Any comments welcome.

Carried out an cu change today ,new unit was a15-way Wylex with standard 100 DP main switch . Spec asked for all circuits to be protected by RCBO's, 11 in total.

The problem i encountered was the total lack of space,it was so tight for wiring space it was unbelievable about 25mm from top of the RCBO's to the neutral and earth bus bars.

Surely the manufacturers must try them themselves first?.

The reason i'm moaning is I've another five to do.

The only idea i can think of is too get a larger con unit and fit blanks on every other way. to give a bit more room for wiring.

As far as i can see MK,Crabtree,Volex,Contactum etc are all roughly the same height,I don't think any manufacturer has increased the height of the con units since RCBO'S have become more widely specified.

Does anyone know of a more sparkie friendly con unit?.

Regards Dominic

Stackable units?

Pre wired CU in to a connection box - not ideal but the CU could be built before you get to site.

-------------------------
Regards

Martyn.

Only a mediocre person is always at their best



www.electrical contractors uk.com

Compact rcbos.
in effect you have two busbars (1 x N and 1 x L) .
they are the same size as mcbs. cost about £14 each. sold by ex NAPIT inspector near to me.
Otherwise keep on practising with the wylex C/Us. Awful design though.

Eaton?

-------------------------
Regards

Martyn.

Only a mediocre person is always at their best



www.electrical contractors uk.com

Haha at those prices!!!!

No they are SBS. perfectly good and robust.

Edited: 31 May 2012 at 10:58 PM by SKElectrical

Garo do an reasonably extensive range (both 1- and 2-module, both DP switching) - http://www.meteorelectrical.co...cbo-s-mcb-s-rcd-s.html - and they'll marry up nicely with DP bus-bars (so no silly fly leads). The problem is that most of the DP bus-bars at the moment have a pretty small CSA - often 6mm2, 10mm2 at best (presumably down to our continental friends having low current supplies and preference for going 3-phase for anything larger).
- Andy.

Had a recent all rcbo CU change at home and the electrician used a metal 12 way Contactum enclosure. He said he uses the metal enclosures because they have a bit more room inside. Looks good enough high up on the hall wall.

The ones made by SBS are standard busbars bent by hand. Currently the larger busbars are not manufactured with the necessary bends in the teeth.

Andy have you looked at the MG DP dis boards ? not very domestic friendly but very good from memory seem to recall they were used alot on 110v

-------------------------
Regards

Martyn.

Only a mediocre person is always at their best



www.electrical contractors uk.com

I did - from what I recall they were only available in a very restricted size (8-module i.e. 4-ways max?) and I suspect bl****y expensive (at least their RCBOs were).
- Andy.

The wylex metal consumer units have a bit more space.

I have mentioned this to wylex at a few trade shows, all I get is waffle about a new RCBO that is comming out with a smaller form factor. They have been talking about this for 3 years now!!!

Thanks for all the response lads.

SKElectrical SBS compact RCBO's ?.

Sorry have seach high and low last night and could not find any manufacture under SBS.

Any chance of a link please.

Regards Dominic

I don't know of SBS, but here's one compact type: http://www.toolstation.com/sho...e+C/d190/sd3096/p97794 (but only in C type as far as I can tell).

Lots of the big manufacturers do 2-module 'MCB height' RCBOs (mostly for the continental market).

Garo do some interesting ones - http://www.meteorelectrical.co...cbo-s-mcb-s-rcd-s.html - but the terminals mean it's either cable-in-cable-out or trying to source unusual bus bars.

- Andy.

On the front page of the June edition of the Denmans Connector there are a range of extra height CU's with RCBO's if it helps.

Wylex make an extra height version of their consumer units.

They have 'EH' on the end of the product code. No idea where my work get them from thought.

When it is time to test a board full of rcbo's is a great fun. Normally takes double time than a normal dual rcd ccu. We have one contract and the spec is to fit wylex 14-way ccu with 11 rcbo's. Its a great fun,


Regards

Paul

Kirchoffs, the hager ones are not bad ( and I agree about the wylex).

The new BG board supposedly leaves plenty of room at the top, but I have a few issues with their brass terminals failing on their sockets so I've not tried one yet.

Stay away from CED.... We've all been taking them back round here as quite a few fail from new.

Martyn did an all RCBO board for me last year and he put the RCBOs onto the DIN rail and all the neutral tails into the bar first of all. I have to say it was impressive and looked fairly spread out. Might be worth a try if you have a few to do.

Zs

There is no website! He emails you a 'catalogue' of products and prices.
I dont know how to "Private Message" you... but if you email me i will pass on his contact details, tel number, and email etc. In fact i will just forward his last email on to you.
MY EMAIL: sipoole@ymail.com

It's really early morning of saturday and I am going to work , still sleepy.Am I mistaken for thinking we shouldn't use metal consumer unit in domestic installations? Please enlight me if I am wrong.

About SBS RCBOs, I used them couple of times, fantastic, same size of MCBs. Very good and friendly customer service.

Regards
Ramin

Nothing wrong with metal consumer units in domestic, but remember that on a tt the tails should be rcd protected if they enter a metal box!

-------------------------
Regard
Richard (Dick)

www.rllewellyn.co.uk