Best way of connecting to the live bus bar in Wylex CU

John Beardmore · Feb 27, 2022

I'm using a Wylex consumer unit to house some equipment to measure single phase heat pump performance. Part of the box is a conventional main switch and MCBs, but part of it is a din rail mounted RS485 linked three phase energy meter which is used to measure total energy, energy use by any resistive heaters, and sense whether it's in space heating or hot water mode. This all works just fine, but it involves making links from the live busbar to connections at the top of the three phase meter using 16mm cable.

I've made these busbar to wire connections so far by using MCBs, but is there any other connector available that would make a tidy job of this ?

Cheers, J/.

pc1966 · Feb 28, 2022

So are you going from the switch to the meter and then to some MCBs for the outgoing power? How many out going feeds from the meter, etc? A photo of your setup might help!

It might be simpler and safer to put the supply current limiting before the meter in the form of a 3P MCB, also serving as a means of isolation.

Hager have "neutral links" that are basically MCB-shaped through connections, typically used for incoming link in parallel with 3P switching, or for SPD connection for their own DB. I don't think Wylex make them, but maybe someone on here knows better?

telectrix · Feb 28, 2022

as above a photo or photos of what you envisage would help. you couls add a pic of your dog biting the postman for light relief.

LewisM · Feb 28, 2022

If no fusing or isolation is needed and the total load of the unit is no where near 100A then why don't your drill a hole in the busbar and use a lug and a short bolt?

brianmoooore · Feb 28, 2022

Some Wylex CUs came as standard with a connector to fit a cable on the live 'busbar', but I think you might be thinking something a bit more modern than those, and I may be showing my age.