Can you take 2 phases to a consumer unit?

[mossep]

Assuming it’s correctly labelled I see no reason why not. 1, 2 or 3 phases are all under 1000v, and the main switch itself is rated at 400v. Proteus used to make a 3 phase busbar for their single phase fuse boards so they could be used for that purpose, I assume it’s still available.

 

[Gigsy]

Why? you might wish to improve your installation skills Gigsy. The top fixings are desgnedto be proud and not screwed tight until the Unit has been sited on the wall, and then and only then should they be screwed up tight along with the bottom fixings.

I have the installation manual. It is a ---- design I know, but you can not get a screwdriver in to tighten the top two screws. It is designed so that you hang the board on the top two scres then tighten the bottom screw. It says exactly that in the installation manual. I will bring it home tomorrow and scan it to show you.

 

[Gigsy]

You should consult Contactum technical support, by email, and see that they say.........

I will do that, I will get the model of the board tomorrow and send them an e-mail. Thank you.

 

[Gigsy]

Assuming it’s correctly labelled I see no reason why not. 1, 2 or 3 phases are all under 1000v, and the main switch itself is rated at 400v. Proteus used to make a 3 phase busbar for their single phase fuse boards so they could be used for that purpose, I assume it’s still available.

Thank you very much

 

[Gigsy]

Why? you might wish to improve your installation skills Gigsy. The top fixings are desgnedto be proud and not screwed tight until the Unit has been sited on the wall, and then and only then should they be screwed up tight along with the bottom fixings.

On this board you can't get the screwdriver in. It is a very bad design and the installation manual states only to tighten bottom screw. I will scan the manual tomorrow and show you. I will tighten the top two screws tho. But it is designed for them not to be tightened.

 

[Octopus]

I will do that, I will get the model of the board tomorrow and send them an e-mail. Thank you.

Nice one matey.

Would you please share what they say .................. this has been an interesting thread ........... so far

 

[Corbs]

So there not lower than the earth and neutrals bars

 

[Pete999]

top two are not meant to be tightened

Why?

 

[mossep]

In 22 years of being an electrician I have never come across a fuse board that I could not tighten the fixing screws in.......

 

[Pete999]

So this board can be used for a 3 phase 400V supply then?


The board is in a hairdressers, not a domestic premises. Why would a domestic installer be doing electrical work in a commercial building. The board is clearly identified with a 400V warning sticker (i may add a sticker saying isolate both switches) I am an electrical improver, I noticed the sticker. There are two switches with black and grey wires going to them and the switches are labled L2 and L3. You can not fail to realise there are 2 phases going to the board.

What makes you say the enclosure is designed for a single phase supply?

The consumer unit is modular, it is not designed for one switch. You can add another switch, it is designed so that you can add another switch.

As to your first question, there are many occasions where DIs get involved in instalations that perhaps they should leave alone.

 

[mossep]

If you really could not tighten them, use pan head screws and screw them back so they are nigh on flat against the wall, and then hang the board.

 

[mossep]

As to your first question, there are many occasions where DIs get involved in instalations that perhaps they should leave alone.

What exactly is a domestic installer, it sound like an inexperienced electrician? Is it like having P plates on your car after passing a driving test

 

[Octopus]

back to the OP

The correct installation could so easily have been 2 x single phase boards with RCBO's

 

[Gigsy]

Nice one matey.

Would you please share what they say .................. this has been an interesting thread ........... so far

Yes I will, most certainly

 

[Gigsy]

So there not lower than the earth and neutrals bars

exactly, the screws are behind the bars at the top of the board

 

[Gigsy]

In 22 years of being an electrician I have never come across a fuse board that I could not tighten the fixing screws in.......

Very bad design i know

 

[Gigsy]

What exactly is a domestic installer, it sound like an inexperienced electrician? Is it like having P plates on your car after passing a driving test

Good point, I stand corrected. There is no such thing as a domestic installer, I guess. I was replying to another comment. I think we were referring to somebody unfamiliar with working on a 3 phase supply

 

[Gigsy]

back to the OP

The correct installation could so easily have been 2 x single phase boards with RCBO's

I agree, that would also have been a better design

 

[Gigsy]

If you really could not tighten them, use pan head screws and screw them back so they are nigh on flat against the wall, and then hang the board.

thank you

 

[westward10]

It does not require a 400v notice as the nominal voltage does not exceed 230v.

 

[westward10]

In 22 years of being an electrician I have never come across a fuse board that I could not tighten the fixing screws in.......

There were some produced 23 years ago.

 

[Gigsy]

thank you

I can't get the board off the wall tho. That could have been done before it was wired i guess. I will take note in case i encounter a similar situation.

 

[Gigsy]

It does not require a 400v notice as the nominal voltage does not exceed 230v.

I think a warning sticker is advisable because there is a potential of 400V between phases inside the enclosure.

 

[westward10]

I think a warning sticker is advisable because there is a potential of 400V between phases inside the enclosure.

Anyone working on it should undertake safe isolation procedures.

 

[Toneyz]

Assuming it’s correctly labelled I see no reason why not. 1, 2 or 3 phases are all under 1000v, and the main switch itself is rated at 400v. Proteus used to make a 3 phase busbar for their single phase fuse boards so they could be used for that purpose, I assume it’s still available.

I think so did/do Hager.

 

[Toneyz]

What exactly is a domestic installer, it sound like an inexperienced electrician? Is it like having P plates on your car after passing a driving test

There is not such a thing as a domestic installer there are electricians who do domestic electrical installation work and self-certify by joining a C.P.S. The NICEIC call their's D.I. and A.C. we are falling into the trap of calling a vacuum cleaner a Hover.

 

[Toneyz]

One thing reading this post is why are there two phases. Is this a loading issue?

 

[Corbs]

exactly, the screws are behind the bars at the top of the board

Wera min ratchet no excuses

 

[PEG]

My goodness...this was a yomp...like the Star Wars series...i just don't care who's running the death star,at this point...

 

[dksanders]

top two are not meant to be tightened

Where do you get that incorrect information from?

 

[dksanders]

It does not require a 400v notice as the nominal voltage does not exceed 230v.

I disagree, there is 400V between the phases and it should be labelled as such.

What do the final circuits supply from the two phases, is there any possibility of a user bridging the 2 at e.g. sockets on a bench, and being exposed to 400V?

 

[Pete999]

There is not such a thing as a domestic installer there are electricians who do domestic electrical installation work and self-certify by joining a C.P.S. The NICEIC call their's D.I. and A.C. we are falling into the trap of calling a vacuum cleaner a Hover.

In that case Ant, why do scam schools run DI courses?

 

[Pete999]

There is not such a thing as a domestic installer there are electricians who do domestic electrical installation work and self-certify by joining a C.P.S. The NICEIC call their's D.I. and A.C. we are falling into the trap of calling a vacuum cleaner a Hover.

Supporting contractors in the building services sector | NICEIC - http://www.niceic.com/domestic-installer?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlv_XBRDrARIsAH-iRJQ0k3feaK-awMZkydmvS1268O-kIa8PQWw6i1s0hq54UqTpz7YseQAaAmzyEALw_wcB
4081 DIS Hi-Vis Vest S/M - https://www.shop.niceic.com/4081-Snickers-domestic-installer-hi-vis-vest-small-medium

 

[Toneyz]

In that case Ant, why do scam schools run DI courses?

Because this name has been adopted, these courses in my view are geared towards the compliance of Part P & C.P.S schemes these short courses are really designed for people doing small electrical alterations such as kitchens, bathrooms extensions. Anyone doing more involved electrical installation works needs to undertake more in-depth C & G together with practical experience.

 

[Pete999]

Because this name has been adopted, these courses in my view are geared towards the compliance of Part P & C.P.S schemes these short courses are really designed for people doing small electrical alterations such as kitchens, bathrooms extensions. Anyone doing more involved electrical installation works needs to undertake more in-depth C & G together with practical experience.

If what you say is correct Ant, then the scams and the scamschools should stop advertising these courses as Domestic Installer Courses, and the NICEIC are the worst offenders in my book, so to say there is no such thing as a DI is wrong.
Again it's the short course mentality, easy come easy confused, I appreciate what you are saying.

 

[Jason Philip]

So this board can be used for a 3 phase 400V supply then?

The consumer unit is modular, it is not designed for one switch. You can add another switch, it is designed so that you can add another switch.

By modular do you mean it has a DIN rail for mounting breakers? it looks to me like a dual RCD board that has had a second main switch added.

 

[wsoppitt]

It is blatantly obvious that its just a standard high integrity dual rcd consumer unit that has been butchered. The installed neutral conductor has been cut and adopted by the secondary isolator, lack of ferrules suggest this. Not modular more bodgular in my opinion.

 

[brianmoooore]

In my opinion, this board is absolutely fine as it is, as long as the PSC is confirmed as being less than the rating of the components. Anyone who has done any domestic installation outside of this small group of islands would be more than familiar with consumer units laid out like this.
The only change I would have made when fitting it, would have been to use a TP main switch instead of the two DP ones, but there's no requirement for this.

 

[Pete999]

In my opinion, this board is absolutely fine as it is, as long as the PSC is confirmed as being less than the rating of the components. Anyone who has done any domestic installation outside of this small group of islands would be more than familiar with consumer units laid out like this.
The only change I would have made when fitting it, would have been to use a TP main switch instead of the two DP ones, but there's no requirement for this.

What do you mean, a TP isolator in place of the 2 DP ones or a single TP as a direct replacement for the 2 DP switches? if it's the latter idea then that would make the installation more dangerous than it is already imo.

 

[brianmoooore]

TP isolator in place of the RH DP switch (and labeled 'main switch'), links from N of isolator to each RCD, link from L2 of isolator to RH RCD, and link from L3 of isolator to LH RCD.
Both DP isolators removed and not used.
As things are at the moment you have a DP isolator (main switch) followed by another DP isolator (RCD) on each side of the board. The DP switches could have been omitted, and the supplies taken directly to the RCDs, each labeled 'main switch'.Feeding the two RCDs from a TP isolator gives a single point of isolation to keep everyone happy, however you interpret 'single point of isolation'.