Type A RCBO vs Type AC RCD: Solar Battery Guide
For homes installing a Solar Battery, choosing the correct protection is important. Modern inverters and battery systems can affect the type of residual current present in an electrical circuit.
Australian electrical requirements have also changed. Type AC RCDs can no longer be installed in Australia.
What Is a Type A RCBO?
A Type A RCBO combines two forms of protection in one device.
It provides residual current protection and overcurrent protection. Therefore, it can help protect a circuit against electrical leakage and excessive current.
Type A protection can respond to alternating current and pulsating direct residual current. This makes it suitable for many modern electrical installations.
Solar inverters, batteries, EV chargers and other electronic equipment can produce residual-current characteristics that require protection beyond Type AC.
However, the exact RCD type must always follow the inverter manufacturer’s instructions and applicable electrical requirements.
What Is a Type AC RCD?
A Type AC RCD is designed to detect sinusoidal alternating residual current.
It does not provide the same detection capability as Type A for pulsating DC residual current.
Australia stopped permitting the installation of Type AC RCDs from 1 May 2023. This change followed updates to AS/NZS 3000:2018.

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