Schneider Acti9 iID and Vigi: Full RCD Range Review
What does Schneider Electric's Acti9 RCD range actually cover? Acti9 splits residual current protection into two architectures: the iID line of standalone RCCBs (IEC 61008-1, 2P/4P, 25-100 A) and the Vigi iC60 add-on block that clips onto an Acti9 iC60 MCB to form a field-built RCBO. That split changes how a panel builder specs a board — one part number for a plain RCCB feeding several MCBs, or a block-plus-breaker combination per circuit. This review covers iID sensitivity and type coverage, how the Vigi block compares to the factory-built iDPN Vigi RCBO, where the "si" super-immunized variant is worth the extra cost, and how Acti9 Active folds arc-fault detection into the same footprint.
iID: the standalone RCCB backbone
The Acti9 iID is a pure RCCB — no overcurrent trip mechanism, per IEC 61008-1. It ships in 2P (single-phase) and 4P (three-phase) frames, rated current In from 25 A to 100 A, and covers IΔn settings of 10, 30, 100, 300, and 500 mA on the same physical platform. Types AC, A, SI, and B are all available within iID, which lets one product family serve a mixed panel: a 30 mA Type A iID for a socket sub-board, a 300 mA Type A iID as a fire-protection main switch upstream. The Acti9 iID sits within Schneider's line of residual current devices stocked for this kind of board-main duty.
Because iID carries no fault-current interrupting rating of its own beyond its conditional rating, every iID installation needs an upstream or coordinated MCB/MCCB for short-circuit clearance. That's the RCCB-plus-MCB model, and it's the reason Acti9 boards often pair an iID main with a row of iC60 MCBs feeding final circuits — cheaper per circuit than fitting an RCBO on every way, at the cost of losing per-circuit earth-fault discrimination unless Vigi blocks are also fitted downstream.
Vigi iC60: turning an MCB into an RCBO on the DIN rail
Vigi iC60 is not a standalone product — it's a residual-current sensing block that mounts to an Acti9 iC60 MCB and mechanically trips it on earth fault. The iC60-plus-Vigi combination behaves like the RCBOs covered separately on this site, but it is bought, stocked, and replaced as two part numbers, not one. Types AC, A, and SI are offered on Vigi; the block reads IΔn from the same 10-500 mA table as iID.
The practical upside is stock flexibility: a panel shop holding iC60 MCBs in several curve/rating combinations only needs one Vigi block per sensitivity/type to convert any of them to earth-leakage protection, instead of stocking a full RCBO catalog. The downside is board depth and per-way cost — a block-plus-breaker assembly is wider than a factory-built RCBO of equivalent rating, and replacing one half after a fault means re-torquing both.
iDPN Vigi and Reload: the compact factory-built RCBO
For boards where one narrow part number matters more than field-assembled flexibility, Acti9 offers iDPN Vigi (and the Reload variant) — a factory-integrated MCB+RCD in a single enclosure, functionally an RCBO in the IEC 61009 sense used elsewhere in the market. iDPN Vigi covers the 10-30 mA personal-protection sensitivities most final circuits need, in curve B/C, single-pole-plus-neutral.
What we see in the field: panel builders standardize on iDPN Vigi for socket outlets and lighting finals in new boards, then fall back to iID-plus-iC60 or Vigi retrofits when adding capacity to an existing board that already has iC60 MCBs installed, where swapping them out isn't worth the labor.
Sensitivity, type, and where Acti9 draws the line
Across iID and Vigi, Type AC covers pure sinusoidal residual current only — Schneider does not recommend it for any circuit feeding electronic equipment, since a rectified DC component can desensitize an AC-type sense coil. Type A is the Acti9 default for socket and general power circuits: it detects AC plus pulsating DC, which covers the majority of switch-mode supplies, LED drivers, and single-phase inverters. Type B, offered on iID but not on the Vigi block range, adds detection of smooth DC residual current — needed for three-phase VFDs, most EV chargers, and transformerless PV inverters, where a Type A device can miss a genuine leakage fault entirely. For the underlying waveform logic, see Type A vs Type B RCD for VFD, EV and solar.
The "si" (super-immunized) iID variant doesn't change what waveform the device detects — it raises the threshold before high-frequency transients or a lightning-induced surge cause a nuisance trip. Fit "si" where downtime from a false trip costs more than the extra unit cost: server rooms, refrigeration, process control. It's a targeted answer to a nuisance-tripping problem, not a default upgrade.
Selectivity: sizing an Acti9 main against downstream RCBOs
Boards that combine an Acti9 iID main RCCB with iDPN Vigi or Vigi-equipped final circuits need vertical selectivity, or an upstream fault trips the whole board instead of just the faulted way. Schneider's S-type (time-delayed) iID exists for exactly this: it holds off tripping long enough for a correctly sized downstream device to clear the fault first. For the full sensitivity/type/pole checklist behind this decision, see how to select RCD sensitivity, type, and poles, and for the underlying threshold logic see RCD sensitivity thresholds.
Formula: RCD vertical selectivity — Source: IEC 61008-1, selectivity/discrimination requirement
IΔn(upstream) ≥ 2 × IΔn(downstream), with t(upstream) > t(downstream)
| Symbol | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| IΔn(upstream) | Rated residual operating current of the main/incomer RCD (S-type) | mA |
| IΔn(downstream) | Rated residual operating current of the final-circuit RCBO/RCCB | mA |
| t(upstream) | Trip delay of the upstream S-type device | ms |
| t(downstream) | Trip delay of the downstream instantaneous device | ms |
In practice: a 300 mA S-type iID main will hold off while a 30 mA instantaneous iDPN Vigi on a faulted socket circuit clears first — this depends on the cumulative leakage of everything else on the board staying below the main's threshold during normal operation, which is worth checking on boards carrying a lot of switch-mode power supplies before assuming a 300 mA main has margin to spare.
Acti9 Active: RCD plus arc-fault detection in one module
Acti9 Active adds arc-fault detection device (AFDD) function to the RCD/RCBO in the same DIN-rail footprint, aimed at circuits with a documented arc-fire risk — aging wiring, high-value contents, sleeping occupancy. It doesn't replace the sensitivity/type decision above; it adds a second protection function on top of whichever iID, Vigi, or iDPN base the circuit already needed.
Vigi block vs factory RCBO: which to specify
| Criteria | Acti9 iID (RCCB) | Vigi iC60 (add-on block) | iDPN Vigi (factory RCBO) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overcurrent protection | None — needs upstream MCB/MCCB | Provided by the paired iC60 | Integral |
| DIN-rail width per way | N/A (feeds multiple MCBs) | Wider than iDPN Vigi | Narrowest |
| Stock flexibility | One SKU covers any downstream MCB curve | One block covers several MCB ratings/curves | Fixed curve/rating per part |
| Types available | AC/A/SI/B | AC/A/SI | AC/A |
| Typical use | Board main or sub-main, fire protection | Retrofit / mixed-curve boards | New-build final circuits |
Some electricians default to Vigi blocks across a whole board because it's one product line to remember, but on a new build with standard curve-B/C finals, iDPN Vigi wins on width and on having one part number to fault-find instead of two.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Acti9 iID and Vigi iC60?
iID is a standalone RCCB with no overcurrent protection of its own; Vigi iC60 is an add-on block that combines with a separate iC60 MCB to form a field-assembled RCBO. iID needs an upstream or paired breaker; Vigi already has one once fitted to its MCB.
Can a Vigi block be fitted to any Acti9 iC60 MCB?
Vigi blocks are matched to specific iC60 frame sizes and pole configurations, so the block and breaker need to come from compatible ranges. Check the current rating and pole count match before ordering, not just the trip curve.
Which sensitivity should I use for a Schneider board main?
For personal protection on socket sub-boards, 30 mA Type A is standard. For a board main feeding several RCBO-protected final circuits, a higher IΔn S-type device (100-300 mA) gives selectivity so the main only trips on a fault the downstream device fails to clear.
Does Schneider make a Type B Acti9 device?
Yes — Type B is available in the iID RCCB range for circuits with smooth DC residual current risk, such as three-phase VFDs or transformerless PV inverters. The Vigi add-on block range tops out at Type SI, not Type B.
What does "si" mean on an Acti9 RCD?
"si" marks the super-immunized variant, built for higher resistance to nuisance tripping from transient surges and to dust/corrosion ingress. It doesn't change the detected waveform class — fit it where false trips are the actual problem, not as a default upgrade.
Is a Vigi block plus MCB the same protection as an RCBO?
Functionally yes for earth-leakage and overcurrent coverage once assembled, but it's two separate parts sharing a mechanical trip link rather than one factory-tested unit, which matters for DIN-rail width and for how a nuisance trip gets diagnosed later.
Conclusion
Acti9 covers the sensitivity and type range most industrial and commercial boards need — 10-500 mA, AC through B — split across a standalone RCCB (iID), an add-on block (Vigi iC60), and a compact factory RCBO (iDPN Vigi). The choice between them is rarely about protection performance and almost always about board width, stock strategy, and how the board gets maintained after the first fault. For background on how RCCB and RCBO concepts compare across manufacturers, see the RCCB and RCBO differences article and the broader RCD protection guide.
