K
kai
I am glad I picked up two for the price of One unit (fully populated dual RCD) before the new stocks arrived and the prices shot back up!
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Selco, again? 
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Putting aside all the disagreements about the requirements for CUs in AMD3.
It seems that some good has come out of it... I've fitted a few Hager Design 10 boards now and general impression is that they are good sturdy boards to work with, as opposed to the plastic ones we used to fit, which were a bit on the flimsy side and even the previous generation of metal units had a plastic front.
We do have a bit of an arkward situation where TT supplies are concerned... but other than that I see that despite it being poorly thought out and written it is leading to some positive changes in the industry... and with a bit more metal work involved in fitting perhaps the 5 day wonders might have to progress beyond slicing out knockouts with a stanley knife...
It seems that some good has come out of it... I've fitted a few Hager Design 10 boards now and general impression is that they are good sturdy boards to work with, as opposed to the plastic ones we used to fit, which were a bit on the flimsy side and even the previous generation of metal units had a plastic front.
We do have a bit of an arkward situation where TT supplies are concerned... but other than that I see that despite it being poorly thought out and written it is leading to some positive changes in the industry... and with a bit more metal work involved in fitting perhaps the 5 day wonders might have to progress beyond slicing out knockouts with a stanley knife...
Nothing like as positive as they would have been if they'd made the makers address the root cause of fires - poorly designed terminals, rather than making them build CUs to withstand the fires of their own creation.
I'm sure they will progress to techniques including:and with a bit more metal work involved in fitting perhaps the 5 day wonders might have to progress beyond slicing out knockouts with a stanley knife...
Jagged holes with no grommets.
Holes so large that they make a mockery of fire containment rules
Tails in individual holes (although I think this might not be an issue at the sorts of currents seen in domestic installations?)
I wonder if any manufacturer tried screwless terminals? These are relatively idiot-proof.
The contact area has been alarmingly small in most of the screwless terminals I've taken a close look at. Don't think I'd trust them on meter tails. There are small 'garage' consumer units available with screwless terminals for the earth and neutral bars. How about crimp lugs and bolt terminals? I don't mean the tiny weak M4/M5? bolt terminals used on Hager '200A' rated 3 phase boards. M10 should do it.
The very few dual rcd plastic boards I see in the wholesalers had loads of visible copper showing on the link cables,
is this still the case in the new metal versions
is this still the case in the new metal versions
I've only seen screwless terminals up to 45 amps (AC3) rated, but it should not be beyond the capabilities of one of the better manufacturers to make them suitable for higher currents.
As far back as the 80's merlin gerin used a 3 phase busbar and had pushin terminals for the mcb links, though 6mm tri rated cable was about the limit.
Interesting question. Mind you, if we are talking about a need-for idiot-proofing again people are not even competent to something as basic as using and tightening screw terminals satisfactory, then maybe we should be doing something about those 'idiots' (like finding a way to stop them getting anywhere near an electrical installation) rather than changing the terminals?
Kind Regards, John
Screwless terminals also take up the creep so don't loosen with time. Yes, it would be good if everyone knew how to tighten screws properly, how to use a multimeter, why neons have limited use, etc, etc,. However many posts on forums like this prove that that is not the case.
Yes, that's all true, and I suppose (IF we are really confident about the very-long-term performance of screwless terminals, given that they could be in service for many decades without being touched) it would be good if we could get all terminals (not just those in CUs) replaced by screwless ones.
However, I'm sure you will understand that my point was far more general than just about terminals. There are always going to be "DIYers" whose knowledge and competence is very limited. However, in the case of 'electricians', if they can't be trusted to deal properly with screw terminals, I have to ask what else, if anything, they could be trusted to do.
Kind Regards, John
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