Consumer Unit Connection Process

uksparks · Apr 10, 2014

Hi,

Just saw another thread where a new lad has posted a pic of his board he is wiring...

It got me thinking...

When you change a CU or fit a new one on a new build or where ever etc..., how do you go about connecting everything in the board? Looking at the other thread he has taken the breakers etc out and neatly positioned the neutrals and CPC etc.

I normally fill the board up with breakers then struggle to get it all in neatly.

What do you do? It would interesting to hear.

Octopus · Apr 10, 2014

If its populated I take all the MCB's / RCBO's out AND often also take the bus bar out so that when I'm threading all the cables in it can be done as neatly as possible - that includes the tails, main earth and bonding!

uksparks · Apr 10, 2014

All these times it seems like I have been missing a trick and now I think this confirms it. Next time I'll try removing everything. I still make them look tidy, but not a patch on some photos you see.

R G · Apr 10, 2014

I like to keep all conductors the same length if possible (L.N+E), usually 1.5 times the height of the board , and leave the slack behind the din rail , that way if you need to alter or reconfigure the internals you have not left conductors too short, or if ever the board is changed in the future ,,

Octopus · Apr 10, 2014

Ray Galea said:
I like to keep all conductors the same length if possible (L.N+E), usually 1.5 times the height of the board , and leave the slack behind the din rail , that way if you need to alter or reconfigure the internals you have not left conductors too short, or if ever the board is changed in the future ,,

Me 2 but on most CU changes I find myself extending the conductors!

GLENNSPARK · Apr 10, 2014

uksparks said:
Hi,

Just saw another thread where a new lad has posted a pic of his board he is wiring...

It got me thinking...

When you change a CU or fit a new one on a new build or where ever etc..., how do you go about connecting everything in the board? Looking at the other thread he has taken the breakers etc out and neatly positioned the neutrals and CPC etc.

I normally fill the board up with breakers then struggle to get it all in neatly.

What do you do? It would interesting to hear.

the MCBs, RCDs/RCBOs and the incomer should all come out as a module....dont forget that the din-rail will unscrew (2 screws 1 each end)....just drop the lot out...there....you now have all the room you need to turn them tails and bank all them finals in nicely....

Had8Lives · Apr 11, 2014

I've always removed the din rail and breakers etc. I also mark the neutral link wires before I disconnect them from their bus bars.

Badged01 · Apr 11, 2014

Thats where Ive been going wrong, I usually just pull all the wires through together then spends hrs working out what goes where! If there are any left over at the end I just push them down behind everything ......

CockneyReject · Apr 11, 2014

Badged01 said:
Thats where Ive been going wrong, I usually just pull all the wires through together then spends hrs working out what goes where! If there are any left over at the end I just push them down behind everything ......

mate your just making work for yourself there just get them stripped and fill the spaces until you've done every circuit or you've filled all the spaces and if there's out left over push them down the back like you have been doing. Why go to all the bother of working things out that's over rated

Badged01 · Apr 11, 2014

Thats what makes electrical work exciting, anyone can do things logically and get it right first time! If a jobs worth doing once, its worth doing twice ....

CockneyReject · Apr 11, 2014

See I was always told third time lucky but I suppose I might be able to get it right the second time if I was having a really good day

but on a serious note I always mount the carcass then put all the earths away nice and neat then the neutrals then put the dinrail and breakers in and do the tails and the lives..........simples

Englishman · Apr 11, 2014

Tails first, then each individual breaker and connect earth, neutral and live one at a time. I only ever do replacement boards though and obviously I've worked out what circuits are going where beforehand.

nickblake · Apr 11, 2014

or just shove em in like this

Octopus · Apr 11, 2014

nickblake said:
View attachment 24146or just shove em in like this

Plenty around like that

spark 68 · Apr 11, 2014

nickblake said:
View attachment 24146or just shove em in like this

Ha ha, are you following me around ? :wink_smile:

uksparks · Apr 11, 2014

Thanks everyone for pointing me in a better direct so to speak, ive got a new board im doing next week, so ill give it a try, I suppose until someone says do it this way its better, you stick to the tried and tested.

Resu · Apr 11, 2014

uksparks said:
All these times it seems like I have been missing a trick and now I think this confirms it. Next time I'll try removing everything. I still make them look tidy, but not a patch on some photos you see.

I'm the same, definitely trying that method on my next board.

dawsirn · Apr 12, 2014

Don't know what all the fuss is about. Just shove them in there! and cut out massive sections out the top of the board if need be. (just like these "approved contractors" did)

shanky887614 · Apr 13, 2014

dawsirn said:
Don't know what all the fuss is about. Just shove them in there! and cut out massive sections out the top of the board if need be. (just like these "approved contractors" did)
View attachment 24152 View attachment 24153

Personally would have ran a piece of plastic trunking from ceiling down to top of ccu.

Makes the job a lot neater imho

Simonslimline · Apr 13, 2014

shanky887614 said:
Personally would have ran a piece of plastic trunking from ceiling down to top of ccu.

Makes the job a lot neater imho

Somthing tells me that whoever created that mess was not too concerned about the neatness of the job

AndrewMgan1976 · Apr 13, 2014

Simonslimline said:
Somthing tells me that whoever created that mess was not too concerned about the neatness of the job

Or the ip rating either

daviesjoe · Apr 14, 2014

Havn't done too many, but ....

For new boards.

-First i take out all the guts, din rails ect.
-Put away the main earth and bonding conductors
-Strip back all the twins (and mark them up)
-Put away all the earths
-Then the neutrals
-Then put the "guts" back in, and all breakers. Connect the tails. Then lives last.

Here is a recent one i did, im quite happy with it to be fair

Everyone has their own way though

jimjimjim · Apr 16, 2014

Here is a recent one i did, im quite happy with it to be fair View attachment 24290

Everyone has their own way though

[/QUOTE]

Not sure about mounting consumer units on their sides

Jim

Englishman · Apr 16, 2014

jimjimjim said:
Here is a recent one i did, im quite happy with it to be fair View attachment 24290

Everyone has their own way though

Not sure about mounting consumer units on their sides

Jim[/QUOTE]

Are you proud of the fact that you're called Jim?

uksparks · Apr 16, 2014

Hi,

Ok, been wiring up this new board today, finishing it off tomorrow and making live, I have to say, this new way is so much better, it feels like there is 10x more space in the board now. See the photos of today's work, not finished yet, just been working on it this afternoon, going back in the morning.

The three phase board above, I've got some paxolin now, so cuttting it about to take all the phases through that instead to avoid any eddie currents.

The 16A socket, before someone says it, I know its on a different circuit and goes through the back of the garage sockets... I have labelled it in case someone doesn't realise though.

Feel free to pass comments anyway.

Oh and before someone says about extending the equipotential zone with a 16A socket, its TNS...

daviesjoe · Apr 16, 2014

Looks neat!
I've never used a MK board, what are they like?

Ps. Have you recently purchased a labeling machine

uksparks · Apr 16, 2014

I like the MK boards, I tend to only fit them as carry parts etc... This is a metal clad board so it's really nice to work with.

You get mixed comments on MK boards, but I have nothing bad to say about them.

The labeller, it's a Brother, I use it all the time, I've had it 12 months or so, it's worth every penny.

Currently reading: Consumer Unit Connection Process

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Octopus

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R G

Octopus

GLENNSPARK

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Badged01

CockneyReject

Badged01

CockneyReject

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nickblake

Octopus

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AndrewMgan1976

daviesjoe

jimjimjim

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daviesjoe

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Consumer Unit Connection Process