any body encounter this?

[lurch]

I have been asked to do a consumer unit swap out, but I have not encountered this scenario before. Take a alook at these photos', and if anybody has any answers i would appreciate some pointers. . . . thx in advance

 

[bugsy]

Yep installed in local authority housing supplied by Wylex.
Next question

 

[eddielarge]

I dont understand what answers you want . just strip out and replace with new board. the space will be small so maybe an 8 way with all rcbo's

 

[dredski]

these are just like old style breakers.... replace with new board and wire as normal..of course upto 17th edition standard with rcd protection...

 

[cside]

it looks it is in the communial/walk way in a block of flats maybe, ive never seen a CU in the meter cuboard before

 

[Bobby B]

horrible, who came up with this terrible idea of a c/u

 

[Tester Steve]

As bugsy said, made by Wylex for councils, must thousands of these up and down the country.

Steve.

 

[bugsy]

You wont fit a C.U. in there , use the space for a wiring centre, extend existing cables to C.U. mounted adjacent meter cab.

 

[martysparky]

Can't you take the CCU inside the dwelling space I wouldn't want mine in a communal space.

 

[bugsy]

horrible, who came up with this terrible idea of a c/u

WYLEX who else

 

[Bobby B]

wouldn't be so bad if you needed a tool to access them but on the ones i've seen you don't just open them up and your in. good old wylex.

on a seperate note i've seen these with what looks like an earth stud on the bottom of the enclosure where the incomer is glanded, i tested it out of interest and it was a good Ze, anyone know if this would be the earth that was intended for use? i know that the earth bar is screwed to the enclosure so i would assume so. fitted a rod anyway but just curious.

 

[bugsy]

Can't you take the CCU inside the dwelling space I wouldn't want mine in a communal space.

I would'nt want one anywhere

 

[martysparky]

I would'nt want one anywhere

lol, I do mean the replacement

 

[Markc]

Yep. Working on one today. Rewire but that box is inside the property (3 bed house) All existing circuits wire via steel conduit in wall and I’ve got the option to fit a dual RCD board above the meter/CU box so no real issues. Going to drop new circuits through the ceiling and into the board via the back entry knock outs. The only issue I have is getting meter tails into the new board. Considering re-using one 25mm steel conduit drop coming into the meter cabinet to pull new tails through to ceiling void.

 

[andekoch]

Considering re-using one 25mm steel conduit drop coming into the meter cabinet to pull new tails through to ceiling void.

just make sure both tails are inside the same metal conduit or you will get induced currents in the conduit.

 

[cside]

As bugsy said, made by Wylex for councils, must thousands of these up and down the country.

Steve.

never come across them anywhere within 40 miles of gloucester in a council property. i sort of want to find one now

 

[Tester Steve]

never come across them anywhere within 40 miles of gloucester in a council property. i sort of want to find one now

Seen plenty in flats in the smoke - ripped out/replaced loads, as I said, councils loved them (so did the Wylex salesman! )

Steve.

 

[m4tty]

Seen plenty in flats in the smoke - ripped out/replaced loads, as I said, councils loved them (so did the Wylex salesman! )

Steve.

In the smoke ?? london??

excuse me ignorance but heard that saying a lot but dont know what it means

 

[Notsosmart]

Can't you take the CCU inside the dwelling space I wouldn't want mine in a communal space.

I believe this is within the dwelling & not outside (The single socket below is a bit of a give-away)

I came across plenty of these years back doing council house rewires they are pretty easy to work with as there is plenty of space, I cant remember off hand if we stuck the new board within the enclosure or just above.

 

[cside]

I believe this is within the dwelling & not outside (The single socket below is a bit of a give-away)

ive seen hundreds of old peoples complexes/flats where there are single sockets in the hall ways. be intrestin to know if this one is

 

[pevvers]

ive seen hundreds of old peoples complexes/flats where there are single sockets in the hall ways. be intrestin to know if this one is

I'll put my money on the fact that it's inside the property. Sometimes you find them outside but it will only have the meter in. Seen them hundreds of times, and always council. Google MK skeleton consumer unit, or similar, and you'll find just the bare bones you need for an instant like for like fit....

 

[cside]

I'll put my money on the fact that it's inside the property. Sometimes you find them outside but it will only have the meter in. Seen them hundreds of times, and always council. Google MK skeleton consumer unit, or similar, and you'll find just the bare bones you need for an instant like for like fit....

i wonderd because we did a load down i bristol where they had had an RCD put in line between fuse and board but was in the meter cupboard outside the property, seemed daft to me.

cheers

 

[Notsosmart]

Common practice in the eighties; ridiculous idea using an RCD as mains isolator.
That is why the IEE inserted regs (16th Edition) & split load boards came into existance; to negate introducing hazards when a fault occurs i.e. downstairs bulb blows, the rcd trips so the upstairs lights are also out, Grandad trips down stairs hurrying to find the main switch. ~ Even worse when it is located outside within a Meter box

My last house was like that, still like it when I sold it though ...What?..."The cobblers children are poorest shod"

 

[lurch]

I'll put my money on the fact that it's inside the property. Sometimes you find them outside but it will only have the meter in. Seen them hundreds of times, and always council. Google MK skeleton consumer unit, or similar, and you'll find just the bare bones you need for an instant like for like fit....

yes it is inside the property and ex council.

the skeleton unit sounds just the job, and although MK have a unit that can be stripped down I am not sure this is the correct one . . . http://www.mkelectric.co.uk/Documents/English/EN MK Catalogue/Sentry.pdf

if any body has a link to the product pevvers is talking about it would be much appreciated. . .thx

 

[bugsy]

I dont think you will fit isolator , 2 rcd's and the breakers in the skeleton unit -- might wrong

 

[Markc]

just make sure both tails are inside the same metal conduit or you will get induced currents in the conduit.

Yep know that and yep got both in.

 

[pevvers]

The actual name of the metal box is a Clifton/Mantel enclosure, and there are MK units available that will fit in them. Looking through the product catalogue, on page 10 found in the link below, you can see the skeleton units, one which has an RCD in it. I reckon quite easily you could use the one RCD to protect half, and RCBO's to protect the other half, or if it's a smallish property I reckon you could fit two RCD's in there and still be able to protect 8 circuits....

Find it here: - Sentry 10 Way Skeleton Unit Loaded [mksentry 6001S] - £111.95 : Fastlec - Selling Brand Name Electrical Products Online, Buy Brand Name Electrical Installation Products Online


Or try this Wylex version: -

Found here: - 10 Way Dual RCD Skeleton Consumer Unit + 100A Mains Switch

 

[sparks1234]

Did one of these recently, had to knock the cupboard about a lot, bit of metalwork going on and had to make room for a main switch board with RCBO's due to the size

 

[sparky692]

As previously stated . made by Wylex and called Mantels. New ones (17th are a doddle to fit.

 

[Jason Smith]

keep those push in wylex MCBS, fabulous for pulgging into the old rewirables when fault finding on another job.

 

[lurch]

thanks to all that added constructive comments to this post !!!!!


Mines a cold one! Ariva derci

 

[gaffer]

The actual name of the metal box is a Clifton/Mantel enclosure, and there are MK units available that will fit in them. Looking through the product catalogue, on page 10 found in the link below, you can see the skeleton units, one which has an RCD in it. I reckon quite easily you could use the one RCD to protect half, and RCBO's to protect the other half, or if it's a smallish property I reckon you could fit two RCD's in there and still be able to protect 8 circuits....

Find it here: - Sentry 10 Way Skeleton Unit Loaded [mksentry 6001S] - £111.95 : Fastlec - Selling Brand Name Electrical Products Online, Buy Brand Name Electrical Installation Products Online


Or try this Wylex version: -

Found here: - 10 Way Dual RCD Skeleton Consumer Unit + 100A Mains Switch

Are those three phase mcbs in there?

 

[barx]

Done a load of them, used the Wylex skeleton replacement above. You have to knock out the shelf that currently makes the bottom of old cu and a couple of the mounting brackets but its very do-able. the shelf/mounts ae spot welded in so attack it at the spots. Also make sure you got either a small hss bit or some tek screws for mounting new skeleton to case.

 

[Notsosmart]

Are those three phase mcbs in there?

Yep; the centre one is definitely, the left hand one may be motor rated perhaps?

3 phase from a single phase board; (in a Paul Daniels Voice) its magic!

 

[gaffer]

A pretty serious fopar by the manufacturer in their marketing photos,lol.
There must be some sort of converter in there to get three phase from a single phase board,I will have to give wylex a ring to find out!

 

[pevvers]

A pretty serious fopar by the manufacturer in their marketing photos,lol.
There must be some sort of converter in there to get three phase from a single phase board,I will have to give wylex a ring to find out!

Maybe they just didn't have enough single phase ones laying about. The one on the left side as you look at it looks like a 3 pole isolator more than an MCB. The one on the right says MCB on it, so I think it will be one of them!

 

[gaffer]

Bet they got loads now,they just recalled them all did'nt they

 

[Sav]

Hi,
I replaced a few of these. Local authority type as mentioned. Go to any good wholesaler and ask for a SKELETON BOARD.
They do them with dual RCD protection as well (split board design).
You wont fit a "normal" type board in there.

Hope this helps,
Sav

 

[jamminuk]

Hi, have been installing new wylex 8way skeletons with RCBOs within these mantel boxs/units and there has been some snags from the housing that the new covers have gaps underneath, i.e. not IP rated. Any ideas on ensuring IP rating as covers provided by wylex do leave gaps along top, bottom and sides, especially where the columns are on either side of the unit.

Thanks

Ben