Consumer unit

[Niblok]

Hi all went to have a look at a c/U change and came across this. Have never seen a C/U like this before can anyone tell me what the top bit is .its a merlin green and is it any different to a standard domestic C/U

Untitled

• Niblok
• 18 May 2013
• 1

Untitled

• Niblok
• 18 May 2013
• 1

 

[crystal ball]

Top bit is the busbar, why are you changing it?

 

[Lectrician]

IT's a more commercial orientated Merlin Gerin type A board. Still available, just slightly redesigned. MCB's/RCBO's are still identical.

Part of Schnieder these days.

http://www.schneider-electric.co.uk.../distribution-boards/isobar-a-type-board.page

The top busbar ABOVE the mcb's has tabs you move over the terminal screw to shield them. This also 'turns on' that particular busbar stab.

 

[Niblok]

House is having a extension built with extra bathroom with electric shower was just going to put shower c/u up but customer wants changing so all on RCD

Yes thought it looked commercial

 

[crystal ball]

Ok fair enough, its probably a better quality unit than anything else on the market other than another MG

 

[streetlighter]

Merlin Gerin Isobar they also do a 3ph version great quality units not normally found in a domestic setup.

 

[crystal ball]

I fitted a MG unit for a guy who was an ex NASA engineer, he had researched long and hard and concluded that this was the best on the market, he had suffered from nuisance tripping of RCBOs on his Proteus CU for years, after the MG went in no more nuisance trips

 

[JohnW2]

The top busbar ABOVE the mcb's has tabs you move over the terminal screw to shield them. This also 'turns on' that particular busbar stab.

That's very snazzy (hence, I assume, expensive), but does it actually represent much of an advantage - other than to someone who wishes to work in the CU when it is at least partially live?

Kind Regards, John

 

[matt1e]

I come across plenty of the 3ph ones but that's the first single I've seen! didn't realise they existed.

Matt

 

[Iggifer]

I've seen newer MG SP units with this busbar/mcb pan, didnt realise they had been around nearly as long as me!

And John, the busbar design is certainly more advantageous in big 3P+N boards where it supplies things like alarms, fire alarms, IT systems etc where it would necessarily be practical to deenergise the whole board to swap an rcbo for example

 

[JohnW2]

And John, the busbar design is certainly more advantageous in big 3P+N boards where it supplies things like alarms, fire alarms, IT systems etc where it would necessarily be practical to deenergise the whole board to swap an rcbo for example

Yes, that makes sense. As I said when asking about advantages...

....other than to someone who wishes to work in the CU when it is at least partially live?

Kind Regards, John

 

[RF Lighting]

They are a bit more expensive, but not horrendously so.

Of course no one should be working on an energised board, but these are a very safe board even whilst energised with the cover removed.

The only advantage they offer in the domestic market is build quality, and range and availablity of devices.

 

[Lectrician]

How many times have you put the cover back on and realised you have not slid the MCB shield over Rob?

What annoys me with the TPN covers is the left hand set of screws - a PITA to remove being so close to the door hinge!

Excellent build quality though.

matt1e - Most manufacturers who produce a TPN board will also produce a single phase variant. They are usually known as Type A and Type B boards. A being single phase, B being three phase.

 

[RF Lighting]

How many times have you put the cover back on and realised you have not slid the MCB shield over Rob?

Just like putting the cover on a domestic board and then seeing the busbar shroud still sat on the floor?

 

[Lectrician]

Yep, that certainly happens many times. You quite often find them sat on top of a CU when you go to do an EICR too!