Todays board change - 'real world' with older cables.

[Dave OCD]

This was commenced at 2.30pm today after having to locate and rectify an open neutral on a ring, missing earth continuity on a lighting circuit and 2 sockets spurred off the cooker. ? It's as good as I could make it with the older T&Es , and annoying that everything barring 2 lives of a ring were long enough to reconnect comfortably. These are nice CUs though, my standard choice now. ? [I know there's a slight slant on the devices, had 3 goes at sor

ting that but they just kept ending up like this... ]

 

[Julie.]

I quite like fusebox , it's extremely good for the money.

 

[westward10]

No criticism of you Dave but aside from Starbreaker does everything, no matter how hard you try in consumer units have to sit pi55ed.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

The colour code at the leftmost RCBO is a curious thing. I accept that the browns are just links to the Wagos 3 inches above and that there is no ambiguity, but I would have been tempted to over-sleeve the black with blue, or even tape the browns red in the absence of an offcut of red 2.5, just so the L & N are from the same flavour of code.

Seeing a pair of black and brown makes me think of bilge pumps, as brown is the NMEA boat wiring code colour for DC pump positives.

 

[Dustydazzler]

As above a bit of old 2,5 red to extend the cables would have been ideal.

apart from that a mustard job any sparks would be proud of ?

 

[Dustydazzler]

16mm tails ? I like using 16mm tails where possible

 

[telectrix]

Neat.

 

[timhoward]

Lovely job. Next fusebox I do I’m determined to get them straight. They are always slightly loose on the din rail, torquing up the bus bar from left to right seemed to makes it worse (unless by fourth attempt I’d completely lost the plot!)
Might try a clamp….

 

[AJshep]

Neat!! I like Fusebox but 1.2Nm on the terminals just doesn't seem tight enough IMO, its alright for 1mm cable but not tight enough for a 10mm shower circuit.

 

[MJPD29]

This was commenced at 2.30pm today after having to locate and rectify an open neutral on a ring, missing earth continuity on a lighting circuit and 2 sockets spurred off the cooker. ? It's as good as I could make it with the older T&Es , and annoying that everything barring 2 lives of a ring were long enough to reconnect comfortably. These are nice CUs though, my standard choice now. ? [I know there's a slight slant on the devices, had 3 goes at sorView attachment 87105ting that but they just kept ending up like this... ]

Looks a great job. It's a real pity the fusebox rcbos have the lean like mcg and mk, really puts me off buying it

 

[Dave OCD]

The colour code at the leftmost RCBO is a curious thing. I accept that the browns are just links to the Wagos 3 inches above and that there is no ambiguity, but I would have been tempted to over-sleeve the black with blue, or even tape the browns red in the absence of an offcut of red 2.5, just so the L & N are from the same flavour of code.

Seeing a pair of black and brown makes me think of bilge pumps, as brown is the NMEA boat wiring code colour for DC pump positives.

I did try and find a little bit of red 2.5 Lucian but no luck, so I thought I'd make the 2 colour versions label on the outer cover do its job instead. ?

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I started using fusebox then local supplier had stock issues.
Last 3 boards have been BG. New ones are okay. I like the newer small form RCBOs.
Only thing with BG is the knockouts are a pain. The metal seems quite thick so needs a good whack without damaging board or a sharp hole saw.
I do find it much easier to dress a rcbo board than a split load.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I can’t see why anyone still fits a dual rcd split board these days

the cost upgrade to fully rcbo is so small now it’s a no brainier

I haven’t fitted a dual split rcd board in like 5 or 6 years

 

[Dave OCD]

The only annoying thing for me with RCBO boards is trying to get the neutral tails tidy,always tempting to use cable ties but that could compromise heat dissipation....

 

[Dustydazzler]

The only annoying thing for me with RCBO boards is trying to get the neutral tails tidy,always tempting to use cable ties but that could compromise heat dissipation....

See a couple double pole rcbo boards on the domestic market with no N fly lead

the one with the L & N busbar s

 

[Dave OCD]

That would be a lovely solution but I bet they're not cheap !

 

[Jim_e_Jib]

That would be a lovely solution but I bet they're not cheap !

SBS sell them. It looks like the website is being updated but the price list is there:

SBS - Trade Sales Ltd. | The Home of Bespoke Distribution Boards

Providing high quality distribution boards and associated equipment configured to your requirements by our electricians.

sbstradesales.co.uk

 

[Lister1987]

SBS sell them. It looks like the website is being updated but the price list is there:

SBS - Trade Sales Ltd. | The Home of Bespoke Distribution Boards

Providing high quality distribution boards and associated equipment configured to your requirements by our electricians.

sbstradesales.co.uk

@dseselectric did a review/job with one in one of his latest videos, I like the idea but the downside is if SBS to go the wall, maintainability and compatibility will go out the window with them, no chance getting a 3rd party bit of switchgear to work with it.

ETA video link;

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I can’t see why anyone still fits a dual rcd split board these days

the cost upgrade to fully rcbo is so small now it’s a no brainier

I haven’t fitted a dual split rcd board in like 5 or 6 years

Which boards are you fitting, DD? For Hager, there's a significant difference in price. £90 for a 10 way fully loaded dual RCD board, vs £280 for 10 way RCBO. Add an SPD on the latter and you're looking at ~£370.

 

[pc1966]

The only annoying thing for me with RCBO boards is trying to get the neutral tails tidy,always tempting to use cable ties but that could compromise heat dissipation....

In many boards the diversity is large - i.e. the supply and realistic demand is limited 60-100A but the sum of MCB/RCBO is often near double that, and often the neutral tails are a generous size as well, so I really doubt there would be much heating to worry about if bundled. It might be worth doing a typical grouping calculation on the breaker limit and neutral CSA to prove it but too late in the evening for that!

Having ferrules and a crimper to hand at least allows them to be cut to sensible lengths for a better dressing approach.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Which boards are you fitting, DD? For Hager, there's a significant difference in price. £90 for a 10 way fully loaded dual RCD board, vs £280 for 10 way RCBO. Add an SPD on the latter and you're looking at ~£370.

Metal 17th Edition Amendment 3 + 6 RCBOs Consumer Unit 12 Way | Toolstation

Metal consumer unit to BS 7671 IET Amendment 3. BS 61439-3. • 1 x 100A DP switch • 6 Type B SP 30mA RCBOs: 2x 32A, 2x 6A, 1x 16A, 1x 40A • Metal blanks included • Dimensions (H x W x D): 8 Way 237 x 235 x 110mm 12 Way 237 x 307 x 110mm

www.toolstation.com

you can pick up rcbo boards for around the 100 quid mark if you arent brand fussy

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Local Rexel supplies 10 way board and 8 rcbos of your choice for £97+vat. Which is quite good

 

[Zerax]

Local Rexel supplies 10 way board and 8 rcbos of your choice for £97+vat. Which is quite good

What make is that Gavin ?

 

[padawan]

to allow back cable entry, is the DB fixed to wood and under a wooden joist ?
would a pastic DB be a better choice

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

What make is that Gavin ?

It is BG. the new style small form RCBOs are £10.63+VAT ea

 

[telectrix]

It is BG. the new style small form RCBOs are £10.63+VAT ea
View attachment 87196

where's this from? best price i've had for compact BG RCBOs was £16 inc vat. screwfi want £24.and the new BG busbar shield is pants.

 

[GBDamo]

where's this from? best price i've had for compact BG RCBOs was £16 inc vat. screwfi want £24.and the new BG busbar shield is pants.

Looking at them discounts it looks like Rexel.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

where's this from? best price i've had for compact BG RCBOs was £16 inc vat. screwfi want £24.and the new BG busbar shield is pants.

Rexel Bath/ Chippenham

Every week we all get sent an email from one of the sales reps with the current pricing and promos, Rexel treat BG as the house brand so to speak.
Every Rexel branch has a sales rep whos job is to work out what people want and get together good pricing. they have targets so dont be afraid to point blank say to them give me x at this price ...
For example I bought the new Kewtech KT66DL MFT for £950 Plus VAT. He looked online found cheapest price and took £35 off. was told be here in July had it few weeks back and love it.
99% of the time if i email the area sales rep for the local Rexel branch then he will beat any like for like quote. most of the time I dont even need to go elsewhere as the pricing I get in Rexel is so good. I spend several thousand a month with them as they are by far and above the cheapest in the country for Zappi ev chargers. even cheaper than going to myenergi direct.

 

[GBDamo]

Rexel Bath/ Chippenham

Every week we all get sent an email from one of the sales reps with the current pricing and promos, Rexel treat BG as the house brand so to speak.
Every Rexel branch has a sales rep whos job is to work out what people want and get together good pricing. they have targets so dont be afraid to point blank say to them give me x at this price ...
For example I bought the new Kewtech KT66DL MFT for £950 Plus VAT. He looked online found cheapest price and took £35 off. was told be here in July had it few weeks back and love it.
99% of the time if i email the area sales rep for the local Rexel branch then he will beat any like for like quote. most of the time I dont even need to go elsewhere as the pricing I get in Rexel is so good. I spend several thousand a month with them as they are by far and above the cheapest in the country for Zappi ev chargers. even cheaper than going to myenergi direct.

Looking at them discounts it looks like Rexel.

Winner?

I too use them a lot for quoted works as the can be significantly cheaper than the rest.

Reactive jobs get CEF as they're much more convenient.

 

[Dustydazzler]

For Reactive / emergency jobs the price of the materials is normally irrelevant, the customer will pay what ever…

for priced jobs / planned jobs I always do a tool station price up and finally get one of the local wholesalers to see if they can beat it

but to be honest I don’t do massive contract work so quite often the price differential is so minimal it doesn’t matter where I buy from

I even bought 50 usb sockets from Aldi once as they were on offer for £4,99 , nobody not even my usual wholesalers could get anywhere near that price

im now waiting for Lidl to do a range of Rcbo consumer units ?