I would appreciate your input lads

[vaughant]

General drawing looks ok,can't say I've seen many 4 pole DB's in my 17 years of industrial work,nearly always 3 phase but with the neutral and earth into a block internally so I wouldn't be too concerned overall if that's all that's available.Fitting 4 core swa is always a good move IMO as it keeps the earth arrangements neater and safer.How crap is that db1 in the existing photo?just two meter tails stuffed in from conduit!!!!If you need an example of how you generally view power distribution in schematics I'll try and post it up on here,although I like your overview and would certainly add that as well,for sparks like me who generally deal in schematics it's nice to have the more traditional line drawings as well.

 

[Bobster]

Vaughant, didn't notice that on my first view.

Wade, do the line and neutral tails go through separate holes in the top of the db?

 

[wade88]

Vaughant, didn't notice that on my first view.

Wade, do the line and neutral tails go through separate holes in the top of the db?

They do indeed my friend

 

[wade88]

Nice and neat.

 

[44ALLAN]

Wade
The space above the meter looks mighty cramped for what you intend doing.
Is there no space further along where you could mount another board?
Lots of cable and glands etc in that small space ain't going to look right mate IMO

 

[wade88]

Wade
The space above the meter looks mighty cramped for what you intend doing.
Is there no space further along where you could mount another board?
Lots of cable and glands etc in that small space ain't going to look right mate IMO

Absolutely Allan, that is why i have gone and re-measured, and will be moving the MEM isolator to the right of the wooden mounting board, and placing my new box in its place next to the psace heater switch. Should be plenty of space there dont you think? The SWA i have already managed to drag across the units (that was some seriously hard work!) and have decided to abandon cable basket as it was a total nightmare considering the racking lay outs etc, and have gone for the cleat and girder clip option instead. Cable is already cleated on the vertical and now will be terminated just to left of that existing 2inch galv trunking. I think there should be plenty of space there and as you will say will free it all up a bit and stop any over crowding.

 

[wade88]

Vaughant, didn't notice that on my first view.

Wade, do the line and neutral tails go through separate holes in the top of the db?

You have me all concerned with eddy currents now. I was planning on putting each phase and the N into the Adaptable box via seperate glands, and then the outgoing phases out through their own sperate glands, would have looked neat, but i dont want to cook anything! Does anyone think Eddy currents could pose a significant problem here? Am i best to cut a ovular slot in the box and just put all cables through together?

 

[Knobhead]

You still can put them through seperate slots, just cut a slot between the holes. Don't use steel lock nuts :wink5: (I've seen it done, knocked out a 1000KVA transformer when the LV box went up in flames).

View attachment 14982

 

[JD6400]

You still can put them through seperate slots, just cut a slot between the holes. Don't use steel lock nuts :wink5: (I've seen it done, knocked out a 1000KVA transformer when the LV box went up in flames).



View attachment 14982

Just be careful of the ip rating if you do go down this route .

 

[Silly Sausage]

What's the minimum width that the slot can be?

 

[JD6400]

Going to embarrass me self now as this is from memory but is it 1mm if on the top ?

Edit ; To be honest i wont accept any holes / gaps on a new install .

 

[Silly Sausage]

IP4X, <1mm

Would you use an insulated gland plate then?

 

[wade88]

Well ill be terminating from the bottom, and did my homework on eddy currents earlier and noticed the cutting slot between hole method mentioned so i think i will do it this way. Thanks fellas.

Tell you what though, i am DONE dragging that SWA around till ive had some lunch. Total calories burnt lugging that stuff around, 7689, need to get myself to greggs to get some good high fat calories back in me. Steak slice here we come.

 

[Chr!s]

Ipxxd 1mm 100mm long

 

[Knobhead]

Just be careful of the ip rating if you do go down this route .

I filled the slots with epoxy resin.
Width to equal plate thickness.

View attachment 14990

 

[Deservices]

I would check the current that your bay lighting is pulling, as its going to make a big difference and might take 1 phase over the edge.is it 200 or 100 anp main inc fuses? Might be best to put a small 3 phase board there especially if you going to be loading the new board with 3 phase motors and maxing its load. What size swa you putting in?

 

[vaughant]

This I felt looked poor,I'd have mounted the db closer to the trunking or trunked it in.Although with the amount of effort your putting in wade88 I reckon this will look great when finished.Not meaning to teach you to suck eggs but remember to do as much labelling as you can,it helps no end when you need to isolate or fault find.

 

[Engineer54]

We always use insulating boards entering/exiting metal switchboards and the like, for our single core distribution cables, which can sometimes be in multiples of cables per phase... Haven't slotted gland plates for donkey's years now, but it is a suitable and viable solution where your working on existing board/panel...

 

[johnboy6083]

I've used both Paxolin and PVC sheet for glanding single core cables. It's a neat solution.

 

[Knobhead]

Both unacceptable under M&Q. We had to use metal.