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Enclosure – This is the ‘box’ all of the relevant accessories are housed in. Since the introduction of the 18th edition, all new installations must be in a steel enclosure There are four types of consumer units. The most common are the main switch consumer units and the dual RCD consumer units. Main switch consumer unit It is vital you know where your consumer unit (fuse box) is in your home in case of an emergency. What is inside a consumer unit? No, unless they are provided with the consumer units by the manufacturer. The use of them is not pre-cluded. Can a plastic consumer unit be fitted if it is enclosed in a steel enclosure?
If a consumer unit is located under a wooden staircase or in a passage way which is the sole route of escape then a coding of C3 would be logged. In all other situations no coding is required. When installing a metal consumer unit, does the metal lid that covers the protective devices have to drop down? Main Switch – The main switch controls the electrical supply in your home, and allows you to isolate all circuits by simply turning it on and off. Everything within your consumer unit is controlled by the main switch
This is the most common consumer unit. These are metal and normally have a front lid hinged at the top, the size is completely dependent on the number of circuits you are having. (10 way, 14 way etc). Duplex Consumer Unit Blanks – Blanks are pieces of plastic which clip to the din rail in just the same way as any circuit protection device and allow for future changes and additions to the circuit design. If you wanted to add a circuit for outdoor lighting for example – the consumer unit and busbar are ready to accept the MCB which would protect this circuit without any reconfiguration of the consumer unit This type of board is anything under four ways… most of the time. They are commonly used in outhouses, sheds, and garages, where a couple of circuits may be required for lighting and tools. EV Consumer Unit
RCBO (Residual Current Overload) – An RCBO is an intelligent bit of kit which combines the functions of both an MCB and RCD, protecting against both overload and earth leakage. They are now the most popular choice for electricians due to the added safety, although they initially cost more their functionality and safety features outweigh going to the RCD/MCB route Earth Bar – This is the common connection point for all circuits’ earth cables. All circuit protective conductors will connect on the earth bar along with earth bonding connections Unless you are a fully qualified electrician, then you should not under any circumstances try to replace your own consumer unit. It is a legal requirement that this type of electrical work is carried out by a certified professional. Beyond that, if done incorrectly, you could injure yourself and put both your family and home at risk. These are the big boys – a consumer unit on top of a consumer unit! This type of board is usually supplied as a main switch option only but there are RCD options out there if you look hard enough. Duplex consumer units have become more and more popular since amendment changes in the last few years and because of the improved knowledge of circuit separation (RCBOs). Flush Consumer UnitWith people making the move towards electric cars, EV charging consumer units will become more and more popular. Manufacturers are now releasing standalone EV consumer units that can be added to new and old dwellings. These EV boards are most commonly supplied with a 100A Main Switch, and Type 2 Surge Protection and should be populated with RCBOs. Things to look out for This type of board is and should be the most common consumer unit being installed today. They are also the best type of consumer unit to choose to completely comply with 18th edition regulations. The major benefit of choosing a main switch consumer unit is you populate it with RCBOs and these devices give you individual protection of each electrical circuit. The majority of electrical contractors will recommend installing a main switch consumer unit following on from the 18th edition wiring regulations, as these boards are versatile and can be installed with RCBOs, surge protection devices and MCBs. Dual RCD consumer unit SPD – Surge Protection Devices – They are now a requirement as part of the 18th edition regulations as it protects against surges into the electrics from outside the building. These are usually caused by lightning strikes, but can be caused by power surges from elsewhere down the electrical network. When this happens to your domestic fuse board it can be devastating to your home’s wiring. SPDs are installed between the outside feed and the main switch in your consumer unit and will trip if any inward surge is detected.
All of the components within the consumer unit play a fundamental role in guaranteeing safety and integrity for each installation. I think @rogerk101 is spot on with blanks, we are told type testing means we must only use what is recommended by the manufacturer, so if the blanks supplied by the manufacturer can be removed without a tool, then up to manufacturer to do a recall.
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As to @The Happy Builder comments on being loose, that does not matter, we have an IP rating and not being able to be removed without tool. No, providing the IP integrity after the installation is maintained, which is IP4X on the top and horizontal surfaces, and IP2XC everywhere else. However, the use of fire retardant glands and trunking is not precluded. Do intumescent pads and strips have to be used when installing a metal consumer unit? Even consumer units are now stylish! These flush boards are becoming the new trend. They install seamlessly into modern homes and are less bulky. The only difference here is the appearance, in terms of all the necessities (main switch, busbar) they are all the same. Garage Consumer Unit Dual RCD boards are supplied with a main switch and two RCDs. Consideration must be given to circuit design in this scenario. You should not, for example, put all the lighting circuits on the same RCD as if a fault ever occurs then the RCD will turn off the whole bank of MCBs it’s protecting. This will mean you will be in complete darkness whilst trying to resolve the issue. RCD incomer consumer unit
No, there is no provision to use metal blanks. However, if they are supplied by the manufacturer of the consumer unit then they must be used. Can additional circuits be added onto an existing plastic style consumer unit? Yes, providing a risk assessment is carried out to say that, in the event of a fire, flames would not spread to the main dwelling. Carrying out a risk assessment is fundamental in this instance. Do fire retardant glands and trunking have to be used? Yes, you have to ensure the supply tails enter the enclosure through an appropriate means to prevent damage to the insulation around the conductors. It is also important to tighten the tails that go into the incoming device within the consumer unit to the recommended torque settings, as set out by the manufacturer. Ensure the tails are fixed and secured so as to prevent disturbance. What coding is given to an existing plastic unit in good condition in an electrical inspection report? MCB – Also known as Mini Circuit Breakers, this protects appliances from overload. They come in a range of amperages from 6a to 50a in domestic installations. Nowadays a 32amp is used to protect an SPD which is installed in the fusebox
What is inside a consumer unit?
Neutral Bars – The common connection point for the neutral cables from the earth leakage protection devices (RCBOs) These boards are predominantly used in garages and sheds. The big difference between this type of board and others is it doesn’t have a main switch. The main way to isolate this type of board is via a single RCD. High integrity consumer unit As every year passes the rules, regulations and technology are updated to improve the electrical industry. The latest update was in 2022 to the amendment 2 wiring regulations. If your consumer unit is tripping continuously then there is obviously a problem with one circuit or more. Again in this scenario, it is very important you call a fully qualified electrician to sort out the issue immediately
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