Recommend a consumer unit

[atm84]

I've been off the tools for a while what is everyone's favourite consumer out there. Looking for a min 12 way split board with the option of a couple of ways on non rcd ways.

I personally like Schneider boards but does anyone have any other recommendations taking into account cost, and space inside the board, quality etc.

Obviously needs to be amendment 3 compliant.

Cheers

 

[telectrix]

wht amnd.3? that' don't come into force till january 2016.

 

[atm84]

That's when I will get round to getting it fitted, plus I like the belt and braces approach.

 

[davesparks]

That's when I will get round to getting it fitted, plus I like the belt and braces approach.

Are you concerned that you are not capable of fitting it correctly?
If it's in your own house and you are capable of fitting it properly then I see no reason not to install plastic

 

[atm84]

Fair point. So back to the original question can you recommend a make of consumer unit?

 

[davesparks]

I use Schneider units with compact RCBOs from SBS

 

[shanky887614]

I use Schneider units with compact RCBOs from SBS

i didnt think you were supposed to mix brands on new installs

 

[uksparks]

Hager every time

 

[Dave OCD]

I'd recommend Hager too,decent quality.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Hager every time

I'd recommend Hager too,decent quality.

Apart from the rubbish busbar arrangement. Still havent had an opportunity to fit an am3 starbreaker cu but their plastic boards have by far the best busbar system.

 

[davesparks]

i didnt think you were supposed to mix brands on new installs

I don't, SBS supply the unit as a Schneider enclosure with their own RCBOs pre fitted. Therefore they have manufactured the assembly and placed it on to the market.
I have purchased it as a premade unit, if I bought it as seperate parts and put it together myself then yes I would be accepting the liability for that.

 

[atm84]

I don't, SBS supply the unit as a Schneider enclosure with their own RCBOs pre fitted. Therefore they have manufactured the assembly and placed it on to the market.
I have purchased it as a premade unit, if I bought it as seperate parts and put it together myself then yes I would be accepting the liability for that.

Interesting

 

[atm84]

Apart from the rubbish busbar arrangement. Still havent had an opportunity to fit an am3 starbreaker cu but their plastic boards have by far the best busbar system.

Why is that? Why do you think their bus at system is better than Schneider?

 

[davesparks]

Interesting

Why? It's no different to most of the cheaper brands who buy their MCBs in from a single manufacturer with their own labels printed on them.
Some reputable brands do exactly the same thing. MK LN breakers were made by Siemens and their original sentry series MCBs (the good ones) were rebranded Merlin Gerin

 

[davesparks]

Why is that? Why do you think their bus at system is better than Schneider?

Starbreaker boards have a permanently fitted busbar, not one of the crappy loose cut and fit it yourself ones of other manufacturers

 

[shanky887614]

Starbreaker boards have a permanently fitted busbar, not one of the crappy loose cut and fit it yourself ones of other manufacturers

i think atm is refering to the isobar boards.

what are the crabtree boards like? i havent seen one.

 

[atm84]

i think atm is refering to the isobar boards.

what are the crabtree boards like? i havent seen one.

Yes I was

 

[shanky887614]

Yes I was

the isobar boards have a fixed busbar. i think your refering to the easy9 boards with the removable busbar (i wouldnt use them)

 

[davesparks]

Well the OP asked for a consumer unit, not a distribution board. Easy 9 are schneiders consumer unit range as they are described in their catalogues.

 

[andyb]

Are you concerned that you are not capable of fitting it correctly?
If it's in your own house and you are capable of fitting it properly then I see no reason not to install plastic

Other than complying with bs7671.

 

[shanky887614]

Well the OP asked for a consumer unit, not a distribution board. Easy 9 are schneiders consumer unit range as they are described in their catalogues.

acti9 are rebranded merlin geran.

they do single phase consumer units that dont look much different and are mc

 

[Leesparkykent]

Other than complying with bs7671.

:sailor:Agreed.

 

[davesparks]

Other than complying with bs7671.

If that means complying with an idiotic regulation based on sheet stupidity then I'll happily write it up as a deviation.
I am not so stupid as to blindly follow bs7671 without thinking!

 

[andyb]

If that means complying with an idiotic regulation based on sheet stupidity then I'll happily write it up as a deviation.
I am not so stupid as to blindly follow bs7671 without thinking!

Well all my quotes say 'all works to comply with BS 7671'
I don't think that makes me stupid, what would be stupid is not to comply.
Very stupid.

 

[davesparks]

Well all my quotes say 'all works to comply with BS 7671'
I don't think that makes me stupid, what would be stupid is not to comply.
Very stupid.

And bs7671 contains a regulation which permits deviations from bs7671 providing that the deviation maintains an equivalent level of safety. So making a deviation which is comsidered and justified does still comply with bs7671.

And considering how many mistakes get printed in bs7671 I think blindly following it is plain stupid

 

[Leesparkykent]

And bs7671 contains a regulation which permits deviations from bs7671 providing that the deviation maintains an equivalent level of safety. So making a deviation which is comsidered and justified does still comply with bs7671.

And considering how many mistakes get printed in bs7671 I think blindly following it is plain stupid

Make sure you don't take your scam assessor to an installation where you've installed a plastic CCU that isn't in a non combustible enclosure after jan 1st 2016.

 

[andyb]

And bs7671 contains a regulation which permits deviations from bs7671 providing that the deviation maintains an equivalent level of safety. So making a deviation which is comsidered and justified does still comply with bs7671.

As has been pointed out many times on this forum, Bs7671 is not statutory so you don't need a reg to allow deviations. Just ignore it. Though that would be stupid.

And considering how many mistakes get printed in bs7671 I think blindly following it is plain stupid

Are you talking about printing errors here of mistakes in electrical principle or application.

 

[banny07]

Hager all the way.

 

[davesparks]

Make sure you don't take your scam assessor to an installation where you've installed a plastic CCU that isn't in a non combustible enclosure after jan 1st 2016.

I'm not currently in a scam, but for some reason I've seen no sign of the part P police coming to get me.

The last time I did have a scam assessor look at my work he completely missed an extraneous part which I was not bonded. I pointed it out to him after he had passed me and he went bright red and coughed an spluttered his way through excuses. (I put the bond back on to it, I'd removed it just to see if he noticed)

 

[Leesparkykent]

I'm not currently in a scam, but for some reason I've seen no sign of the part P police coming to get me.

The last time I did have a scam assessor look at my work he completely missed an extraneous part which I was not bonded. I pointed it out to him after he had passed me and he went bright red and coughed an spluttered his way through excuses. (I put the bond back on to it, I'd removed it just to see if he noticed)

joining Stroma though are you not? I recon even an incompetent assessor would be able to tell the difference between a plastic CCU and a metal one.

 

[davesparks]

joining Stroma though are you not? I recon even an incompetent assessor would be able to tell the difference between a plastic CCU and a metal one.

Apparently, my new business partner is handling. The majority of the work I do is for our commercial customers.

I'm sure they'll be able to spot a plastic CU quite well, but if I fit one and justify the decision to fit it then they won't really be able to say much.
But having said that I've almost always fitted metal CUs since I was an apprentice as that's what my mentor always used, apart from TT installations of course.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Apparently, my new business partner is handling. The majority of the work I do is for our commercial customers.

I'm sure they'll be able to spot a plastic CU quite well, but if I fit one and justify the decision to fit it then they won't really be able to say much.
But having said that I've almost always fitted metal CUs since I was an apprentice as that's what my mentor always used, apart from TT installations of course.

I think it will be a blatant non conformance.

 

[davesparks]

I think it will be a blatant non conformance.

How so? As I said earlier bs7671 allows deviations so there's no way a deviation can be a non conformance with bs7671

 

[andyb]

How so? As I said earlier bs7671 allows deviations so there's no way a deviation can be a non conformance with bs7671

Come on Dave, that's Orwellian double speak.
If an installation does not conform with Bs7671 then that is a non conformity.

 

[davesparks]

Come on Dave, that's Orwellian double speak.
If an installation does not conform with Bs7671 then that is a non conformity.

But bs7671 contains a regulation permitting deviations to made from bs7671, so a deviation can be made in conformance with 7671

 

[atm84]

Do the Schneider acti9 not have a fixed bus bar? I thought they were the same as square D quikline boards but just rebrabranded.

 

[Midwest]

I'm not currently in a scam, but for some reason I've seen no sign of the part P police coming to get me.

So in the case of installing a CU in a domestic property, how do you process the notification to LBC?

Can you give us the full name 'SBS', can't find it under that name, and I would like to look at their products.

 

[Midwest]

Can you give us the full name 'SBS', can't find it under that name, and I would like to look at their products.

Cancel that found another thread, where you posted a pdf file.

 

[andyb]

But bs7671 contains a regulation permitting deviations to made from bs7671, so a deviation can be made in conformance with 7671

By not complying with the reg's you are complying with the reg's.

 

[shanky887614]

Do the Schneider acti9 not have a fixed bus bar? I thought they were the same as square D quikline boards but just rebrabranded.

no the acti9 is rebranded merlin geren

Schneider own both sqaure d and merlin so it can get confusing

 

[telectrix]

amendment to my letterheads.:

" all work complies with BS7671 (except for the silly bits)."

 

[Lazlo]

I like the old Wylex wooden consumer units......the smell of rich mahogany

 

[richy3333]

amendment to my letterheads.:

" all work complies with BS7671 (except for the silly bits)."

All my driving complies with the Road Raffic Act (except the silly bits - 30mph in a built up area, I ask you!).

 

[richy3333]

Hager all the way.

I used to think that but I haven't been that impressed with the new Design 10 & 30 boards.

The Design 10's felt a bit flimsy compared to the old metal Wylex I was removing. There is no knock-out on the bottom for a cable gland.

The Design 30's felt more rigid but the tail cable clamp impinges on fitting RCBO's next to the main switch. Hager also only supply 1 rear entry cable clamp per board. That's no good for the heating board I fitted with 3 sets of tails, earthing, bonding and up-teen circuits. You can't get that through one hole (as the actress said to the bishop!). No knock-out for cable galnds either.

Manufacturers havent thought this this new Reg through properly from a practical application point.

 

[Midwest]

If memory serves, one of the Schneider units (if not both) can be sourced with knockouts.

 

[Clive P]

Hi,

I'm with Davesparks on choice, I have a Schneider board ( plastic) with SBS breakers sat on the wall. By the time I get round to completing my own rewire it will probably be next year. Am I going to notify this, I'll not comment on that.

Regards.

 

[Midwest]

I don't, SBS supply the unit as a Schneider enclosure with their own RCBOs pre fitted. Therefore they have manufactured the assembly and placed it on to the market.
I have purchased it as a premade unit.

I can't see that they manufacture anything, just assemble different products, might be wrong? Are they Stansfield Business Services Ltd?