UK Housebashing wiring helped

[Shpark]

Hi all, not a housebasher here, so don’t hate. Wiring my house and need advice. Want to mount the CCU just below the ceiling and bring the cables from the floor above. How do a nicely bring the cable off of the beam so they’re on the wall and then will go into the back of the fuse board? Pics attached

 

[Shpark]

 

[buzzlightyear]

Why don't you get a spark in and see what they say.

 

[Shpark]

Why don't you get a spark in and see what they say

I’m an industrial spark, just need a bit of advice

 

[buzzlightyear]

I’m an industrial spark, just need a bit of advice

And what about the part p.

 

[Shpark]

And what about the part p.

I can install it to 18th and test it as such. I’m sure I can work out the other bit too

 

[westward10]

I assume the cables aren't dropping behind the beam so they drop down the brickwork.

 

[Shpark]

I assume the cables aren't dropping behind the beam so they drop down the brickwork.

Correct. Is it simply a case of clipping them direct so it’s ready for the plasterer?

 

[westward10]

Cap or clip them, yes.

 

[DPG]

I'd consider locating the CU lower down so it is more accessible.

 

[Shpark]

I'd consider locating the CU lower down so it is more accessible.

Yeah I was thinking that too.

 

[DPG]

Yeah I was thinking that too.

Yeah, definitely not a good place up near the ceiling.

 

[littlespark]

I’m going to be the daft one for saying it’s a bit high for a Cooker Control Unit

Consumer Unit. CU… not CCU


Although we can help with some aspects, even a bog standard house rewire can kick up a few problems if you’re not used to the work.

Ask anything, and try not to be put off by some comments.

I do agree with mounting the CU at a more suitable height.

 

[123]

Why can't the cables drop behind the joist?

 

[Shpark]

Why can't the cables drop behind the joist?

I guess you’re not asking it from a practical point of view, more acceptable, but there’s no go at the back in this instance. The joist is butted up to the wall

 

[nicebutdim]

I guess you’re not asking it from a practical point of view, more acceptable, but there’s no go at the back in this instance. The joist is butted up to the wall

I'd wondered the same as your image gave the impression there was space behind it.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Not sure I would butt the consumer unit right up tight to the ceiling as would mean getting the steps out to reset the rcd / rcbo (unless you have a low ceiling or are very tall)
Maybe bring the cables down tight in the corner and have the consumer unit in a little box cupboard at low level >?

 

[James]

Looks like you may have to put a box around the beam to cover it and give a bit of space for cables

 

[Dustydazzler]

I'd wondered the same as your image gave the impression there was space behind it.

A couple 25mm holes as a diagonal from the mid point to pop out through the base of the joist might work but not strictly in the spirit of the regs

 

[nicebutdim]

A couple 25mm holes as a diagonal from the mid point to pop out through the base of the joist might work but not strictly in the spirit of the regs

Would prefer to take a bit out of the wall behind it, but much would depend on the situation above. I don't like the idea of outgoing circuits plastered into the wall and would aim to provide some means of routing future additions by boxing a bit of the corner. I guess this is one of those situations where 50 people will give 50 different answers.

 

[Bob Geldoff1234]

I would be more worried on how your going to get the tails up to that height?

 

[littlespark]

Is putting the CU on the other wall around the corner not an option?

Good shout about tails.
Is this where the supply cable and meter is?

 

[IAmSparkytus!]

Hi all, not a housebasher here, so don’t hate. Wiring my house and need advice. Want to mount the CCU just below the ceiling and bring the cables from the floor above. How do a nicely bring the cable off of the beam so they’re on the wall and then will go into the back of the fuse board? Pics attached

Fix the CU to the ceiling that way you can drop straight into the board without having to worry about the joist or go down the wall?

 

[nicebutdim]

Fix the CU to the ceiling that way you can drop straight into the board without having to worry about the joist or go down the wall?

And no need to go to the trouble of opening the cover for access.

I have seen plenty of DBs placed on ceiling of cabins, but those were always insulated enclosures with catches on their covers. Can't think of many of the current crop of domestic DBs that have a suitable catch on their covers.

 

[IAmSparkytus!]

And no need to go to the trouble of opening the cover for access.

I have seen plenty of DBs placed on ceiling of cabins, but those were always insulated enclosures with catches on their covers. Can't think of many of the current crop of domestic DBs that have a suitable catch on their covers.

I would actually even contemplate drilling a hole or two in the cover to use as somewhere to hang coats on hangers maybes?

Plastic non-conductive hangers that is of course.

 

[littlespark]

And these, above, are the comments I mentioned in #13

You’ve had a couple days to think about it, so what is plan of action now?

 

[buzzlightyear]

And these, above, are the comments I mentioned in #13

You’ve had a couple days to think about it, so what is plan of action now?

It's a bit harsh asking that, come on we like to know. Nicely.

 

[Shpark]

I haven’t contemplated this a great deal since asking as been been busy with work, but up to now I have thought to do as per the pic. Bring cables off joist onto brick. Into safe zone at top of ceiling height and onto adjacent wall, down and into CU. The reason I’m mounting on this wall is due to space and aesthetic, but more so that the meter tails pass through direct behind wall to meter in box outside. Also the box will be lower down now.

 

[nicebutdim]

I'd still be inclined to use some form of containment for future access and also help avoid the possibility of someone blindly drilling into the area.

 

[davesparks]

I’m going to be the daft one for saying it’s a bit high for a Cooker Control Unit

Consumer Unit. CU… not CCU

And consumer unit is a shortened form of consumers control unit, CCU, which is how it generally appears in City and guilds coursework and exams along with a lot of modern text books.

 

[Aaron b]

Although you don't have to install to the heights stipulated in part m your work shouldn't make it any worse. It appears like it would be much easier to put it lower and run 50 x 100 trunking, depending on the room either chase the wall so you're behind the joist or use an internal 90 to run a small bit on the ceiling.

Dusty might sell you some black and red if you're not part p...

 

[Mike Johnson]

From a CDM Regulation point of view, the CU should be at such a height that it does not need someone to leave the floor level to work on it.

 

[Markyd]

I can install it to 18th and test it as such. I’m sure I can work out the other bit too

How are you going to notify building control

 

[littlespark]

And consumer unit is a shortened form of consumers control unit, CCU, which is how it generally appears in City and guilds coursework and exams along with a lot of modern text books.

Ah, there you go….. “modern”
That explains it

 

[cliffed]

Ah, there you go….. “modern”
That explains it

I’m still using DB…

 

[littlespark]

I’m still using DB…

Maybe the guys I was an apprentice to had it all wrong.

They told me a CU … consumer unit… was domestic. Where there is a consumer, that lives in the house.

A DB distribution board was used industrial or non-domestic situation where there was a main board which then distributed out to other sub mains within a large installation. Could be 3P or 1P.


If my customer is past pension age, I still ask “where’s the fusebox?” Because that’s what they’ve always known it as.

 

[pc1966]

I think most folks still think "fuse box" even though fuses have not been the norm for many years now.

I believe a CU is defined as a DB that meets specific type approval for domestic use, so DB is a more generic term.

 

[Midwest]

What is the room where your going to locate CU/CCU/DB/FuseBox? Could you run circuits/tails in plastic trunking?

You do need to think about Notification, which Country do you live in?

 

[pc1966]

Although you don't have to install to the heights stipulated in part m your work shouldn't make it any worse. It appears like it would be much easier to put it lower and run 50 x 100 trunking, depending on the room either chase the wall so you're behind the joist or use an internal 90 to run a small bit on the ceiling.

If you can put cables (and tails as needed) in some trunking it would make any future changes / additions / repairs far easier, also less chance of any accidents if trunking is somehow visible but "aesthetically acceptable".

 

[Risteard]

Maybe the guys I was an apprentice to had it all wrong.

They told me a CU … consumer unit… was domestic. Where there is a consumer, that lives in the house.

A DB distribution board was used industrial or non-domestic situation where there was a main board which then distributed out to other sub mains within a large installation. Could be 3P or 1P.


If my customer is past pension age, I still ask “where’s the fusebox?” Because that’s what they’ve always known it as.

Distribution board (DB) is a generic term for all of these. A consumer unit is a particular type of DB intended for use by ordinary persons (DBO), which is type tested and single phase with a double pole main switch. As such it is not incorrect to refer to a CU as a DB, although not all DBs are CUs.

EDIT: Much as @pc1966 has stated.

 

[Mike Johnson]

In rural Europe thee phase in Domestic properties is not unusual and they call the container box by every conceivable variation, even in the regulations they confuse the issue, but for all intents and purposes does it matter, we all know what we mean.

 

[Midwest]

Distribution board (DB) is a generic term for all of these. A consumer unit is a particular type of DB intended for use by ordinary persons (DBO), which is type tested and single phase with a double pole main switch. As such it is not incorrect to refer to a CU as a DB, although not all DBs are CUs.

EDIT: Much as @pc1966 has stated.

I think this intriguing study explains it all.

 

[davesparks]

They told me a CU … consumer unit… was domestic. Where there is a consumer, that lives in the house.

The consumer can be a person or a company and applies to all types of installation.
Consumer in this case would be the consumer of electricity, which could be a domestic consumer, commercial consumer etc etc

 

[nicebutdim]

I think most folks still think "fuse box" even though fuses have not been the norm for many years now.

I believe a CU is defined as a DB that meets specific type approval for domestic use, so DB is a more generic term.

I posted similar thoughts in another thread, some time back.

Regardless of everything, 'consumer unit' has no meaning to anyone outside the trade and is a daft term.

While incorrect, 'fusebox' has meaning for domestic customers and its use in conversation is understood by all involved. DB covers all types of distribution board and is understood by everyone in the trade.

I gather that CCU/CU was introduced as a term for domestic DBs, to replace incorrect use of 'fusebox', but it's a nonsense term and I refuse to use it unless absolutely necessary. I won't encourage the madness of others

 

[Shpark]

K

What is the room where your going to locate CU/CCU/DB/FuseBox? Could you run circuits/tails in plastic trunking?

You do need to think about Notification, which Country do you live in?

hmm ideally not. It’s in the hall in plain sight. Not tucked away anywhere nice.

I live in England. I’ll probs get a part p spark round before I run anything and then get them to cert it

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I posted similar thoughts in another thread, some time back.

Regardless of everything, 'consumer unit' has no meaning to anyone outside the trade and is a daft term.

While incorrect, 'fusebox' has meaning for domestic customers and its use in conversation is understood by all involved. DB covers all types of distribution board and is understood by everyone in the trade.

I gather that CCU/CU was introduced as a term for domestic DBs, to replace incorrect use of 'fusebox', but it's a nonsense term and I refuse to use it unless absolutely necessary. I won't encourage the madness of others

I have to agree with this. 'consumer unit' is as vague as it gets, and 9 out of 10 customers don't have a clue what it is.

 

[littlespark]

Good marketing ploy by fusebox to name their product by the word that people use for that product anyway.

Similarly, I’m inventing a new tv remote control, and naming it “the doofer”

 

[JBW175]

Although I use the terms Fusebox and consumer unit. The majority of the time I call it a board.

IE.. Where’s your board located? What RCBO’s will fit this board, look at the state of that board, who the F… still installs split load boards these days? Etc…

 

[Mike Johnson]

Legrand and many others offer these purpose made duct's to take a DB, CU or whatever you want to call, they are floor to ceiling units and tidy up what could be a messy area: https://www.leroymerlin.fr/produits...l-legrand-h-260-x-l-25-x-p-6-cm-70564011.html

They also offer a splayed head unit to accomadate multi choise entry.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Found the splayed head units: https://www.leroymerlin.fr/produits...u-electrique/gaine-technique-de-logement-gtl/