A few technical questions if I may?

[1shortcircuit]

Firstly I have on a couple of occasions tried to find the correct answer to my question of "Extending" cables in the event that a consumer unit should need to be moved???

I've seen junction boxes and crimps etc mentioned but never found a conclusive answer.

I do not need to know because I want to do it. This is just something that I'm sure will come up one day?



Secondly, in what order do you find it best to start terminating your consumer units? There are some impressive photos on here. Anyone have any hints or tips that they wouldn't mind sharing?

I'll get a photo of the one that I have been doing recently. I believe it's quite tidy but I'm still not 100% happy with it

One thing I will say about the cable remaining inside the CU I am doing? There's plenty of it

 

[telectrix]

crimps are fine inside the CU.if outside they need to be boxed. wagos are fine as well.

 

[Guest123]

Firstly I have on a couple of occasions tried to find the correct answer to my question of "Extending" cables in the event that a consumer unit should need to be moved???

I've seen junction boxes and crimps etc mentioned but never found a conclusive answer.

I do not need to know because I want to do it. This is just something that I'm sure will come up one day?

Depends on how they are to be extended.....can you have an adaptable box accessible somewhere afterwards with din-rail & din-rail connectors in. Will the joints be in-accessible afterwards so would require a 'maintenance free' connection such as crimps or wago/helacon style connectors.



Secondly, in what order do you find it best to start terminating your consumer units? There are some impressive photos on here. Anyone have any hints or tips that they wouldn't mind sharing?

I'll get a photo of the one that I have been doing recently. I believe it's quite tidy but I'm still not 100% happy with it

One thing I will say about the cable remaining inside the CU I am doing? There's plenty of it

CPC's first tucked away, then neutrals, then lines into MCB's etc.

In blue.

 

[Des 56]

I have seen an installation that had 22 Jbs shoved into the ceiling space to allow the consumer unit to be extended (Niceic approved job)
I have seen twisted joints with bits of tape wrapped around (diy no doubt)
I recently saw a Domestic installer job where the rings were into 15 amp connectors,and 6.0mm added on ( no tape on this occasion)the council dis abled grant guy didn't want to know,these were plasterboarded back in to the wall

I described these to make the point that there is compliant and non compliant ways
Whether crimps are used,adaptable boxes with din rail connections,jbs etc
As long as what is carried out is an acceptable method then there is no difinitive method,its whats suitable for the job taking account of individual preferences

 

[1shortcircuit]

crimps are fine inside the CU.if outside they need to be boxed. wagos are fine as well.

Are there specific crimps that would be used for this? I'm presuming we're not just talking ordinary crimps lol

Also, I have seen a few unfavourable things mentioned about these Wagos???

Will the joints be in-accessible afterwards so would require a 'maintenance free' connection such as crimps or wago/helacon style connectors.

I would imagine that should I ever be faced with this task in then the chances are it would be a case of pulling the existing cabling back up into the ceiling voids, extended and rerouted thus making the terminations in-accessible due to being beneath the floor boards.

CPC's first tucked away, then neutrals, then lines into MCB's etc.

Not Neutral first like a chose to do lol

Thanks Tel and Lenny :thumbsup

 

[1shortcircuit]

What about soldering and heat shrinking? Is that an option for extending cabling???

 

[jmtisme]

not allowed to solder solid core cables according to BRB

 

[1shortcircuit]

I have seen an installation that had 22 Jbs shoved into the ceiling space to allow the consumer unit to be extended (Niceic approved job)
I have seen twisted joints with bits of tape wrapped around (diy no doubt)
I recently saw a Domestic installer job where the rings were into 15 amp connectors,and 6.0mm added on ( no tape on this occasion)the council dis abled grant guy didn't want to know,these were plasterboarded back in to the wall

I described these to make the point that there is compliant and non compliant ways
Whether crimps are used,adaptable boxes with din rail connections,jbs etc
As long as what is carried out is an acceptable method then there is no difinitive method,its whats suitable for the job taking account of individual preferences

Sorry Des, it appears I missed your reply

So it's pretty much a grey area and so long as you can justify using the method that you have chosen then all should be well and good?

I guess that a maintenance free joint is most definitely the more favourable and a method such as crimping would be less time consuming and safer?

not allowed to solder solid core cables according to BRB

Thanks jmtisme, I wondered why I had not seen it mentioned previously.

 

[thewetspark]

Cable connections are DEFINITELY not a grey area. 17th, 526.3 (Page 106) gives you the exceptions for connections that are not accessible for later inspection etc.
Crimping is the quickest and easiest, I use pre-insulated terminals, hard to find uninsulated for the smaller sizes (below 10mm2), but still put a sleeve over each joint, then use a junction box with strain clamps. If it's going to be burried in masonary, "plastered in", then us a waterproof or gel fill. I also have a good crimper which punches a point into the crimp, not just flattening it. Again hard to find, mine is from the USA which i got while working abroad for an American company.
There are also several makes of "sustained contact", 17th compliant, JB's available but they all tend to be both expensive and bulky.

I always wire up a CU from the main switch breaker at a time, dead test each circuit then terminate it. With the other breakers out you more room to get the cables in easily. If you do it neatly you, or others, can then take out any individual circuit at a later date as none are trapped. Some CU's are easier than others and everyone must have a favourite.

 

[1shortcircuit]

Cable connections are DEFINITELY not a grey area. 17th, 526.3 (Page 106) gives you the exceptions for connections that are not accessible for later inspection etc.
Crimping is the quickest and easiest, I use pre-insulated terminals, hard to find uninsulated for the smaller sizes (below 10mm2), but still put a sleeve over each joint, then use a junction box with strain clamps. If it's going to be burried in masonary, "plastered in", then us a waterproof or gel fill. I also have a good crimper which punches a point into the crimp, not just flattening it. Again hard to find, mine is from the USA which i got while working abroad for an American company.
There are also several makes of "sustained contact", 17th compliant, JB's available but they all tend to be both expensive and bulky.

I always wire up a CU from the main switch breaker at a time, dead test each circuit then terminate it. With the other breakers out you more room to get the cables in easily. If you do it neatly you, or others, can then take out any individual circuit at a later date as none are trapped. Some CU's are easier than others and everyone must have a favourite.

Excellent post, Thanks vey much. I will certainly be looking at 526.3 :thumbsup

 

[malcolmsanford]

not allowed to solder solid core cables according to BRB

That's interesting what reg is that?

 

[thewetspark]

We'll have to wait for jmtisme to reply, all I can think of relevant is British Railways Board but they are long gone.
I'd have thought if there was a probelm soldering solid core cable 526.3 would have mentioned it.
I've tested soldering and you end up with a lot of melted insulation, messy and needs a long length of insulation sleeve.
Crimps and a "choc box" if you can leave it in a void, if it needs plastering in then either gel or resin pour into a length of plastic conduit, small and neat to chase in.