what is your preferred brand of consumer unit?

[Smudge]

Everyone is obviously each to their own, but in your own opinion, what is the best brand of consumer unit and why? I think i've went full circle a fair few times and still cant pick out a preferred one.

(i'm talking about a domestic install, i/e board change, rewire etc, say roughly 10 circuits).

 

[Robinson]

Everyone is obviously each to their own, but in your own opinion, what is the best brand of consumer unit and why? I think i've went full circle a fair few times and still cant pick out a preferred one.

(i'm talking about a domestic install, i/e board change, rewire etc, say roughly 10 circuits).

Crabtree i always like but not always practical to price in. As i have a account with Cities. I know after their upgrade quite like there own Proteus brand. They used to be awful but seemed to have vastly improved their Mcb's and RCD's and the solid core dressed neutrals give plenty of room to work

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Yep crabtree. Easier and faster to fit than others. Not much in price these days unless you go really cheap and nasty.

 

[Guest55]

whatever flimsy foreign tat the wholesalers is doing offers on lol.
no room for brand loyalties in todays cut throat market.

 

[Ponty Massive]

Crabtree and wylex are almost identical

 

[Smudge]

i have been using wylex most often, mainly down to price, but i always think that the rcd tails are 'flown' to the terminals and ruin the look of a neatly wired board. I like the look of Volex boards but i'm not convinced after getting a warning letter of potentially faulty breakers bought a couple of years ago.

i would prefer to standardize in a certain type, (i have near OCD tendancies), but it's not always possible.

 

[brman]

i have been using wylex most often, mainly down to price, but i always think that the rcd tails are 'flown' to the terminals and ruin the look of a neatly wired board. I like the look of Volex boards but i'm not convinced after getting a warning letter of potentially faulty breakers bought a couple of years ago.

i would prefer to standardize in a certain type, (i have near OCD tendancies), but it's not always possible.

but didn't wylex also have a MCB recall or something similar a few years ago? Do enough digging and you will find problems with all brands I suspect.....

 

[DPhilpott]

Starbreaker wherever possible, it is a joy to install, you can struggle with the crap ones and hen u get the odd faulty breaker

 

[telectrix]

i like the starbreakers but for 1 thing. because of how the RCds and busbar are arranged, they're not flexible.

 

[arturas]

Hager all the way..

 

[Guest55]

Hager all the way..

No offence but your joking right ?
Total french gash lol.
But their 400v glass fronted dis boards are quite good i must admit.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Volex, wylex, crabtree and a couple of others are all made in the same factory - by Electrium I think.

Crabtree are easier to install and quicker and thats obvious to see why.

But inflexible if you want to swap around. Like Tel said.

Not keen on Volex. Just changed 3 MCB's and the RCD in a board (post recall period)- MCB's worked intermittently and the RCD was kaputt. As Paul Calf would say "Bag of s......"

 

[Fin170]

If my local wholesaler stocked them..... Contactum CP range (dun dun duuuuuun)

Lots of sizes available, easy to work with due to space given, don't just look like a grey box on the wall*, Sub £20 RCBOs, made in Britain, flush units available

*I'm sure a wavy doored white box with colour coded MCBs isn't everyone's favourite but I have a bit of a philosophy the average customer cares more about the look of the accessories than what the wirings like behind them.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Yes used contactum in past. Forgot about them, still got a load of spare breakers

 

[sedgy34]

Crabtree starbreaker for me enclosed busbar and mcb clips in a joy to fit
and the bloke who invented it deserves a choc ice lol

 

[danzor]

If only schneider did domestic...

Wylex


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[Guest55]

yep , good brand contactum.
Fitted a metal clad contactum cu in my last house , looked as if it would last forever.

 

[imago]

Hager, the box is OK but the main reason is that the RCDs MCBs and RCBOs have been reliable. That said, the CEF rep was banging on about the Proteus being better now etc etc, so I might give one a try next week and see.

As someone mentioned previously, I'm more interested in what's in it for me than I am brand loyalty. My main criteria being, once fitted it keeps working so I don't have to drive around swapping bits under warranty.

 

[danzor]

Proteus is CEF's own brand, don't waste your time


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[J&M Electrical]

Wylex for me.

 

[WPD Lad]

If only schneider did domestic...

Wylex


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Aren't Square D made by Schneider?

 

[micknew]

Hager all the way..

Totally agree, unlike Wylex who change mcb's every time they bring out a new range Hagar mcb's have not changed physically.
The consumer units also provide more room than most within the units.

 

[Robinson]

Hager, the box is OK but the main reason is that the RCDs MCBs and RCBOs have been reliable. That said, the CEF rep was banging on about the Proteus being better now etc etc, so I might give one a try next week and see.

As someone mentioned previously, I'm more interested in what's in it for me than I am brand loyalty. My main criteria being, once fitted it keeps working so I don't have to drive around swapping bits under warranty.

Year ago i would of agreed with danzor, but seriously the CEF proteus have made a huge improvement. they very competitive prices. Just make sure if you get a special on complete boaRD its not old stock with old breakers. they have been shifting completes with old ones. those are tosh. BUT ask and make sure they new type breakers n RCD. they tidy. worth one go i would say.

 

[wildgoose]

If you are on a tight budget then CED units are worth a go. Easy to fit, never had any problems and they look good.
Fitted a 'Control Gear' CCU this week and I've gone right off them - faulty rcd and a breaker. Obvious faults, poor quality control, absolutely no excuses! Set me back chasing the replacement parts and customer was inconvenienced with her supply off longer than necessary!

 

[arturas]

No offence but your joking right ?
Total french gash lol.
But their 400v glass fronted dis boards are quite good i must admit.

Well no I'm not,that's my choice all the time, havn't tried Crabtree yet.Hager was allways a very good quality,plenty space for cables to make them neat,never came across with faulty gear,and the cover ,after 18way board is finished,allways goes on like on the new board,unlike I had Proteus 17way,the quality of the actual board was the poorest I've ever seen.But maybe it's just me.

 

[Jimmyb]

Hager everytime !

 

[mikehopkins]

All made under same umbrella me thinks

 

[Midwest]

If only schneider did domestic

Domae | Consumer unit | Schneider Electric UK

 

[sparc]

I'm surprised no one included MK here.

I go with either MK or Hager. MK for smaller installations - there are some great deals about. Hager are generally my favourite, but I'd love to strangle the designer that located the RHS front panel securing screw hole so that it interferes the meter tails.

Oh, and Hager label set are a joke - prep my own every time.

 

[Rappid]

My preferred choice is Wylex, I always carry spare Wylex MCB's and RCBO's.

 

[sjhall]

Bg .....£50 fully loaded from B&Q .... Not has any probs other than their a bit on the big side.

 

[stu_guy]

contactum all the way quiality at a good price

 

[SparkyDips]

Protek and Doepke are the nuts!!

 

[Eco Chap]

Hager for me, never had any issues with breakers/rcd , look and feel like good quality + we get good prices at our local cef

 

[telectrix]

professional electrician has got a review of the BG CU. it's a good review.

 

[Amp David]

What ever suits the budget of the job.

I will however never ever use CED, cheap fully loaded MK and CPN.

 

[Dcf]

Hager for me, never had any issues with breakers/rcd , look and feel like good quality + we get good prices at our local cef

I rate hager as well never had a faulty mcb or rcbo for that matter yet.their tp boards are well thought out too.
i used to like merlin gerin and memshield 2 single phase boards as well but they were pricy.
i fitted a memshield 3 single phase 10 way and a matching enclosure for contactors last year
a rcbo for this baby was 57quid plus vat! Talk about pricing yourself out the market eaton.good quality tho.crabtree aren't bad but I don't really fit it much.big up to the proteus tho NOT!

 

[baldelectrician]

I used to use MK until I got poor quality MCB's 3-4 years ago.

Went to look about and tried Hager. Never looked back.

They are slightly dearer than others but they are designed well

As far as Proteus goes they are from CEF (Check Everything First), almost all the faulty RCD's I come across are Proteus or old MK 1980's range.

 

[jpm646]

I think hager have gone down hill flimsy boards n just low quality, except the breakers and RCD's I prefer Wylex they well built n good quality

 

[baldelectrician]

I like Hager for quality, as far as Wylex goes I keep a copy or 2 of the product recall in the van and use it to show customers why I don't buy electrium

I have seen the new Wylex boards but I just can't trust them when they sell their souls to B&Q / Screwfix / Toolstation

As Hager is only available readily through the wholesale network jo public finds it less easily

 

[Webbie]

I always fit MK, buy a job lot at a time and get them at a decent rate!

 

[mr murdock]

found the case to be brittle and that put me off

 

[mr murdock]

professional electrician has got a review of the BG CU. it's a good review.

I wonder what board they were given to review as recently there has been lots of reported faults on here in relation to BG boards- to be honest i have found them to be a solid board in the past so this is a worry.


Personally I like Contactum and for a budget range Europa baords as these are flexible and i've never had any issues whith them. We were stuck for a 63A breaker last friday evening and needed the job fininshed promto due to the bank holiday, our wholesaler called europa and they managed to post it completely free to site so we could get it finished saturday morning - now that is service!

 

[Rockingit]

Hager are generally my favourite, but I'd love to strangle the designer that located the RHS front panel securing screw hole so that it interferes the meter tails..

Sorry chap, I do believe that I'm at the front of that queue.......

(only on their straight boards though, the twin layer one is a dream!)

 

[SparkyBrad]

MK sentry dual RCD boards from toolstation, £75 with 10 mcbs. No messing around.

only downside in when you have to swap main switch to other side, stickers won't fit!

Wylex are good too, but they just look a bit old fashioned.

 

[huntos33]

Wylex for me, mk sentry boards are in my local wholesaler ( can we name names ? or is that a slap on the wrist) with 10 mcbs 55 + vat cheap as chips

 

[highspark]

Chint. Really good boards. Had no problems except the fact you can't get them Anywhere in Liverpool at the moment, as they have been used by all us sparks and can't keep up with the demand!

 

[ANDY FIRST]

Wyleeex!!!

 

[fulla]

used bg for my last 5 jobs, wont be using them anymore, mcb screws seem to strip threads before their really tight, and screws in the neutral and earth bars are sometimes very tight and screw heads round off

 

[cogsey133]

anything the budget dictates.....but will never use proteus again since i got into a scrap with the rep at cef. The rep said i fitted the board incorrectly and there was no problem with their gear!