RCBO vs RCD + MCB: What Belongs in a Modern Board
Why per-circuit RCBOs have become the default for new switchboards, and where grouped RCD protection still appears.
One device, both protections
An RCBO combines earth-leakage and overcurrent protection in a single module, giving every circuit its own protection. A fault on one circuit trips one device — the freezer stays on when the bathroom heater fails.
Where grouped RCDs linger
Grouped RCD-plus-MCB arrangements survive in older boards and some budget builds, but a single leakage fault drops every circuit in the group, and nuisance-trip diagnosis takes longer. Current wiring rules push strongly toward individual protection.
Pre-wired saves the labour
The RCBO premium over grouped protection shrinks further when boards arrive pre-wired: the fabricator lands the modules, the installer terminates circuits. Full-RCBO boards are now the default configuration worth ordering.
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