Can you take 2 phases to a consumer unit?

[Pete999]

top two are not meant to be tightened

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.

 

[Gigsy]

Looking the board up on Contactums website it complies with BSEN 61439, which states:

The new IEC 61439 standard applies to enclosures
for which the rated voltage is under 1000 V AC
(at frequencies not exceeding 1000 Hz) or 1500 V DC.

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

 

[Octopus]

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

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

 

[Gigsy]

Looking the board up on Contactums website it complies with BSEN 61439, which states:

The new IEC 61439 standard applies to enclosures
for which the rated voltage is under 1000 V AC
(at frequencies not exceeding 1000 Hz) or 1500 V DC.

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

It's hardly a common type installation with 2 isolation points when 1 will be the norm, imagine a Domestic installer or Eletrical improver turning up to do some work, only to find two live conductors in what is a fter all an enclosure designed for a single phase supply.
You can argue all you want, but in essencee that is what it is, a Consumers unit desgned for one supply with one singe point of isolation.

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.

 

[Gigsy]

So the main switch is rated to 400v, and the enclosure as a whole is rated up to 1000v, Im not seeing any major issues here.

Thank you very much for taking the time to research the question and giving an informed opinion.

 

[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.