unit for high KA capacity installations needing a practical, cost-effective method of detecting potentially dangerous earth fault currents before damage is caused to contactors, cables or plant.

We found that zero sequence C.T.’s can be costly and difficult to install, particularly in retro-fit applications, whilst traditional types of spill current earth fault protective devices have the disadvantage of being somewhat crude in accuracy.

Therefore the PEF-5 was developed to provide an optimum solution and can be set to detect leakage currents as low as 2% of load current simply by utilising the existing protection or instrument C.T.’s.

We believe that in 98% of applications the C.T.’s used have 5 Amps secondaries and so the PEF-5 is designed to monitor the secondary current accordingly. On a 100.5 C.T. installation the PEF-5 can detect as low as 2 Amps of earth fault current which, in industrial applications, provides the capability of accurate earth leakage detection as well as earth fault protection.

In a typical application upstream fuses are installed to rupture on a short circuit between phases or between phase to earth. This is normally defined as Class C coordination and will provide the necessary protection against a short circuit between phases.

However, in the event of a short circuit to earth where continuity has deteriorated due to terminal corrosion or a loose connection, then a short to earth becomes current limited and will not “blow” the upstream fuse fast enough to prevent the contactor opening under high overcurrent trip. This can result in destruction of the contactor or at least damage to a phase contact.

In the latter case, a major problem could occur in a motor installation since current imbalance on one phase (whether or not due to an earth fault) is a linear factor of current rise and therefore measurable. However, if a contactor phase contact has been damaged due to the condition described above, then a volt drop across that contact will occur, giving rise to a voltage imbalance to the motor. Typically, for every 1% of voltage imbalance on a 3 phase motor, the effective internal current increase (not externally measurable) will be approximately 8 times as high. Thus a 3% or 4% volt drop across any phase contact can result in the total burn-out of the motor connecting to that contactor.

The PEF-5 percentage earth fault unit can be used to provide early warning of fault current as low as 2% of load current or can be set to take a motor off line immediately a dangerous earth fault occurs, thus dealing with these potential problems.

Once upon a time stainless steel cabinet hardware was very specialist – today it is available from our Online store at the click of a mouse – although we do find that many customers still like to call and discuss their requirements – not only does this give you the confidence of talking it through with a knowledgeable expert – it also gives us the opportunity to ensure that you have the most appropriate product for your application.

So if you want stainless steel locks, hinges, bridge handles, lock cams, paddle handles, padlockable handles, anti-vandal handles, slam latches, swinghandles, T handles, wind stops or wing handles please go to our Online shop – but by all means do call us for advice if you think you need it.

For many years we have provided custom built power distribution, control and electrical protection panels as bespoke items for individual applications – often in project format for major establishments – eg for airfield use or large factory installations, in military environments and so on, but also in smaller numbers for more general applications.

These comprise indoor and outdoor equipment supplied in steel, GRP or stainless steel enclosures to suit harsh environments above or below ground. They are available in a variety of finishes.

Often it is sufficient to simply adapt one of our standard designs, which are readily configurable to meet the requirements of these slightly out of the ordinary installations.

And for the really special situation we provide a technical advisory service to assist with a full project specific design leading into our custom build program. Contact us to discuss with our engineering design team.