Economical DBs

davesparks · Feb 20, 2020

I normally only spec and fit Schneider Acti9 (aka Merlin Gerin) DBs and switchgear, but have a job coming up where the budget just isn't there for it.
So what can anyone recommend as a good quality but more cost effective DB?
It's a pretty simple job and only needs a single phase DB with contactor incomer and 14 RCBO outgoing.

My regular wholesaler stock ABB as an alternative, does anyone have any experience of their new range, it is supposed to be, and looks, better than their previous efforts, but some real world reviews would be good.

bill01803 · Feb 20, 2020

Hager unless you want really cheap

davesparks · Feb 20, 2020

bill01803 said:
Hager unless you want really cheap

I've never liked Hager boards.
When I've come across them they always seem to be in poor condition, cracked plastic parts, bent doors and that sort of thing.
And that stupid clear front annoys me.

Strima · Feb 20, 2020

Fuse box are getting good reviews.

davesparks · Feb 20, 2020

Strima said:
Fuse box are getting good reviews.

I've seen a sample of their CUs and it looked alright for a domestic board but I hadn't realised they made DBs, I thought they were domestic CUs only.

Strima · Feb 20, 2020

davesparks said:
I've seen a sample of their CUs and it looked alright for a domestic board but I hadn't realised they made DBs, I thought they were domestic CUs only.

They do one: FuseBox F1028MX 28 Usable Way Main Switch Distribution Board With Surge Protection SPD - Thomas Electrical Distributors Ltd - https://thomaselectricaldistributors.co.uk/product/fusebox-f1028mx-28-usable-way-main-switch-distribution-board-with-surge-protection-spd/

davesparks · Feb 20, 2020

Strima said:
They do one: FuseBox F1028MX 28 Usable Way Main Switch Distribution Board With Surge Protection SPD - Thomas Electrical Distributors Ltd - https://thomaselectricaldistributors.co.uk/product/fusebox-f1028mx-28-usable-way-main-switch-distribution-board-with-surge-protection-spd/

That still looks a lot like its a domestic board, I can't see any 10kA devices for it or anything other than a DP switch as an incoming device.

Risteard · Mar 1, 2020

davesparks said:
I've never liked Hager boards.
When I've come across them they always seem to be in poor condition, cracked plastic parts, bent doors and that sort of thing.
And that stupid clear front annoys me.

I think the clear door's optional from memory.

ChrisElectrical88 · May 13, 2020

Schneider Loadcentre if you want cheaper than the Acti 9 with the pins on the back. Couldn’t imagine fitting anything but Schneider outside of a house.

freddo · May 18, 2020

What about Eaton Memshield 3? RCBOs a lot cheaper than Shneider, the enclosures are much more robust as well, and the earth bars are in a sensible location not stacked at the top of the enclosure. I also don't like Hager 3PH boards, they are cramped and the enclosures are very flimsy. It's odd their domestic 'amendment 3' consumer units are far better designed and have a much more substantial enclosure than their commercial range!

davesparks · May 18, 2020

freddo said:
What about Eaton Memshield 3? RCBOs a lot cheaper than Shneider, the enclosures are much more robust as well, and the earth bars are in a sensible location not stacked at the top of the enclosure.

I know what you mean about the earth bars, but other than that I'll take the schneider option over EATON any day of the week if I have a choice.
Eaton ruined it when the changed from MEM2 to MEM3

DefyG · May 18, 2020

Used a Contactum 3ph DB on a job few weeks back.
Quite sturdy cabinet, quite impressed and relatively cheap board/components!

davesparks · May 18, 2020

I ended up using the Square D option, the decision was made for me by someone else.
Materials cost was slightly lower than the Acti 9 but installation time was probably double thanks to the damn neutral and earth flyleads.

bigspark17 · May 18, 2020

davesparks said:
I normally only spec and fit Schneider Acti9 (aka Merlin Gerin) DBs and switchgear, but have a job coming up where the budget just isn't there for it.
So what can anyone recommend as a good quality but more cost effective DB?
It's a pretty simple job and only needs a single phase DB with contactor incomer and 14 RCBO outgoing.

My regular wholesaler stock ABB as an alternative, does anyone have any experience of their new range, it is supposed to be, and looks, better than their previous efforts, but some real world reviews would be good.

what application required a Contactor incomer?

davesparks · May 19, 2020

bigspark17 said:
what application required a Contactor incomer?

A remote switch to turn the installation on and off.

The installation is a stage lighting system in a school, the DB has 14x 16A circuits which feed the sockets on various lighting bars around the stage and hall. The remote switch and contactor allows all of the lighting equipment to be switched on and off conveniently without staff or students having to gain access to the DB.

I have installed similar (somewhat larger DBs) in theatres.

This was the first stage lighting installation I have worked on where we didn't install any dimmers, it is designed for 100% LED installation without any conventional dimmed outlets for incandescent lighting.

For the last few years we have been installing dimmers with a bypass option that allows dimmed cir units to be changed to hard power with a button press to allow for the increased use of LED etc.
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This particular job wasn't a complete new install, but more an upgrade and rewire of the existing installation.
The weird thing for me is that I was involved in the original installation as I was doing work experience with the stage lighting company who installed it.

mydigitalhome · Nov 7, 2020

Have you considered Eaton?

nicebutdim · Nov 7, 2020

freddo said:
What about Eaton Memshield 3? RCBOs a lot cheaper than Shneider, the enclosures are much more robust as well, and the earth bars are in a sensible location not stacked at the top of the enclosure. I also don't like Hager 3PH boards, they are cramped and the enclosures are very flimsy. It's odd their domestic 'amendment 3' consumer units are far better designed and have a much more substantial enclosure than their commercial range!

davesparks said:
I know what you mean about the earth bars, but other than that I'll take the schneider option over EATON any day of the week if I have a choice.
Eaton ruined it when the changed from MEM2 to MEM3