Domestic fuse boards

[dinger809]

Hello chaps, looking at different boards for dwellings. MK don’t make them anymore, Schneider are hit and miss with knockouts knocking out and the wholesaler “own brands” ( the ones they push) can be somewhat tight. I’m looking at Hager and wondering on views, before I commit to buying the 12 I need for a job I’m about to start. Many thanks

 

[Andy78]

Hager are very good quality in my experience. Heed their testing instructions if buying their type A DP RCDs though.

 

[ruston]

Yes Hager for everything by choice.

 

[richy3333]

Hager everyday for me

 

[Ian1981]

Hager are very good quality in my experience. Heed their testing instructions if buying their type A DP RCDs though.

Hager have now changed their approach on their A type rccb’s and are now manufacturing them to be tested at 150mA rather than their previous 250mA range.

 

[ferg]

Hager for me every time.

 

[Wilko]

I’ve been Wylexing with their prebuilt SPD range and their new(ish) compact A type SP+N RCBO. The finished unit is not cheap but they are compact and good quality so if the job can afford it that’s what I use.

 

[Andy78]

I’ve been Wylexing with their prebuilt SPD range and their new(ish) compact A type SP+N RCBO. The finished unit is not cheap but they are compact and good quality so if the job can afford it that’s what I use.

I costed the same set up with Hager gear yesterday. 8 RCBOs saw it at just over £300.

Not cheap at all. Or I need to pester my supplier more ?

 

[Midwest]

Before I packed it in, I used to use MK. The last CU I replaced I used Hager, but it was not cheap, compared to the MK stuff and that was dual rcd.

Perhaps MK jacked it in, cos they couldn’t cure their slanty mcb’s etc

Ive a Hager Cu in my garage, which I’m converting to a habitable room. So I’m thinking of changing to a Design 50, to customise the lid. Thinking it ain’t gonna be cheap?

 

[Phil Thompson]

Cudis CPN, or Fusebox are well priced and the quality seems reasonable for both.

Both options for 8 way with SPD fitted are around £160 all in.

I can't justify or see the value in paying double for Hager when there is hardly any difference in quality.

 

[Risteard]

Hager have now changed their approach on their A type rccb’s and are now manufacturing them to be tested at 150mA rather than their previous 250mA range.

A wise move on their part. But it's Hager for me, too.

 

[Ian1981]

A wise move on their part. But it's Hager for me, too.

From their twitter page , I also contacted their technical support

 

[SparkyAndGeorge]

Look up CP Fusebox, these are becoming very popular.

 

[suffolkspark]

Wylex when budget allows, lewden when it doesnt. Both good quality.

 

[JK-Electrical]

Hager or Crabtree.

 

[multimick]

i have fitted LVE, loads of late ,never a problem with them rcbo's about a tenner and no earth leads .

 

[SJD]

Whichever you choose, I'd avoid RCBOs that need earth leads, they make it harder to leave the board not looking like a bowl of spaghetti.

At the cheaper end of the market, I've currently given up on Contactum because of the RCBO earth leads, and installed a few Fusebox ones lately.

 

[dinger809]

Thanks all. I’ll take a look at some of those other boards and compare prices.

 

[telectrix]

BG with their compact RCBOs for me. budget price for good quality.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

If money allows I will always go for Hager
Did fit a load of MK ones recently as they were reduced to clear in homebase. small ones okay, but 10 ways you get the famous MK slant!
If budget is tight and customer wont pay then its Steeple (denmans own brand).
I am looking at the fusebox brand in future.

I am waiting to see if Schneider will continue to make MCBS for MK boards, as they have been making the MK switchgear for a few years now. they may just say our mcbs are okay for Mk boards... time will tell.

 

[Dobes_88]

Contactum for me, solidly built at a budget price. Have fitted the RCBO boards for years without any issues - SPD kit is also under £40.

 

[davesparks]

If money allows I will always go for Hager
Did fit a load of MK ones recently as they were reduced to clear in homebase. small ones okay, but 10 ways you get the famous MK slant!
If budget is tight and customer wont pay then its Steeple (denmans own brand).
I am looking at the fusebox brand in future.

I am waiting to see if Schneider will continue to make MCBS for MK boards, as they have been making the MK switchgear for a few years now. they may just say our mcbs are okay for Mk boards... time will tell.

Merlin Gerin used to make MK MCB's, but as far as I know they haven't done since before the rebranded to schneider.
I believe the most recent range of MK mcbs have been made by Siemens.

 

[JOURNEYMAN]

I've just purchased a CP fusebox with surge protection and rcbos, my first try with them for less than £150 delivered and the build quality isn't bad at all and not flimsy. No earths on the rcbos, nice and easy.There's plenty of room inside and not cramped. I'll update later how I get on with it but at that price and several other sparks recommending them it's certainly an up and coming make to look out for and consider. Hager is nice but just so pricey especially when competing in the domestic market. I've also fitted plenty of BG boards with no problems. MK have lost it for me as quality has gone downhill in recent years especially with accessory screws. Wylex good but a little pricey. Tried CEF own brand M2 which was ugly and very basic although it did the job with no comebacks. Most fuse boards I fit tend to be out of sight in a cupboard or under stairs somewhere and end up with client's leaning the vacuum cleaner, sweeping brush, mop and any other rubbish against them anyway so aesthetics aren't terribly important unless on show.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I'm surprised Hagar is so popular. I realise it is probably a very nice board to fit and make neat but the cost puts me off. If I gave the choice of a dual RCD hagar or dual RCD BG board to a customer I'm pretty sure the customer would go for the BG as it would be far cheaper. It would also be just as safe as a Hagar board. The price difference would be even more evident with a BG RCBO consumer unit compared to a Hagar RCBO CU.

Could I ask why so many of you prefer to quote the higher priced hagar to a customer? What are it's advantages over a BG board?

 

[Andy78]

I'm surprised Hagar is so popular. I realise it is probably a very nice board to fit and make neat but the cost puts me off. If I gave the choice of a dual RCD hagar or dual RCD BG board to a customer I'm pretty sure the customer would go for the BG as it would be far cheaper. It would also be just as safe as a Hagar board. The price difference would be even more evident with a BG RCBO consumer unit compared to a Hagar RCBO CU.

Could I ask why so many of you prefer to quote the higher priced hagar to a customer? What are it's advantages over a BG board?

I have used Hager for years and years and find them to be completely reliable in terms of switchgear build quality and lifespan. I used to work for a commercial installation firm and we installed lots of it due to it being a council specced brand and having lots of council work.
I have used BG several times before and found issues every time I have used them. Broken terminal threads, RCDS not meeting trip times, main switches splitting when tightened, general poor quality, so decided long ago that they were a brand not worth bothering with to me.

Back when I was installing dual RCD insulated units the price difference between Hager and BG was less than £20 so wasn't even worth considering penny pinching. From personal experience it's a McDonalds or steak and chips scenario.

When I moved to installing RCBO as my only option, I found Hager far too pricey so looked around for other brands. Not from wanting to not use Hager, but from the understanding that most others would be undercutting me using BG/MK/Cudis/etc.

I'm currently getting prices for Hager from local sources as the prices have come down a little and I'd like to start offering them as an option to customers again. Still coming out pricey though.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I have used Hager for years and years and find them to be completely reliable in terms of switchgear build quality and lifespan. I used to work for a commercial installation firm and we installed lots of it due to it being a council specced brand and having lots of council work.
I have used BG several times before and found issues every time I have used them. Broken terminal threads, RCDS not meeting trip times, main switches splitting when tightened, general poor quality, so decided long ago that they were a brand not worth bothering with to me.

Back when I was installing dual RCD insulated units the price difference between Hager and BG was less than £20 so wasn't even worth considering penny pinching. From personal experience it's a McDonalds or steak and chips scenario.

When I moved to installing RCBO as my only option, I found Hager far too pricey so looked around for other brands. Not from wanting to not use Hager, but from the understanding that most others would be undercutting me using BG/MK/Cudis/etc.

I'm currently getting prices for Hager from local sources as the prices have come down a little and I'd like to start offering them as an option to customers again. Still coming out pricey though.

That's interesting Andy as I have not come across any of those issues with BG. No broken terminals and no faulty RCD's. As for the main switch, that is one of the reasons I stopped using wylex and moved to BG as the Wylex main switch starts splitting when tightening the tails whereas I find the BG doesn't.

I may quote for a Hagar board soon just so that I can have a see for myself. Thanks for the input.

 

[Andy78]

That's interesting Andy as I have not come across any of those issues with BG. No broken terminals and no faulty RCD's. As for the main switch, that is one of the reasons I stopped using wylex and moved to BG as the Wylex main switch starts splitting when tightening the tails whereas I find the BG doesn't.

I may quote for a Hagar board soon just so that I can have a see for myself. Thanks for the input.

Yes I realise that many people use BG regularly and don't have problems. Maybe I was unlucky, but I think that I gave them a fair shot. Probably about 5 consumer units over the course of 18 months. This was before metal clad boards though so I realise things could have changed.

I have literally never had a faulty Hager anything that i can recall. That goes for their Sollysta accessories too.

If you PM me I'd be happy to share my recent Hager prices.

 

[Risteard]

Yes I realise that many people use BG regularly and don't have problems. Maybe I was unlucky, but I think that I gave them a fair shot. Probably about 5 consumer units over the course of 18 months. This was before metal clad boards though so I realise things could have changed.

I have literally never had a faulty Hager anything that i can recall. That goes for their Sollysta accessories too.

If you PM me I'd be happy to share my recent Hager prices.

I've had one faulty B10 RCBO (double module SP+N) once, but that's about it. I always spec Hager.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Where do you guys buy your Dual Pole RCBO's from?

 

[Andy78]

Where do you guys buy your Dual Pole RCBO's from?

I think only SBS and Wylex currently offer DP rcbo in single module. Not completely sure though.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Its very miss-leading they say dual pole, but they aren't up to the EU specification for duel pole where the gap must be 3mm between contacts and overcurrent protection on both poles, not worried about single module, in fact to reach the EU spec I think they would have to be dual module, but thanks for the reply.

 

[AJshep]

Its very miss-leading they say dual pole, but they aren't up to the EU specification for duel pole where the gap must be 3mm between contacts, it seems that most don't even disconnect the neutral, not worried about single module, in fact to reach the EU spec I think they would have to be dual module, but thanks for the reply.

I believe the official name for these minature RCBOs which claim they are double pole is "single pole switched neutral" as to classed as double pole each pole is identical so overcurrent protection would need to be provided on the neutral conductor too, I think manufacturers like to throw the word double pole about as most sparks probably understand that.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I think your right, but with the caveat that most "UK sparks will understand that" any sparks working in the EU will be miss-lead, thanks for your thoughts.

 

[AJshep]

Since the new guidance on not being able to use Diversity as a effective method of overcurrent protection on RCCBs what's peoples general view on Split load RCD boards which have 63amp RCCBs ?
Do people still use them but just make sure that the mcbs added together protected by the RCD dont exceed the rating ?

Or just check the main fuse is equal to the rating of the RCCBs

 

[Risteard]

Where do you guys buy your Dual Pole RCBO's from?

Garo do one too.
[automerge]1580657713[/automerge]

Since the new guidance on not being able to use Diversity as a effective method of overcurrent protection on RCCBs what's peoples general view on Split load RCD boards which have 63amp RCCBs ?
Do people still use them but just make sure that the mcbs added together protected by the RCD dont exceed the rating ?

Or just check the main fuse is equal to the rating of the RCCBs

Using Hager DBs it doesn't arise as they are supplied with 100A devices now. Last 63A I used I put a KMF in with 63A fuse to avoid the argument, although in reality it's a non-issue.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Never used Garo, are they any good, this is not for a customer, its for me, would you put then in your house? LOL

 

[Risteard]

Never used Garo, are they any good, this is not for a customer, its for me, would you put then in your house? LOL

Garo aren't anywhere near as good as Hager. Terminations too small on Earth & neutral bars etc. Personally I'd go for Hager.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Garo aren't anywhere near as good as Hager. Terminations too small on Earth & neutral bars etc. Personally I'd go for Hager.

I would every time if I could find a dual pole RCBO at a reasonable cost.
[automerge]1580682142[/automerge]
This is my current (sorry) board, the problem is the Hager RCBO's do comply with French regulations hence the search for true dual pole RCBO's.
[automerge]1580683668[/automerge]
Above post should say "the Hager RCBO's do NOT comply"

 

[Risteard]

I would every time if I could find a dual pole RCBO at a reasonable cost.
[automerge]1580682142[/automerge]
This is my current (sorry) board, the problem is the Hager RCBO's do comply with French regulations hence the search for true dual pole RCBO's.
[automerge]1580683668[/automerge]
Above post should say "the Hager RCBO's do NOT comply"

I get them here about the same price as single pole, e.g. AD9XXJ (where XX is current rating (e.g. AD910J for B10A).

 

[Mike Johnson]

I have found them in Ireland and Africa would be nice if they where available in the UK, a few on e-bay second hand, but thanks for the heads up on the part No makes it easier to look.

Quick question on the Irish one's can they be wired in either direction i.e. in at the top?