FAQ
TL;DR: A 100 m² house actually needs 29 DIN modules, not 24; “One differential for everything will take revenge” [Elektroda, kozi966, post #16384959] Mismatching board size, single RCD, and missing ring earth were the thread’s core issues [Elektroda, GBW, post #16387060]
Why it matters: Undersized switchgear and poor grounding increase nuisance trips and over-voltage risk.
Quick Facts
• Recommended switchboard capacity for modern homes: ≥3×20 = 60 modules [Elektroda, djlukas, post #16385119]
• Counted demand in thread: 29 modules vs 24 supplied (-17 % short) [Elektroda, GBW, post #16387060]
• WLZ (feeder) minimum for 15 kW: 5 × 10 mm² Cu [Energa, 2022]
• Target earth resistance (TN-C-S): ≤30 Ω [PN-HD 60364-5-54, 2016]
• DIY ring earth + GSU: ≈ 400 zł total [Elektroda, stonefree, post #16388901]
How many DIN modules does the listed equipment require?
Main isolator 4, surge arrester 4, three-phase RCD 4, power indicator 1, three-phase MCB 3, thirteen single-pole MCBs 13. Total = 29 modules, five more than the 24-module board supplied [Elektroda, GBW, post #16387060]
Why is using one 3-phase RCD for the whole house discouraged?
A single device trips whenever any circuit faults, darkening the house and complicating troubleshooting. Experts call this “revenge” on users [Elektroda, kozi966, post #16384959] Current practice uses multiple RCDs: at least one per circuit group or per wet-area circuit [PN-HD 60364-4-41, 2019].
What size and type should the WLZ (internal feeder) be for a 15 kW connection?
Supply utilities require a 5-core 10 mm² Cu cable (YKY-J 5×10) for 40 A main fuses and TN-C-S systems [Energa, 2022]. The thread’s 5×10 mm² cable therefore meets the minimum [Elektroda, GeoCa, post #16434383]
May I bond my private grounding conductor to the utility (ZE) earth?
No. Utility housings separate PEN before the customer isolator; bonding your ring earth there can import fault potentials [Elektroda, stonefree, post #16388901] Keep the ring earth on the building side and link it to the GSU/PE bar only [Elektroda, kozi966, post #16384959]
How can I retrofit a ring earth (otok) around an existing house?
- Dig a 0.7–1 m deep trench 1–2 m from the walls [Elektroda, GeoCa, post #16386640]
- Lay 25 × 4 mm galvanised steel or Ø10 mm Cu wire; weld all joints, then coat with bitumen [PN-HD 60364-5-54, 2016].
- Bring one conductor indoors to the GSU bar and bond to the PE bus [Elektroda, stonefree, post #16388901]
Where should the GSU/GSW bar be installed, and what must it bond?
Place the bar in the boiler room near the switchboard. Bond the ring earth, metallic water and gas pipes, central-heating boiler, and any lightning-protection down-conductors [Elektroda, mawerix123, post #16386855] If services are plastic, bond available metal sections only; plastic itself needs no connection [Elektroda, GeoCa, post #16566249]
Is foundation (natural) grounding better than a ring earth?
When reinforcement is welded or clamped every 2 m, a foundation earth offers stable low resistance and corrosion protection from alkaline concrete [Elektroda, michcio, post #16594818] Poorly tied rebar however raises resistance over time. A welded ring earth therefore remains the most reliable retrofit [Elektroda, jaceksz78, post #16594547]
Which appliances deserve their own circuits in a 100 m² house?
Standards recommend dedicated circuits for electric cooker, oven, dishwasher, washing machine, heat pump/boiler, kitchen sockets, and outdoor sockets [PN-HD 60364-7-702, 2017]. The thread added fridge and dishwasher lines but still left only one kitchen-socket circuit, below best practice [Elektroda, GBW, post #16388982]
Should the neutral (N) be switched in the main isolator?
Leaving N unswitched improves reliability. Four-pole isolators can close N later than phases, causing over-voltage; one case destroyed surge strips when N lagged [Elektroda, jaceksz78, post #16594547] Use a 3-pole isolator and connect N directly to the bar [Elektroda, mawerix123, post #16405470]
What switchboard size matches modern Polish practice for a 100 m² home?
Install at least a 3-row, 20-module per row board (3×20 = 60 modules). This leaves room for extra RCDs, smart meters, and future circuits [Elektroda, djlukas, post #16385119] A 4×12 Volta gives 48 modules and also fits comfortably [Elektroda, GeoCa, post #16566249]
Are combined type B+C surge arresters acceptable near the meter?
Yes, if the cable length to the equipotential bar is under 1 m and the device holds EN 61643-11 certification. Longer leads reduce effectiveness and require separate type B and C units [Schrack, 2021]. The thread’s installer placed a B+C arrester inside the switchboard; confirm lead length [Elektroda, thomyk, post #16593902]
How long and how much to add proper grounding after walls are up?
Users report digging and welding a 30 m ring with five take-offs in one day and about 400 zł for wire, clamps, and bitumen [Elektroda, stonefree, post #16388901] Professional installation averages 800–1200 zł depending on soil and trenching equipment [BuildCost, 2023].