cutting bus bars - how do you do it?

Come on...... I'm dyin' to know why a bus bar would be insulated? Not being an electition an all.
Perhaps you should reflect on why any conductor which carries electricity is insulated.

Kind Regards, John

As a PC case maker and modder I can't help taking everything apart, you know for bits I can use. Since buying my first house I've had the opertunity of taking my old CU to bit's and I can't see why it would need to be insulated?

But I must admit, I'd keep my eyes open for one or two as they would make good brackets for the water pump.
 
Since buying my first house I've had the opertunity of taking my old CU to bit's and I can't see why it would need to be insulated?
It depends upon the design of the particular CU but, particularly if it has no 'cover' or suchlike in front of the bus bar, there's a lot of live exposed metal there just waiting for someone to touch if they have the cover off the CU.

Kind Regards, John
 
Since buying my first house I've had the opertunity of taking my old CU to bit's and I can't see why it would need to be insulated?
It depends upon the design of the particular CU but, particularly if it has no 'cover' or suchlike in front of the bus bar, there's a lot of live exposed metal there just waiting for someone to touch if they have the cover off the CU.

Kind Regards, John

Proprietary fittings again eh? Thanks for the lesson and sorry for the spelling. Start work at 4:30am, just got in and phone doesn't like forum sites much.
 
Proprietary fittings again eh?
Which all CUs have - proprietary busbar designs, proprietary distance between rail and busbar, proprietary depth of breakers.....

:?

It's why so often you simply can't put any old breaker into a CU.
 
I'm dyin' to know why a bus bar would be insulated? Not being an electition an all.
very important for a 3 phase bar where 3 seperate bars run parralel within millimetres of each other

Any tips/gotchas/whatever-you-do-don't-do...s for cutting insulated CU busbars?

I had planned to just use a hacksaw with the work clamped either side to stop the plastic cover moving about....

Slide the cover off and cut seperate,usually a few mill longer to prevent exposed bar end, unless using end stops where available.
 
Proprietary fittings again eh?
Which all CUs have - proprietary busbar designs, proprietary distance between rail and busbar, proprietary depth of breakers.....

:?

It's why so often you simply can't put any old breaker into a CU.

And it anoyed the hell out of me when I spotted a post that mentioned Wylex not being such a good make. Sparky talked me into a 7+7 with RCD's and MCB's for £80 and now I'm stuck with Wylex aren't I? :cry:
 
I would.

Electrium churn out nothing but garbage from their factory these days, regardless of who it's branded as. I won't touch it with a barge pole.

Stick with hager, MEM, or schneider and you'll be fine.
 
I would.

Electrium churn out nothing but garbage from their factory these days, regardless of who it's branded as. I won't touch it with a barge pole.

Stick with hager, MEM, or schneider and you'll be fine.

Not to mention I've just spotted a recall post on some of the MCB's. Too tired to check anything now though.

A bit off topic but..... any way of multi-quoting posts or do I have to code it myself? Can't for the life of me see a button for it.
 
I would.

Electrium churn out nothing but garbage from their factory these days, regardless of who it's branded as. I won't touch it with a barge pole.

Stick with hager, MEM, or schneider and you'll be fine.

Not to mention I've just spotted a recall post on some of the MCB's. Too tired to check anything now though.

Re the below - can't see a button for what?

A bit off topic but..... any way of multi-quoting posts or do I have to code it myself? Can't for the life of me see a button for it.
You can't see this:

screenhunter03dec101807.jpg


?

Apart from closing off the first quote by typing [/quote] and opening the last with [quote], just highlight the section you want in a quote and click the button.

Unless you are using Firefox. Are you?
 
You surprise me there, not doing domestic myself never really knew mem and schneider got considered much outside the commercial stuff
They don't by DIs or electricians who have only done domestic work and only think about the default "domestic" makes like Wylex, Volex, MK, Contactum...

Siemens Alpha and Beta stuff around 10 years ago were good - don't know if they still are.
 
It all depends on whether the job is specced on quality or price...

I haven't seen any seimens gear around for a long time, and as they are now the parent company of electrium, I wouldn't get your hopes up.
 

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