18th edition consumer unit

longers30 · Jun 6, 2019

Hey all,

I have just finished a rewire of a 1 bed house and just have the board left to install. I am a qualified sparky but now work as a project manger so haven’t carried out much domestic work in the last couple of years. I know that the requirements for installing consumer units has now changed and am wondering what are the requirements with regard to cable entries into the board. I have the cables all dropping down from the ceiling where the existing board and meter position is in the entrance hall. Any advice would be appreciated.

Dave OCD · Jun 6, 2019

My preferred method is to bring all cables through the large rear knockout, suitably grommeted of course. And I generally space the board off a little with a couple of pieces of small batten the same height as the board to facilitate this. If you use the top knockouts you then need several glands to achieve the required IP rating and it doesn't look as good either.

buzzlightyear · Jun 6, 2019

ip rated on top open grommets sealed with fire seal ,if you cannot get the cables behind
Everbuild Fire Mate Intumescent Sealant white 33
(EVBFIRE)

Charlie_ · Jun 6, 2019

1 bed house, how many circuits?
Maybe 5?
I prefer the rear entry method (no pun intended)
Failing that, I would use trunking

buzzlightyear · Jun 6, 2019

Charlie_ said:
I prefer the rear entry method

yes matron ,LOL.

Octopus · Jun 6, 2019

Rcbo board ....

Charlie_ · Jun 6, 2019

What’s the earthing arrangement?

DPG · Jun 7, 2019

Murdoch said:
Rcbo board ....

Didn't know you were a fan of RCBOs Murdoch.

Dustydazzler · Jun 7, 2019

Rcbo board , little bit MT4

Bingo bango bongo

GBDamo · Jun 7, 2019

Charlie_ said:
What’s the earthing arrangement?

Go on, i dying to know how the earthing arrangements dictate cable entry method in to a CU.

Are you giving Pete an afternoon off?

Charlie_ · Jun 7, 2019

My question on earthing;
TT - upfront RCD or going for the option of having the tails enter the board with one of those special stuffers that apparently guarantee the board from becoming live.

Day off;.. we’ve all had one of those today in the iom, it’s a national holiday

Deleted member 26818 · Jun 7, 2019

Top horizontal surface of the board has to be IP4X or IPXXD, the front sides and bottom surfaces have to be IP2X or IPXXB.

longers30 · Jun 7, 2019

Thanks for all the replies guys! It’s a T-N-CS earthing arrangement. As the board is going to be tight to the ceiling there won’t be room for trunking so may do the rear entry method. This is a photo of the old board being replaced.

Octopus · Jun 7, 2019

longers30 said:
Thanks for all the replies guys! It’s a T-N-CS earthing arrangement. As the board is going to be tight to the ceiling there won’t be room for trunking so may do the rear entry method. This is a photo of the old board being replaced.

I don’t believe that head was that close to the ceiling when it was installed ...

littlespark · Jun 7, 2019

Not strictly needed, but I would bring the board down the wall a bit to a more user friendly height. With trunking to hide cables.

littlespark · Jun 7, 2019

Love the smart meter just hanging there. 5 star installation

telectrix · Jun 7, 2019

littlespark said:
Not strictly needed, but I would bring the board down the wall a bit to a more user friendly height. With trunking to hide cables.

or chase them in. then CU on a bespoke piece of board, spaced off wall with 4 bits of 1/2" long 20mm pvc conduit . then rear entry.

littlespark · Jun 7, 2019

Everyone seems obsessed with rear entry on this forum. Nudge nudge, wink wink. say no more, guv’nor

richy3333 · Jun 7, 2019

vitoboy said:
Why do we fit RCDs for stuff buried in a wall less than 50mm deep if not to guard against things that aren't "normal use"??

telectrix said:
or chase them in. then CU on a bespoke piece of board, spaced off wall with 4 bits of 1/2" long 20mm pvc conduit . then rear entry.

Or use a stand off bracket rather than battening. Many manufacturers sell them.

Midwest · Jun 7, 2019

longers30 said:
As the board is going to be tight to the ceiling there won’t be room for trunking so may do the rear entry method. This is a photo of the old board being replaced.

Think of the little people.

Midwest · Jun 7, 2019

Dave OCD said:
And I generally space the board off a little with a couple of pieces of small batten the same height as the board to facilitate this.

I do rather hate mixing pieces of organic matter with metal. Just doesn't seem very karma to me. What about plastic, or even some manufactures spacers.

Dave OCD · Jun 7, 2019

Nah I like my little battens.

DPG · Jun 7, 2019

I like batten berg.

magnoliafan89 · Jun 7, 2019

I bloody hate people who do rewires and still put the new board back at ceiling height....especially when its in the smallest cupboard they can find....even more infuriating to finallt get the cover off to find a birds nest

Zac lynch · Jun 8, 2019

longers30 said:
Hey all,

I have just finished a rewire of a 1 bed house and just have the board left to install. I am a qualified sparky but now work as a project manger so haven’t carried out much domestic work in the last couple of years. I know that the requirements for installing consumer units has now changed and am wondering what are the requirements with regard to cable entries into the board. I have the cables all dropping down from the ceiling where the existing board and meter position is in the entrance hall. Any advice would be appreciated.

I think you must do short course called part p etc ???

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