Recessed 2 Module Metalclad Backbox with Din Rail

[kai]

There must be some reason that this type of enclosure is not sold in the Uk???
Is it something to do with Amendment 3 of the Wiring regulation, which prohibit a flush mount din-rail enclosure, other than to use a consumer unit?

 

[stillp]

There must be some reason that this type of enclosure is not sold in the Uk?

Lack of demand?

 

[stillp]

I believe Schneider, or Telemec as was, sold the moulds for a lot of their switchgear to a chinese manufacturer some time ago.

No, they didn't. They (Telemecanique) did sell the tooling for their old D1 range of contactors to an Indian company in the 1980s, and they lived to regret it!

 

[stillp]

As far as I am aware many consumer units are infact UPVC or similar material e.g. MEM, Wylex etc etc(probably made under licence in the far east!!).

No, the genuine ones use much more sophisticated plastics than uPVC. The better ones are often made in the far east, but in the manufacturers' own subsidiaries rather than 'under licence'. One UK manufacturer tried licensing the manufacture tp far eastern factories, but soon found out their products were going out of the back door under other names, at twice the rate of 'official'production.

 

[Iggifer]

There must be some reason that this type of enclosure is not sold in the Uk???
Is it something to do with Amendment 3 of the Wiring regulation, which prohibit a flush mount din-rail enclosure, other than to use a consumer unit?

Nope. You can still put contractors, timers, relays etc in a plastic enclosure. You can use an adaptable box and put some DIN rail in it if the situation calls for it. And of course, you can still use plastic consumer units everywhere bar domestic situations.

 

[stillp]

you can still use plastic consumer units everywhere bar domestic situations

Even in domestic situations if you put them in a non-combustible enclosure!

 

[Iggifer]

Protek make a '4 way' flush metal. But I think it's actually 2+4 as it comes with an incomer, so may be too big

http://www.protekuk.co.uk/metal-consumer-units.pdf

 

[stillp]

"Designed and built in the UK to BS EN 60439"

Edit: BS EN 60439 has been withdrawn for some years now. It has been replaced by the BS EN 61439 series, which has substantially different requirements.

 

[Simon35]

I believe Schneider, or Telemec as was, sold the moulds for a lot of their switchgear to a chinese manufacturer some time ago.

No, they didn't. They (Telemecanique) did sell the tooling for their old D1 range of contactors to an Indian company in the 1980s, and they lived to regret it!

A panelbuilder once showed me some contactors which looked exactly like old schneider gear and were chinese branded.

 

[stillp]

A lot of Chinese companies have copied Telemecanique (and other) designs. They don't use the right materials though, and they sometimes leave out important bits whose function isn't immediately obvious (e.g. interlocks on reversing starters).
I led an industry group trying to put a stop to the import of these rip-offs some years ago, without much success. Lots of lawyers making lots of money...

 

[kai]

The trouble is that many far eastern companies do not even understand why a given product is made a certain way! It's like their own brand MCB's are made of polystyrene, which starts to soften at around 80 degrees centigrade!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I led an industry group trying to put a stop to the import of these rip-offs some years ago, without much success. Lots of lawyers making lots of money...

The latter would not be possible if there were clear laws with teeth.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You can still put contractors, timers, relays etc in a plastic enclosure.

Wouldn't that be a similar switchgear assembly?