Fitting consumer unit ‘portrait’ not ‘landscape’

[weevilward]

Just a thought - has anyone ever had to install a replacement domestic CU vertically (‘portrait’) because there isn’t enough room to fit in horizontally (‘landscape’)?
Apart from the amendment 3 lid not closing by gravity, it looking a bit odd, and maybe going against manufacturers instructions, can anyone see any major issues with it?
After all, three phase boards stack th MCBs that way round and they seem to work fine!

 

[Cadgey123]

Would look terrible......next

 

[static zap]

All those "Fire approval manufacturer tests will be invalid" .
Not fitted to Manufactures Instructions . Insurance issues !
--How can it look Professional--

 

[westward10]

Here is one I am going to today, outside and with the cabinet door missing.

 

[Cadgey123]

Here is one I am going to today, outside and with the cabinet door missing.View attachment 44282

God why didn’t they hang the box the other way? Haha

 

[westward10]

Why it is external is beyond me.

 

[Octopus]

See them from time to time ..... don’t think there are any guidelines that say you can’t

Next

 

[snowhead]

After all, three phase boards stack the MCBs that way round and they seem to work fine!

They're designed to be fitted that way and don't have to have self closing lids

 

[weevilward]

Here is one I am going to today, outside and with the cabinet door missing.View attachment 44282

Nice! What you gotta do with that?
Agreed it looks awful.

 

[mhar]

Just a thought - has anyone ever had to install a replacement domestic CU vertically (‘portrait’) because there isn’t enough room to fit in horizontally (‘landscape’)?
Apart from the amendment 3 lid not closing by gravity, it looking a bit odd, and maybe going against manufacturers instructions, can anyone see any major issues with it?
After all, three phase boards stack th MCBs that way round and they seem to work fine!

How many ways?

Look at Live boards or Denmans Curve. Live boards with the compact rcbos are so tidy inside they hardly occupy any space.

 

[telectrix]

I fitted ours at home on it's side. it was that or demolish a supporting wall, or pay DNO a fortune to revamp the supply and meter.

 

[Andy78]

Go for a compromise if possible and put it at 45 degrees.

 

[westward10]

Nice! What you gotta do with that?
Agreed it looks awful.

Come to fit a new cupboard front as at present it is open to the elements, if successful I will post a pic.

 

[snowhead]

I fitted ours at home on it's side. it was that or demolish a supporting wall, or pay DNO a fortune to revamp the supply and meter.

You still have a Meter??

 

[snowhead]

If it's going to be mounted portrait then at least provide a legend that can read without having to have a broken neck.

 

[Dillb]

You still have a Meter??

Dont try and confuse him by talking in Metric

 

[Spoon]

You still have a Meter??

Of course he has a meter.... he's bypassed it though..

 

[D Skelton]

Needs must.

I've done it. No issue at all other than aesthetics.

 

[Spoon]

well spank me silly... Was you taken POW @D Skelton or have I just missed your posts mate?

 

[westward10]

So here we are. Don't know if anyone has seen these before but it is an over cover for

meter cupboards, 10 minute job.

 

[PEG]

The sideways thing,outside the aesthetics,is a possibility,but the fitting outside,is an issue. I seem to remember a request,by an insurance provider,to have a DB in such a position,moved to the inside of property,accessible from within.

This was a private,residential property,and the logic was,the insurance companies all request mortice or deadlocks,and were not happy about the safety aspect of a person inside,not having access to isolate,without possibly needing a key...that said,there are hundreds out there,just the same

 

[telectrix]

i stick my labels on the inside of the lid.

 

[D Skelton]

well spank me silly... Was you taken POW @D Skelton or have I just missed your posts mate?

POW mate. I was steaming ahead with all cylinders firing, target in sight and breach locked and loaded, and then I took a direct hit to the side of the turret. Armour spalling killed my crew and disabled me.

I had to unbutton the hatch and put my two hands up.

 

[-Matt]

The sideways thing,outside the aesthetics,is a possibility,but the fitting outside,is an issue. I seem to remember a request,by an insurance provider,to have a DB in such a position,moved to the inside of property,accessible from within.

This was a private,residential property,and the logic was,the insurance companies all request mortice or deadlocks,and were not happy about the safety aspect of a person inside,not having access to isolate,without possibly needing a key...that said,there are hundreds out there,just the same

Pretty much all the 80’s housing estates in Yate - North Bristol have the old wylex fuse boards in the outside meter cupboards.

They are a royal pain to change as there is not much room with the cut-out and meters.

Plus half the doors have now fallen off.....

Would love to know the original reasoning?

 

[Spoon]

Would love to know the original reasoning?

So would I.
Most prob a stupid idea by someone high up surrounded by 'Yes' men/women

 

[snowhead]

Would love to know the original reasoning?

That was amazing foresite on their behalf.
They anticipated that in the 21st Century millions of C.Us would be bursting into flame so best put them outside where the Firebrigade could get to them.

 

[Marvo]

It might have an effect on an MCB's curve of operation depending how it's designed and ventilated although I doubt with a domestic CU the effect would be too significant. Guess manufacturers instructions would reflect this.

 

[littlespark]

Outside CUs does mean you don’t have to crawl into an under stair cupboard.

You do, however, need to go out in the rain and snow...

Commonplace in New Zealand when I visited, but they have better weather.

I’ve seen new boards mounted at 90 degrees before. Just don’t put it fully upside down

 

[Octopus]

How about 2 small cu s stacked?

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Go for a compromise if possible and put it at 45 degrees.

I have seen one like that on an eicr over Bristol. it was mounted flush to ceiling above stairs, the ceiling was following same angel as stair case. when i queried it, they said it look out place if mounted level!

 

[weevilward]

How about 2 small cu s stacked?

Yeah I thought about this but there isn’t enough height either!. All CUs are much taller now, I would’ve got 2 narrow plastic ones (like the old starbreaker or GE series E) stacked on top of each other. But, rightly so, they make them all much taller now for RCBO’s.
Now they’re all making RCBO’s smaller again...! The wheel goes round....

 

[Ian1981]

So here we are. Don't know if anyone has seen these before but it is an over cover forView attachment 44283 meter cupboards, 10 minute job.

C1

 

[freddo]

It might have an effect on an MCB's curve of operation depending how it's designed and ventilated although I doubt with a domestic CU the effect would be too significant. Guess manufacturers instructions would reflect this.

Not much different to a vertical stack of MCBs in a 3ph DB.

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

Here is one I am going to today, outside and with the cabinet door missing.View attachment 44282

I’ve seen this sort of sh!t before. Wrong on almost all levels.

 

[weevilward]

So I went for it in the end.
Not finished labelling or tidying cables round top, but I don’t think it looks too bad fitted in portrait. Hager even put their logo on the right way for me!

 

[Mike Johnson]

Most French CU's are that way around.

Mike

 

[Toneyz]

Here is one I am going to today, outside and with the cabinet door missing.View attachment 44282

Why was it fitted in there Westward?

 

[westward10]

Why was it fitted in there Westward?

Who knows Ant it seems a random thing to do.

 

[static zap]

Why was it fitted in there Westward?

..Does the coiled up cable imply something temporary ?
enclosed for safety.

 

[weevilward]

View attachment 44325

Most French CU's are that way around.

Mike

I saw one on holiday in France where literally every socket outlet was on its own MCB

 

[D Skelton]

I saw one on holiday in France where literally every socket outlet was on its own MCB

In my gaff every MCB is on its own MCB!

 

[baldelectrician]

So I went for it in the end.
Not finished labelling or tidying cables round top, but I don’t think it looks too bad fitted in portrait. Hager even put their logo on the right way for me!
View attachment 44323 View attachment 44324

I have actually had the horizontal mount discussion with Hager who assured that all will work with a horizontal mounting- the guy told me the domestic MCB's are made the same as the comercial ones with the commercial ones having longer tails and a 10Ka break capacity.
The only non complaince mentioned was the fire rated self closing cover- mind you a spring riveted on the top would solve this

Crabtree fail to work (the RCD's) if mounted horizontally, when i called they told me that they were not tested and not guaranteed to be mounted this way.

 

[weevilward]

I have actually had the horizontal mount discussion with Hager who assured that all will work with a horizontal mounting- the guy told me the domestic MCB's are made the same as the comercial ones with the commercial ones having longer tails and a 10Ka break capacity.
The only non complaince mentioned was the fire rated self closing cover- mind you a spring riveted on the top would solve this

Crabtree fail to work (the RCD's) if mounted horizontally, when i called they told me that they were not tested and not guaranteed to be mounted this way.

That’s good to know, thanks mate.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Off the topic, but thought it may be interesting to some about French Regs:
All what are called "Special Circuits" are on separate MCB's i.e. Washing machine, Tumble Drier, Dish Washer, Oven, Hob, UFH, Night Storage Heaters, Burglar alarms, the list is quite long, Ring mains not allowed, Twelve sockets on a single 40amp MCB wired in 2.5, think its now eight on 1.5. Twin and Earth not allowed all wire has to be double insulated and in Conduit and of the same cross section.

Mike

 

[Toneyz]

I know nothing about French electrics and I can see that high current appliances are put on their own radial circuit, but I find it hard to believe that a 2.5 radial is on a 40A MCB?

 

[Michaelwgroves]

So here we are. Don't know if anyone has seen these before but it is an over cover forView attachment 44283 meter cupboards, 10 minute job.

Where do you get these?

 

[Michaelwgroves]

So here we are. Don't know if anyone has seen these before but it is an over cover forView attachment 44283 meter cupboards, 10 minute job.

Where do you get these?

 

[westward10]

Can get them online but off hand can't think of the supplier, just Google meter box box covers. They are better than the original cabinet and dead easy to fit.

 

[SparkySy]

I've fitted those before, I found them on ebay but they weren't that cheap if I recall. Nice and easy to fit and pretty robust as I recall, and can be swung either way. A good work round for busted doors!

 

[westward10]

I've fitted those before, I found them on ebay but they weren't that cheap if I recall. Nice and easy to fit and pretty robust as I recall, and can be swung either way. A good work round for busted doors!

They are in the region of £60 to £70 but they are a brilliant idea.