Vertical Consumer Units

[baldsparkies]

In most circumstances consumer units are mounted horizontaly ie the right way.
I have seen instances where a board has been mounted verticaly and doesnt look particularly right.
Well to be honest, it wouldnt.
I have been to a recent LV switchgear manufacturer on a seminar, and this issue came up.
The general view was there is no technical problem as to why this cant be done.
One guy mentioned possible heat dispersion problems, but this was dismissed as most breakers can be mounted either way without issue.
This would be the case in a three phase board anyway.
I recently viewed a perfectly good install with a consumer unit mounted the wrong way (vertical)
In his departures he wrote Board fitted vertically due to lack of space.
He was right. You would have needed to re locate everything to a new location or do what he had done.
I must be honest, it looks very odd.
But hand on heart apart from the looks is there anything wrong with it ???
Interesting to know your views lads.

 

[Andy78]

Depends which way up its vertically mounted. If the main switch is at the top, all the electricity can run out the end of the busbar.

 

[7029 dave]

went to one today,would agree it don't look nice but its functional.

 

[telectrix]

but if you fit it with the main switch at the bottom, will the electrickery be able to climb up to the top breaker?

 

[telectrix]

In his departures he wrote Board fitted vertically due to lack of space.



should not have been noted as a departure. there's nothing in BS7671 says which way up it should be. i'd draw the line at upside down though.

 

[ferg]

but if you fit it with the main switch at the bottom, will the electrickery be able to climb up to the top breaker?

As long as you don't put high drain stuff (like showers) at the bottom there should be enough power left to get it to the top breaker.

 

[i=p/u]

No difference if you ask me... But it says top this way so that's what I di

 

[Geordie Spark]

In his departures he wrote Board fitted vertically due to lack of space.



should not have been noted as a departure. there's nothing in BS7671 says which way up it should be. i'd draw the line at upside down though.

Nowt wrong with that to an Australian.

 

[Jay Sparks]

As long as the IP rating of the top (side) is still intact, theres nowt against it.....does look a pig though!!! Ive come across a few like this.
Gives you a bad neck when doing an EICR on em though....lol

 

[Geordie Spark]

but if you fit it with the main switch at the bottom, will the electrickery be able to climb up to the top breaker?

Can't you fit some sort of booster like you do with television signals?

 

[Dizzy_Maskell]

Well I witnessed a consumer unit not long ago and obviously the guy could not make up his mind and opted for the 45 degree option. Would have been understandable if under stairs or something but just plain slanted.
The guy must have ran out of spirit level bubbles

 

[Guitarist]

My only issue is with making sure the labelling is all readable. No good if you have to tilt your head to see what's what.

 

[driverman]

When I used to see that done, I always said a sparky fitted it on the side!!!!!!!

 

[paul_h]

Surely it depends on the manufacturers instructions cos the superseed all regs don't they?!? I can't ever remember seeing Wylex etc with there boards fitted side on in the instructions?

Personally can't see the problem tho

 

[Andy78]

Surely it depends on the manufacturers instructions cos the superseed all regs don't they?!? I can't ever remember seeing Wylex etc with there boards fitted side on in the instructions?

Personally can't see the problem tho

Stop talking about my baby gravy.
And the regs say that manufacturers instructions should be taken account of, not that they supersede any regulation.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I'd expect the main switch to be very clearly labelled ON and OFF. In a 3-phase board although the MCBs are horizontal the main switch is vertical so anybody with half a brain knows what to do with the lever if needed to isolate the system in an emergency. A single-phase board on end would have the main switch horizontal where it's not so immediately obvious which way is which.

 

[jon4381]

The fixed installation is correctly selected and erected. Surely mounting a consumer unit sideways that was not designed to be mounted sideways is violating this statement that is clearly stated in the guidance note 3.

 

[baldsparkies]

The fixed installation is correctly selected and erected. Surely mounting a consumer unit sideways that was not designed to be mounted sideways is violating this statement that is clearly stated in the guidance note 3.

Thats the whole point, and exactly how I would see it.
But at the seminar the techs said mcbs, main switch, and rcd's rcbo's are all designed and capable of working vertical or horizontal.
The enclosure is designed primarily for a horizontal mount. But the fact its just an enclosure means there are no issues with it being mounted vertically.
Went as far as saying a 13amp socket or switch fused spur also follow the same functionality. Doesnt look nice but perfectly servicable that way.
Lets face it, in Australia all there electrical equipment is mounted upside down. And with no issues.

 

[Guitarist]

Thats the whole point, and exactly how I would see it.
But at the seminar the techs said mcbs, main switch, and rcd's rcbo's are all designed and capable of working vertical or horizontal.
The enclosure is designed primarily for a horizontal mount. But the fact its just an enclosure means there are no issues with it being mounted vertically.
Went as far as saying a 13amp socket or switch fused spur also follow the same functionality. Doesnt look nice but perfectly servicable that way.
Lets face it, in Australia all there electrical equipment is mounted upside down. And with no issues.

But gravity still pull the electricity particles towards earth (electricity being heavier than air), so that doesn't matter...

 

[JulianC]

On its side is fine providing the main switch is at the top and any lighting circuit breakers are mounted above others. Otherwise volt drop will become an issue as it will be highest at the bottom (due to gravity). So to ensure a healthy max. 3% on the lighting circuits, let's see those 6A MCBs next to the main switch chaps. And if that 40A shower circuit at the bottom of the pile is exceeding 5%, pinch the bus bar just above it with your pliers. A small constriction can be enough to reduce the volt drop (a bit like water being restricted down a narrow pipe). IMPORTANT: always knock the power off and wait 5 minutes for it to drain away completely before pinching the bus bar with your pliers. Alternatively, paint the handles of your pliers red and yellow as this combination is proven to repel electricity.

I have seen side mounted boards with the main switch at the bottom, but the voltage just pools around the switch as it can't overcome gravity (volt drop again). Important that your board maintains its IP rating otherwise the voltage can leak out and collect on the ground underneath (otherwise known as 'earth leakage' from the days when houses had earth floors).

Horizontally mounted boards overcome volt drop by having a very slight downward slope to the bus bar (just enough to let the electric flow but not enough for it to pool up down the one end). Some manufacturers do it in other ways - most notably those poxy MK boards where all breakers end up leaning slightly to the left when tightened up.

Anything else you need to know, just ask.

 

[AndyL]

Had to do this recently, so contacted Wylex, here is their reply

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Yes this unit can be mounted vertically you would have to downrate the 100 amp main switch to 90 amps​

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and the 2 x 80 amp 30mA RCD's downrated to 70 amps this is because of the heat rise due to board being mounted vertically.​

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Attached is a test report for a NHRS10SSLHI 10 way high integrity consumer unit showing this information.​

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Kind Regards​

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Wylex Technical.​

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[Andy78]

Julian, you have it the wrong way round.

We all know that gravity effects electric current flow, that's a given, but you are forgetting about the EMF ! The voltage is sufficient to overcome most effects of gravity within a consumer unit and so the main switch should always be positioned at the bottom in a vertically mounted board.

If it is top positioned, the combined effects of the EMF and gravity can see the electricity whooshing out the end before it gets chance to divert down any circuits. The exception to this is of course where the RCD is positioned at the end of the busbar, bouncing the electricity back.

With the main switch at the bottom, the voltage overcomes the gravity at such a rate so it just bubbles up the busbar like a fountain, providing power to the circuits and any excess falls back down and back into the grid.

Granted it's not usually an issue in a horizontally mounted board, but I do think you need to read up on this a bit.

 

[James Anderson]

On its side is fine providing the main switch is at the top and any lighting circuit breakers are mounted above others. Otherwise volt drop will become an issue as it will be highest at the bottom (due to gravity). So to ensure a healthy max. 3% on the lighting circuits, let's see those 6A MCBs next to the main switch chaps. And if that 40A shower circuit at the bottom of the pile is exceeding 5%, pinch the bus bar just above it with your pliers. A small constriction can be enough to reduce the volt drop (a bit like water being restricted down a narrow pipe). IMPORTANT: always knock the power off and wait 5 minutes for it to drain away completely before pinching the bus bar with your pliers. Alternatively, paint the handles of your pliers red and yellow as this combination is proven to repel electricity.

I have seen side mounted boards with the main switch at the bottom, but the voltage just pools around the switch as it can't overcome gravity (volt drop again). Important that your board maintains its IP rating otherwise the voltage can leak out and collect on the ground underneath (otherwise known as 'earth leakage' from the days when houses had earth floors).

Anything else you need to know, just ask.

also make sure you paint the mop handle red and yellow before you wipe up the 'earth leakage'.

 

[Guitarist]

I did actually tell a customer once that after testing his boiler, there was a significant amount of earth leakage. He told me that he'd get his plumber to look at it. It was only after a few minutes that I realised he thought I meant it had a leak....

 

[ipf]

The fixed installation is correctly selected and erected. Surely mounting a consumer unit sideways that was not designed to be mounted sideways is violating this statement that is clearly stated in the guidance note 3.

I'm really cr*****g myself now......honest.

Or is it p*****g myself.

 

[baldsparkies]

So thats why the Titanic sunk !!!
And there I was thinking it was an ice burg.
Vertically challenged electricity as a lot to answer for.

 

[Engineer54]

Had to do this recently, so contacted Wylex, here is their reply

Yes this unit can be mounted vertically you would have to downrate the 100 amp main switch to 90 amps​

and the 2 x 80 amp 30mA RCD's downrated to 70 amps this is because of the heat rise due to board being mounted vertically.​

Attached is a test report for a NHRS10SSLHI 10 way high integrity consumer unit showing this information.​

Kind Regards​

Wylex Technical.​

Hmmm, ...does that mean you have to derate Wylex vertical boards that use the same components??