Does this main isolator switch require a separate enclosure ?

[Paul N]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you in advance for your assistance, I"m assuming that having an unenclosed main switch is against the rules ?
Should it be sited within the same Consumer Unit or a separate enclosure ? The Consumer Unit, meter and main switch are housed within a wooden formica cupboard (2nd photograph).
Many thanks for your advice re any necessary changes that need to be commissioned.
Regards, Paul

 

[Timbo]

What's not enclosed?

 

[Pete999]

What's not enclosed?

At a guess the switch at the side of the D/B?

 

[Deleted account]

OMG!

just noticed. Didn’t see it at first the consumer unit has no main switch. That’s hilarious.

yes you are quite right. It’s against the rules.

at first I didn’t understand what you where going on about.

I think @Pete999 and @Timbo missed that.

 

[Deleted account]

Do ARC electrical still exist?

im struggling to think of a regulation that has been broken here TBH. I suppose it does have a means of isolation, but......

..... don’t like it.

 

[Paul N]

OMG!

just noticed. Didn’t see it at first the consumer unit has no main switch. That’s hilarious.

yes you are quite right. It’s against the rules.

at first I didn’t understand what you where going on about.

I think @Pete999 and @Timbo missed that.

Hi Pete,

Thank you for your advice - this may sound like a daft question but do you think the main switch needs to be within a new consumer unit along with the RCDs and MCBs or would a separate enclosure just for the main switch be acceptable?
Many thanks,
Paul

 

[stevethesparks]

Cant really see a problem with the separate switch, it isolates all so what's the problem. Can even have an advantage when working inside the CU

 

[Paul N]

Do ARC electrical still exist?

im struggling to think of a regulation that has been broken here TBH. I suppose it does have a means of isolation, but......

..... don’t like it.

Just to be clear although the ARC sticker is on the box I don't think ARC did the wiring, I think somebody else has re-used an old CU !!!

 

[Deleted account]

Hi Pete,

Thank you for your advice - this may sound like a daft question but do you think the main switch needs to be within a new consumer unit along with the RCDs and MCBs or would a separate enclosure just for the main switch be acceptable?
Many thanks,
Paul

My second post contradicts the first. On reflection I can’t see a problem with this.

my first post was a reflex reply without thinking as I feel it’s just so stupid to do it, but I come across stupid stuff every day. This does not mean it’s unsafe.


you say someone may have re used an old board, if so when and who did this?

is this your home or a rental?

I think you need to get an EICR done on the whole installation. That should identify any issues that need addressing.

 

[stevethesparks]

I would guess that looking at the cable entries into the top, they are very unlikely to be sealed and have large gaps?
Edit: same with the bottom

 

[Pete999]

OMG!

just noticed. Didn’t see it at first the consumer unit has no main switch. That’s hilarious.

yes you are quite right. It’s against the rules.

at first I didn’t understand what you where going on about.

I think @Pete999 and @Timbo missed that.

I never missed I was the one that pointed it out.

 

[Paul N]

My second post contradicts the first. On reflection I can’t see a problem with this.

my first post was a reflex reply without thinking as I feel it’s just so stupid to do it, but I come across stupid stuff every day. This does not mean it’s unsafe.


you say someone may have re used an old board, if so when and who did this?

is this your home or a rental?

I think you need to get an EICR done on the whole installation. That should identify any issues that need addressing.

My second post contradicts the first. On reflection I can’t see a problem with this.

my first post was a reflex reply without thinking as I feel it’s just so stupid to do it, but I come across stupid stuff every day. This does not mean it’s unsafe.


you say someone may have re used an old board, if so when and who did this?

is this your home or a rental?

I think you need to get an EICR done on the whole installation. That should identify any issues that need addressing.

 

[Deleted account]

I never missed I was the one that pointed it out.

Oo! Sorry Pete.

 

[Paul N]

Hi Pete,

I'm very grateful for your advice - I am an absolute no nothing !! I've just bought it and I've been told that the previous tenant did a lot of electrical work on the property but no-one seems to think he was an electrician !!!! I've never seen a main switch sitting outside a CU and so immediately thought it might be considered unsafe with people poking their hands into the cupboard etc. I'll get an EICR done.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. Paul

 

[Deleted account]

Hi Pete,

I'm very grateful for your advice - I am an absolute no nothing !! I've just bought it and I've been told that the previous tenant did a lot of electrical work on the property but no-one seems to think he was an electrician !!!! I've never seen a main switch sitting outside a CU and so immediately thought it might be considered unsafe with people poking their hands into the cupboard etc. I'll get an EICR done.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. Paul

To be fair Paul I’ve never seen that also, which is why I immediately though it must be against regs. Still don’t like it, but can’t think of any reason safety wise it needs to be in the one board.

 

[westward10]

The consumer unit has been "adapted". The left rcd switch would have been an en60947-3 switch which isolated the whole board. This has been replaced by an rcd so who knows whether this rcd still isolates the lot.

 

[Pete999]

Do ARC electrical still exist?

im struggling to think of a regulation that has been broken here TBH. I suppose it does have a means of isolation, but......

..... don’t like it.

IP rating for one I would hazard a complete guess

 

[freddo]

Assuming the internals of the CU are correctly configured it should be ok. It would be interesting to see how they are powering both RCDs. No different from an MEM Exel fuse board for example with an external isolator. It should be marked 'main switch' though.

 

[Rumyah]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you in advance for your assistance, I"m assuming that having an unenclosed main switch is against the rules ?
Should it be sited within the same Consumer Unit or a separate enclosure ? The Consumer Unit, meter and main switch are housed within a wooden formica cupboard (2nd photograph).
Many thanks for your advice re any necessary changes that need to be commissioned.
Regards, Paul

That is the DNO isolator switch look at label fitted by Morrison data meter installer

 

[Dustydazzler]

Looks good as gold to me , probably one of the better consumer units I have seen this year

 

[kropaske]

I quite like artistic work on labelling all PD's

 

[ipf]

That is the DNO isolator switch look at label fitted by Morrison data meter installer

Sure is. Looks like someone's arranged it because of lack of isolation at the CU.

It wants sorting out.

 

[cloverman]

Could always put a lock on the cupboard door if concerned about it !
I'm failing to see any real issue with it

 

[Pete999]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you in advance for your assistance, I"m assuming that having an unenclosed main switch is against the rules ?
Should it be sited within the same Consumer Unit or a separate enclosure ? The Consumer Unit, meter and main switch are housed within a wooden formica cupboard (2nd photograph).
Many thanks for your advice re any necessary changes that need to be commissioned.
Regards, Paul

Whoever did the initial install of the M/S needs shafting with a prickly stick, preferably without an anesthetic.

 

[ipf]

Could always put a lock on the cupboard door if concerned about it !
I'm failing to see any real issue with it

So you're saying... if a DNO isolator has been fitted, the CU main switch can be removed by doctoring?

 

[freddo]

At least the circuit cables are neatly dressed and clipped. Oh wait.

 

[Pete999]

Could always put a lock on the cupboard door if concerned about it !
I'm failing to see any real issue with it

What about inquisitive children getting their grubby fingers and the like in the open terminals? not a good idea is it think about it. a bad move in my book , but mind you I am old School and value the safety regulations. fallen foul of the a few time myself, not good seeing a nipper that has stuffed his/her carbon pencil into anun covered terminal with 230 Volts hanging on the ed of the pencil, could you live with it
' I couldn't your choice Mate

 

[freddo]

So you're saying... if a DNO isolator has been fitted, the CU main switch can be removed by doctoring

Multiple bonuses there, you get 2 extra ways and a main switch you can sell on ebay!

What about inquisitive children getting their grubby fingers and the like in the open terminals?

What open terminals?

 

[ipf]

At least the circuit cables are neatly dressed and clipped. Oh wait.

Bet it's one hell of a mess inside that unit, too.

 

[Timbo]

At a guess the switch at the side of the D/B?

That's an MEM 100a isolator. Probably installed by the electricity supplier.

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