New to the forum, 100a main switch problem

[Pandemic]

Hi all,

Just dropping in first time on this forum, currently in my last year at college studying electrical installation.

I have a quick question for anyone who maybe able to help. I have installed a consumer unit today at a new house I have bought, modified the exsisting ring a added 2 new circuits. Anyway to cut a long story short when I was changing the cu today the old board main switch was L N the new board main switch is now N L, my problem is I am struggling to get the L to the right side of the switch ( if that makes sense ) it’s a tad to short, now without buying new tails I noticed the new 100a main switch doesn’t state which way the L N enter it other than the way it’s configured on the load side at the bottom, now i rejigged the load side today so there was no cross polarity etc anywhere and it all works fine but it’s in the back of my mind whether I should change it back? Do these 100a main Schneider switches have anything inside them which may blow or break because I’ve swapped them or literally does it just travel straight through and doesn’t really matter which way it is as long as it meet the correct L N on the load side?

Thanks in advance for the help

 

[HandySparks]

Do you have a pic of the finished main switch wiring? How have you rejigged the wiring to the load side of the switch?

 

[SparkyChick]

A picture of how you have reconfigured may yield a more informed answer.

Some switches do have clear indication of the line/neutral and in those cases it's probably advisable to stick with the marking as it may be the line/neutral contacts are engaged/disengaged in a specific order (typically neutral is made first and broken last).

I might be inclined to have a look at the Schneider website and check.

 

[Andy5678]

Contact Schneider to confirm it’s ok and keep the reply with note on install cert

 

[Midwest]

That's a long and rambling post, if I might say. An isolator is a DP switch, regardless of poles.

 

[PEG]

Hi,and perhaps you have learnt a valuable lesson,regarding starting a task of this nature,without a couple of basic bits,to hand.

 

[Pandemic]

I’ll be sure to get a picture.....Midwest what kind of answer is that? Double pole switch regardless of poles which means what exactly???? PEG I have changed plenty of CU’s I knew what it consisted off thanks for your advice

 

[westward10]

Sounds like you are starting your career the wrong way.

 

[Pandemic]

Brilliant

 

[westward10]

Brilliant

Do this once you will do it again, it is not a professional way to go about things.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - I'm just wondering given that you have reversed the L and N tail positions in the switch - how is that accounted for with the busbar? A pic would be nice

 

[Pandemic]

Do this once you will do it again, it is not a professional way to go about things.

Hence the reason I am here asking the right questions. The switch does not state which way the L and N should enter the switch! So if you ordered a new switch or parts separately how would you know which way to enter it????? There is nothing unprofessional about it

 

[Pandemic]

Hi - I'm just wondering how you have reversed the L and N tail positions in the switch and how that's accounted for with the busbar. A pic would be nice

Thanks for the reply, I will upload tommorrow for you to see

 

[westward10]

You must have doctored the outgoing side of the switch which would not be approved by the manufacturer and would void any warranty.

 

[Pandemic]

You must have doctored the outgoing side of the switch which would not be approved by the manufacturer and would void any warranty.

I don’t know if your trying to boost your post count or something??? If you ordered the switch separately, and linked out live to the rcd and neautral to a neautral bar what would be the problem????

 

[rolyberkin]

I don’t know if your trying to boost your post count or something??? If you ordered the switch separately, and linked out live to the rcd and neautral to a neautral bar what would be the problem????

 

[SparkyChick]

@Pandemic ,

Please tone down the attitude. The guys you're giving attitude to are well respected and whether you realise it or not, they have given you some sage words of wisdom.

 

[Andy78]

Further to my maths revision in another thread, I'm assuming this thread can best be expressed as OP+A=P-R
Where OP is the usual meaning, A is advice, P is pram, and R is rattle.

 

[MJPD29]

Hence the reason I am here asking the right questions. The switch does not state which way the L and N should enter the switch! So if you ordered a new switch or parts separately how would you know which way to enter it????? There is nothing unprofessional about it

It is unprofessional, why be tight with money for new tails after spending money on a new board. Do it right first time round

 

[Spoon]

I tell ya what then? This forum can go and **** itself! I asked a simple question, and got mocked, it’s no wonder so many ---- in this industry with people like you’s!

Enjoy your ****in Sunday

I could retort by saying that:
If it's a simple question, why don't you know it?
There are ---- in the industry, like people who fit a new CU without making sure the tails are long enough or not fitting an isolator.

 

[123]

Hence the reason I am here asking the right questions. The switch does not state which way the L and N should enter the switch! So if you ordered a new switch or parts separately how would you know which way to enter it????? There is nothing unprofessional about it

If Main Switch doesn't state this, how do you know that you have put them in the wrong way around as you seem to think?

 

[PEG]

Hi,please don't get the 'ump,over a bit of deserved ribbing

What you have described,is the unnecessary re-configuring of a new DB,possibly out of MI,for the sake of a bit of 25...

We all have moments of stress and pressure,but i understand this is your own gaff? so,less of an excuse.

For example,if you were tight on an outgoing immersion circuit,would you pull the 3" back,and remount the SFU , 3" towards the DB?

Of course not,but your method of overcoming the original quandary,is along these lines.

I am going to take a wild,uninformed guess,that the reluctance to alter the tails,may,have something to do with where they connect,upstream...and i am prepared to apologise,if not so.

The opportunity to fit an isolator,and maybe even not need a tail stretch,seems missed,and if the case,would be recommended.

Even asking the question,regarding a reordering of DB components,without the other details,could have been more prudent,and avoided the replies received,mostly justified.

A come back,containing a "hands up",and a start again attitude,would erase these last thoughts,and i am giving you a "friendly",as a miniscule-virtual olive branch

 

[westward10]

Let's hope he posts up a pic maybe it was just a case of reconnecting some flexible links and not a busbar.

 

[telectrix]

i'll rtake a shot and assume he has an easy9, where the main switch is with N closest to the RDCs/MCBs and the busbar is cranked behind N to the right terminal. this design was obviously by Stevie Wonder, assisted by Ray Charles. terrible idea.

 

[Pandemic]

......

 

[telectrix]

fit new tails.replace that damaged N - out cable, reconfigure to how it should be. as a trainee, we'll cut you some slack, but please concentrate on doing it right. good habits last a lifetime, bad habits shorten said lifetime.

 

[SparkyChick]

@Pandemic ,

Thanks for coming back and posting a pic or two.

Could you post a picture of the top half of the board please showing the tails where they enter and their routing please?

 

[Pete999]

......

View attachment 40271

View attachment 40272

Bit dodgy is that.

 

[telectrix]

Bit dodgy is that.

more than a bit, pete.

 

[Pete999]

more than a bit, pete.

Yeah but I was trying to be kind, and polite.

 

[Andy78]

Take Tel's advice. That should be reconfigured as it was. It's a pretty awful job, admittedly not helped by the choice of CU brand.

The replacement of a consumer unit also needs fully testing, a certificate producing, and notification to building control.

Thanks for coming back to update the thread. If you can take criticism on the chin and learn from it you'll learn a lot here.

 

[static zap]

We learn by our mistakes.
(Don't become as tight as a slum Landlord.)

 

[Andy5678]

After seeing photo put it back how it was. Put in new tails if you can’t re configure them correctly to suit.

 

[PEG]

Fair play,for having the sand to post the pictures

No need to add any advice,all been covered