Plastic versas Metal CU's - your chance to vote

Octopus · Feb 16, 2015

Pretty much as the title says - lots of us have opinions but seeing as BEAMA seem to have ruled out plastic CU's lets have a poll - so please add your vote:

frontier219 · Feb 21, 2015

ipf said:
This 2 screw terminal business....agree. Problems occurred because of change over to mcb's, which only have the one terminal screw, a different type altogether.

'Oh, well we might as well make N and E a row of single screw terms on a sliver of brass ' save a chunk on production cost.....and who even mentioned it at the time?

Yep. Double terminal screws and fixed busbars would sort the issue much better than metal CUs IMO.

Leesparkykent · Feb 21, 2015

Have you seen these in city's? I know it's only the main switch with twin screws but it's a start in the correct direction. Also the circular terminal is better IMO.

Octopus · Feb 21, 2015

If the muppets at BEAMA actually wanted to improve standards they would make the main switch as above compulsory NOW.

Like it!

ipf · Feb 21, 2015

frontier219 said:
Yep. Double terminal screws and fixed busbars would sort the issue much better than metal CUs IMO.

mmmm....but, then again, use a correct torque screwdriver and the problem's solved anyway.......my giddy aunt tells me.

frontier219 · Feb 21, 2015

ipf said:
mmmm....but, then again, use a correct torque screwdriver and the problem's solved anyway.......my giddy aunt tells me.

I still believe the main problem is sparks in a rush getting the busbar in behind the screw, rather than it not being tightened properly, hence fixed busbars being better.

ipf · Feb 21, 2015

Murdoch said:
If the muppets at BEAMA actually wanted to improve standards they would make the main switch as above compulsory NOW.

Like it!

Yes. Quite interesting is that. Surprised City are involved , though.

Octopus · Feb 21, 2015

I'm still awaiting a response from Keith Smith at BEAMA to the following email I sent him:

"Keith

I appreciate your candid response and openness.

The quality of fuseboards has progressively dropped over the last 20 years and now they are so flimsy, and I'm not just referring to the, completely flimsy cases, it's the quality of the main switches, the mounting bars, the MCB's the RCBO's - this is what needs fixing.

Introduce a requirement for main switches to have 2 screws per terminal would be a step in the right direction and that coupled with improving the "strength" of the busbar for the MCB's and RCBO's would be good too.

My point remains that you can improve the case BUT ignoring the internal components and in some cases dangerous workmanship is not dealing with the problem."

ipf · Feb 21, 2015

frontier219 said:
I still believe the main problem is sparks in a rush getting the busbar in behind the screw, rather than it not being tightened properly, hence fixed busbars being better.

Not the point I'm making.....it's all in the 'industry' of making money. Who the hell worth his salt needs to apply torque settings to correctly connect a terminal. One thing leads to another and it's not 'the blind leading the blind'....it's those with their eyes wide open.

Leesparkykent · Feb 21, 2015

Could incorporate strain relief for the tails, like the one in the pic or have it nearer the bottom entry on the DB where the tails enter.

telectrix · Feb 21, 2015

the main problem, IMO, is the fact that main switches and RCDs will only accomodate a very short length od conductor in the terminal. anything over 1/4" leaves copper showing. having 2 screws and at least 1/2" of copper in the terminal will cure 75% of the problem.

richy3333 · Feb 21, 2015

telectrix said:
the main problem, IMO, is the fact that main switches and RCDs will only accomodate a very short length od conductor in the terminal. anything over 1/4" leaves copper showing. having 2 screws and at least 1/2" of copper in the terminal will cure 75% of the problem.

And that's scientifically proven

(in 73.67% of cases )

Knobhead · Feb 22, 2015

Leesparkykent said:
Have you seen these in city's? I know it's only the main switch with twin screws but it's a start in the correct direction. Also the circular terminal is better IMO.

Funny how things turn full circle given time.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Plastic versas Metal CU's - your chance to vote

Lee Marshall · Feb 22, 2015

I think main switches should have two screws per terminal like in meters. Loose connections are how most fires start so why not think about how to stop a fire starting rather than how to stop it spreading?

telectrix · Feb 22, 2015

Lee Marshall said:
I think main switches should have two screws per terminal like in meters. Loose connections are how most fires start so why not think about how to stop a fire starting rather than how to stop it spreading?

far too simple a solution for IET. why use common sense when a load of ambiguous waffle generates income?

UNG · Feb 23, 2015

Why is it the electrical industry seems to be more prone to knee jerk reaction changes from the powers that be without any analysis of the information presented to them, LFB has spoken and the IET has jumped in feet first

At the stroke of an amendment are all those CU's that have been installed on the back of the 17th edition now non compliant and will they have to be replaced:biggrin::biggrin:. I sense another load of customers getting stung again