Hager Metal Consumer Units

uksparks · Mar 6, 2015

Hi,

This morning in my local wholesalers they had a selection of the latest Hager metal consumer units that comply with amendment 3. I have to say I was quite impressed with the look of them, especially the Design 30.

GB.Kayak · Mar 9, 2015

Tony said:
The dash to fit smart meters has resulted in many installations being disturbed by unqualified “operatives”.

Two interesting points that are worth considering:

When did they start fitting these meters?
When did the dramatic rise in “fuse board” fires start?

To the best of my knowledge these meter fitters aren’t allowed to open a CU to check the tails they have disturbed. As for checking the terminations in the head, that I don’t know.

If the real source of the fire could be attributed to one of the three major components in an install, IE, the head, the meter or the CU then some logical conclusions could be reached.

Statistic recording the dates and location of meter installations and the dates and locations of “electrical fires” could prove interesting.

Looking at it, going back to metal service heads and meters would be the next logical step for the LFB to twist the IET’s limp wrist. But we all know that won’t happen because the DNO’s and energy companies will turn around and tell the IET they have no authority in the distribution industry and get stuffed.

Really good stuff T, the only concern that I have is that it is not only unskilled people on the installation side. It would not surprise me if many of those who investigate the causes of fires lack the inquiring mind, experience and time to really identify the actual cause; after all I suspect that real forensic investigations are rare. There is clearly significantly more to the current problems than de-skilling be that installers or distributors' staff, poor materials or design in the 'race to the bottom' on price, or the lack of records due to the 'chancers' in the game. The only saving grace in all of this is those amongst us who, whatever their training or route into this business, are professional in going about their business.

GB.Kayak · Mar 9, 2015

D Skelton said:
Like I have said a thousand bloody times, there is no 'direct' evidence, however the numbers are clear to see for anyone who isn't burying their head in the sand!

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fire-statistics-great-britain-2013-to-2014

Do the research yourself. All the relevant numbers are there, no figure manipulation either.

Notice how fires caused by electrical distribution in dwellings is on a very very slow decline until 2005, the year that Part P was introduced, then notice a sharp rise.

I suppose this is just coincidence right?! I suppose the manufacturers just decided to start making their gear rubbish in 2005 and that's the cause right?!

Come on man, take your bleedin' blinkers off will you!

D, which document at this link were you looking at; the summary PDF did not seem to provide any trend data which supports your position. I have not looked into the spreadsheets due to being on an iPad and I lack the apps to do so, I also haven't downloaded them to my laptop to enable that.

Midwest · Mar 9, 2015

shanky887614 said:
there were some 2" plastic stuffing glands in eddys the other day, bring your swa in through that. (we regually use 20,25 and 32mm stuffers

We might be at cross purposes, I was referring to entering a metal clad CU with double insulated meter tails, and the potential therein with TT supply. Hager makes no reference to any sort of manufactured remedy, nor does MK on their 3rd amendment CU's.

Even using the Wylex plastic gland, the potential of the tails (however small) shorting with metal of the CU before an RCD remains.

Leesparkykent · Mar 9, 2015

Midwest said:
We might be at cross purposes, I was referring to entering a metal clad CU with double insulated meter tails, and the potential therein with TT supply. Hager makes no reference to any sort of manufactured remedy, nor does MK on their 3rd amendment CU's.

Even using the Wylex plastic gland, the potential of the tails (however small) shorting with metal of the CU before an RCD remains.

use a plastic wiska sprint gland with the correct insert and adequately support the tails with a clamp that is available in the hager range.

Midwest · Mar 9, 2015

That's the Hager one sorted then, but what about the others. Why is it down to us installers to make these products comply with the regs, when they end up on a wall. You wouldn't expect to buy an appliance with some wires hanging out of it and work out how to terminate to it. Everyone will have a different approach on how to comply with IP rating for cable entry for example. Seems these manufacturers make their rcd's, mcb's etc, and just chuck them in a box, metal or plastic. If some manufactuer had any sence, they would design something that covered all or some of the things mentioned
in this thread, nobody would install anything else. They would make a bomb.