The best RCDs, compared.
Top pick: Schneider Easy9 EZ9R46291 – Highest listing score in this set, at 98: a two-pole Type A, 100 A, 30 mA instantaneous RCCB at about £48.67. The 4.9 from 22 reviews is a thin sample, and it is not a garden plug. Best value: Masterplug ARCDKG-ZD – Lowest price in the set at about £9.94, with 4.4 from 5,834 reviews, non-latching behaviour and BS 7071:1992 on the listing. Score 88. Milliamps are not stated on the amazon page. Updated October 2026.
A residual current device, usually shortened to RCD, opens the supply when current leaks to earth instead of returning on the neutral. That cuts the chance of injury from some electric shocks. It does not prevent a shock, and a shock can still be serious or fatal, so the device is a back-up rather than a guarantee. In the UK, the personal-protection rating to look for is not more than 30 mA. Most household buyers choose a 13 A plug-in adaptor or an in-line unit for a mower, a trimmer or an extension lead. A DIN-rail device is a consumer-unit part and a different job. Form, trip current and restart behaviour are set out in the [RCD buying guide](/hub/electrical-equipment/rcd/sub/rcd-buying-guide). On a portable unit, look for a stated 30 mA rating, a standard the seller names, and a test button you press before work. Non-latching behaviour suits a tool in the hand, because the device stays off until you reset it.
A residual current device, usually shortened to RCD, opens the supply when current leaks to earth instead of returning on the neutral. That cuts the chance of injury from some electric shocks.
22 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where will the device sit?
The Schneider Easy9 EZ9R46291 is a two-pole DIN-rail RCCB listed at about £48.67, stated as Type A, 100 A, 30 mA, 230 V and instantaneous. The star line is 4.9 from 22 amazon.co.uk reviews, a thin sample next to the plug-in listings in this set. The 100 A figure is the current the module can carry, not the trip sensitivity. The listing gives IP20 on its own and IP40 once it is inside a modular enclosure, with an operating range of -5 °C to +60 °C. It has no overcurrent protection of its own, so it still sits with a fuse or MCB, and consumer-unit work is for a competent person. The listing does not describe a plug, a socket or a test-button routine, so this is not a garden adaptor. It is the top pick here because it is the only device in the set that states Type A and 30 mA together.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An electrician is specifying a two-pole Type A 30 mA RCCB, and you are buying the module rather than fitting it yourself.
Less suitable: You want a 13 A adaptor for a mower or a trimmer, or a review sample you can lean on.
Specifications
Common questions
Is 100 A the trip sensitivity?
No. The listing states 100 A as the rated current and 30 mA as the sensitivity. It is Type A, 2-pole, 230 V, and the earth-leakage time delay is instantaneous.
What IP rating does the listing give?
IP20 on its own, and IP40 once it is inside a modular enclosure. Operating temperature is -5 °C to +60 °C.
Can I use this as a garden plug adaptor?
No. It is a DIN-rail Easy9 RCCB, model EZ9R46291. The listing does not describe a plug, a socket, or a test-button routine.
The EXNICEXI NB-H3E-13 is a white 13 A plug-in adaptor listed at about £13.99, with 4.6 from 772 amazon.co.uk reviews. The title states 30 mA at 240 V AC and cites IEC 61540, and the bullets say it cuts the supply within 0.1 seconds when leakage is at least 30 mA. You press RESET until the light is on, press TEST until the light goes off, then RESET again before the appliance goes in. It does not reset itself after a trip. A review reports melted plug pins after about six weeks, which is a stop-using sign rather than a finish fault. The listing does not state a waveform type or an IP rating, so it is not a Type A device and it is not a weatherproof body. At 54 × 66 × 120 mm it is bulky enough that an outdoor socket lid may not close over it.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a plug-in adaptor whose amazon.co.uk listing already prints 30 mA and IEC 61540, for one appliance you reset by hand.
Less suitable: You need a stated non-latching line, an IP rating, or a body that fits under an outdoor socket lid.
Specifications
Common questions
What trip current does the listing state?
The title states 30 mA at 240 V AC and 13 A, and cites IEC 61540. The bullets say it cuts the supply within 0.1 seconds when leakage is at least 30 mA.
Does it reset itself after a trip?
No. The bullets say you press RESET after a trip. Before use, the listing says plug in, press RESET until the light is on, press TEST until the light goes off, then RESET again.
Is this a consumer-unit breaker?
No. It is a white plug-in adaptor for a UK wall socket. The bullets name household appliances and power tools, indoors and outdoors, and they do not give an IP code.
The Status SRCDORX3 is an orange 13 A plug-in adaptor at about £12.95, with 4.6 from 449 amazon.co.uk reviews. The listing names test and reset buttons and a standard UK outlet. It does not state a trip current in milliamps, a British or IEC standard, or whether the unit latches through a power cut. Reviews mention a small lamp, often weak, so you should not expect a bright indicator. A question on the page asks about surge protection, and the bullets do not say the adaptor has it. Attribute rows that mention DIN-rail mounting and five poles conflict with the plug-in title and are not treated as the product. Orange makes it easy to see on a bench, which does not fill in the missing residual current.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a visible orange plug-in adaptor and you have already accepted that this listing does not print a trip current.
Less suitable: You came to buy a stated 30 mA device, or you need to know whether it stays off after a power cut.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing state a trip current or a standard?
No. It states a 13 A UK plug RCD adaptor, model SRCDORX3, with test and reset buttons. Milliamps and a British or IEC standard are not on the listing.
Is it a plug-in adaptor?
Yes. The title and bullets say it goes into a standard UK outlet. Attribute rows that say DIN-rail mounting and five poles conflict with that and are not shown here.
What colour is it, and is surge protection stated?
Orange. A question on the page asks about surge protection, but the bullets do not say it has surge protection. Warranty on the listing is 1 year. Weight is 180 g.
The Masterplug ARCDKG-ZD is a black 13 A single-socket adaptor at about £9.94, with 4.4 from 5,834 amazon.co.uk reviews in the 19 October 2026 check. The listing says it is non-latching, cites BS 7071:1992, and names gardens and light DIY. It does not state a trip current in milliamps. A Masterplug sheet states 30 mA and a typical 40 ms trip, which is the manufacturer's figure and not the amazon copy. Reviews mention a dim orange indicator, heat, and units that fail after months, plus one report involving an EV charger. It trips when the supply fails and stays off until you reset it, which suits a tool in the hand and not a pond pump or a freezer. At 11.2 × 7.2 × 5.1 cm it can still be too bulky for a lidded outdoor socket. It is the best value here on price and review volume, provided you treat 30 mA as a manufacturer-sheet figure.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the lowest-priced widely reviewed non-latching plug-in for a garden tool, and you will treat 30 mA as a manufacturer-sheet figure.
Less suitable: You will only buy a listing that prints 30 mA, or the load must come back on after a power cut.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it stay on after a power cut?
No. The bullets say it is non-latching, so you reset it after each use. Reviews also say it trips when the supply fails and stays off.
What standard and trip current are stated?
The listing cites BS 7071:1992 and a 13 A single socket at 240 V. It does not state a trip current in milliamps.
What is it listed for?
Gardens and light DIY, with one socket for the appliance. The listing warranty is 1 year. It is a plug-in adaptor, not a DIN-rail breaker.
The Masterplug ILRCDNG-MP is an in-line unit at about £12.99, with 4.3 from 392 amazon.co.uk reviews. The listing states 30 mA, a typical trip of 40 ms, 3120 W at 240 V AC, a double-pole break, IP65 and BS 7071:1992. You wire it into a cable or a cable reel rather than pushing a plug into the wall. Reviews say the supply end and the load end must not be swapped, and that the body is large. It is non-latching, so a power cut trips it and you have to reset it, including when the appliance is switched off. The manufacturer sheet says the IP65 rating needs plugs and connectors of an equivalent rating, so a bare splice does not keep that claim. If you cannot identify live, neutral and earth, this is the wrong product to open.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You can terminate a flex and you need 30 mA protection in the lead because a plug-in adaptor will not fit the socket.
Less suitable: You want a push-in adaptor, or a load that must restart on its own after a power cut.
Specifications
Common questions
Do I plug this into the wall?
No. The bullets say you wire it into an existing cable or cable reel. Reviews also say the supply end and the load end must not be swapped.
What trip figures does the listing give?
30 mA, a typical trip of 40 ms, and a double-pole break. Maximum load is 3120 W at 240 V AC. The listing cites IP65 and BS 7071:1992.
What happens when the mains fails?
It is non-latching. The bullets say that when power is cut, the RCD trips and has to be reset, including when the appliance is switched off.
The Masterplug PRCDKB is listed at about £12.48, with 4.3 from 322 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets say it is non-latching, cite BS 7071:1992, and give a maximum of 3120 W at 240 V, with 13 A in the attribute row. The title reads as a one-socket adaptor, but reviews describe cutting off a plug and wiring this unit onto the flex, and a Luceco range sheet lists PRCDKB as the safety plug rather than the ARCDKG socket adaptor. A trip current in milliamps is not on the amazon listing. Reviews also mention a neon that is often dim. The case is 112 × 72.3 × 50.5 mm, with a cover over the terminals. If you cannot identify live, neutral and earth and refit that cover, leave it on the shelf. It stays off after a supply interruption until you press reset.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a non-latching Masterplug you can wire onto a flex, and you will check the terminals before you close the cover.
Less suitable: You want a push-in socket adaptor, or a listing that already prints 30 mA.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a plug I push into the wall?
The listing calls it a one-socket adaptor, 112 x 72.3 x 50.5 mm. Reviews describe cutting off a plug and wiring this unit onto the flex, with a cover over the terminals.
Does it come back on after a power cut?
The bullets say it is non-latching, so you reset it after each use. They cite BS 7071:1992 and a maximum of 3120 W at 240 V.
What current does the listing state?
13 A in the attribute row, and 3120 W at 240 V in the bullets. A trip current in milliamps is not stated.
Six amazon.co.uk RCD listings were read on 19 October 2026 against form, a stated residual current, latching, a named standard and the review file. This is not a lab test. A printed milliamp rating or standard name is a listing claim. The top pick and the best value follow those listing marks: a Type A 30 mA module for a consumer unit, and the lowest-priced non-latching plug-in with a large review file. A high star line on a thin sample does not turn a DIN-rail module into a garden adaptor.
Stated residual current
25%Personal protection is a rating of not more than 30 mA. A figure in amps on a fixed device is the current it can carry, not the trip sensitivity. If the listing does not state milliamps, that gap is not filled in from a similar model.
Form and fit
25%A plug-in adaptor, an in-line unit and a DIN-rail RCCB are different jobs. A body that will not sit under an outdoor socket lid, or a module sold as a garden plug, loses this part.
Latching
20%Non-latching behaviour stays off after a power cut until you press reset, which suits a tool in the hand. It is a poor match for a pond pump, fridge or freezer. It is not the same thing as a time-delayed Type S device.
Named standard and test
15%A listing that names BS 7071:1992 or IEC 61540, and describes a test and reset action, scores above a listing that names neither. The user’s test button is not an installation test.
Review evidence
15%Star rating and review count are a tie-break after the points above. Repeated notes of heat, a melted pin or early failure count against a listing. They are not a laboratory trip time.
Start with the form, then the residual current, then whether the device stays off after a power cut. A named standard and a test button come after those three. The notes below follow that order for these six amazon.co.uk listings, checked on 19 October 2026. None of the scores is a lab test.
A residual current device opens the supply when current leaks to earth instead of returning on the neutral. That reduces the chance of injury from some electric shocks. The Health and Safety Executive is explicit that a shock can still be serious or fatal, so an RCD is a back-up, not a guarantee. It does not repair a damaged tool, and it does not replace overload protection. In the UK, personal protection means a rating of not more than 30 mA.
A garage consumer unit and an EV charger are different products from a 13 A RCD adaptor. A DIN-rail RCCB is a module for a board, not a garden plug. If the object you wanted was protection for one appliance, stop at the form before you compare prices.
Non-latching behaviour drops out when the supply fails and stays off until you press reset. That suits a trimmer in the hand. It does not suit a pond pump, a fridge or a freezer. Latching is a restart rule, not a lower level of protection, and it is not the same as a time-delayed Type S device.
Press the test button before use, and take the unit out of service if it will not trip or reset. That press is not the installation check. A general non-delay RCD is verified at its rated residual current with a maximum time of 300 ms. Do not bypass a trip, and do not expect two instantaneous 30 mA devices in series to discriminate.
Choose the form before you compare brands. A plug-in adaptor is the right object when you need to protect one BS 1363 appliance and you will not open a flex. An in-line unit is the right object when a socket lid will not close over a bulky adaptor, or when you are protecting a lead you can wire. A DIN-rail residual current circuit breaker is a consumer-unit module. Buy it only if an electrician is working on the board.
Additional protection for people is a residual current of not more than 30 mA. That ceiling comes from the Health and Safety Executive and from BS 7671 Regulation 411.3.3. A 100 A figure on a fixed device is the current the device can carry. It is not the trip sensitivity. If the listing does not state milliamps, do not fill the gap from a similar model. Latching is the next decision, and it is not a safety grade.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a non-latching 13 A plug-in that stays off after a power cut until you reset it. The Masterplug ARCDKG-ZD is about £9.94, with 4.4 from 5,834 reviews, and the listing names BS 7071:1992. It does not print a trip current in milliamps.
A plug-in body will not close the socket lid, and you can terminate a flex. The Masterplug ILRCDNG-MP is about £12.99 and states 30 mA, a typical 40 ms trip, IP65 and BS 7071:1992. If you cannot identify live, neutral and earth, do not open it.
You are buying a two-pole Type A 30 mA RCCB for an electrician to fit, not a garden adaptor. The Schneider Easy9 EZ9R46291 is about £48.67 and states Type A, 100 A and 30 mA. The star line is 4.9 from 22 reviews. Consumer-unit work is not a DIY fit.
In this set of six amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Schneider Easy9 EZ9R46291, a two-pole Type A 30 mA RCCB at about £48.67. The listing score is 98, and the star line is 4.9 from 22 reviews, which is a thin sample. It is not a 13 A garden plug, and consumer-unit work is for a competent person. The best value is the Masterplug ARCDKG-ZD at about £9.94, with 4.4 from 5,834 reviews and a score of 88. It is a non-latching plug-in listed to BS 7071:1992. The amazon listing does not state a trip current in milliamps. Neither score is a lab test.
Schneider Easy9 EZ9R46291
Highest listing score in this set, at 98: a two-pole Type A, 100 A, 30 mA instantaneous RCCB at about £48.67. The 4.9 from 22 reviews is a thin sample, and it is not a garden plug.
Masterplug ARCDKG-ZD
Lowest price in the set at about £9.94, with 4.4 from 5,834 reviews, non-latching behaviour and BS 7071:1992 on the listing. Score 88. Milliamps are not stated on the amazon page.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources are listed below. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures checked on 19 October 2026.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the UK listings checked on 19 October 2026. We did not lab-test these RCDs.
