Clipsal or equivalent rcbo

[polo1]

Hi guys/gals, can anyone confirm what other make(s) of rcbo will fit a Clipsal split board? I've searched the forum but can't see any definitive answers - and please, no debates about mixing makes of mcb, rcbo etc, needs must. (if anyone has a 10amp Clipsal rcbo to sell, that would be even better!) Thanks.

 

[DNS1]

I've got a load of brand new Clipsal RCBOs which I picked up for a quid each when Wickes discontinued them.

If you're still having time getting hold of them then let me know, I'm sure we can negotiate a fair price

 

[polo1]

Thanks for that. I've picked up a Wylex which I'll try out when I finish the job on Sat. But, I've got your number just in case!

 

[davesparks]

Just in case this hasn't been mentioned before it is bad practice to fit protective devices made by one manufacturer into boards made by another.

It has been proved here that the right ones are available. Any half decent wholesaler will be able to get you one by Saturday when you are going to do the job so there is not really much of an excuse for not fitting the right item.

 

[polo1]

Fair point, but unless I have been poorly advised the RCBO in question is no longer manufactured and none of the wholesalers I use have been able to source them. Web checks have identified some on EBay but not of the correct rating. Believe me, I do try to do the "right" thing.

 

[Octopus]

Fair point, but unless I have been poorly advised the RCBO in question is no longer manufactured and none of the wholesalers I use have been able to source them. Web checks have identified some on EBay but not of the correct rating. Believe me, I do try to do the "right" thing.

Google "obsolete supplies" - they have got me out of 1 or 2 holes in the past!

 

[DNS1]

I will never understand why it's bad practice to fit a device which is of a different "brand" to the others or the housing.

At the end of the day, they all come out of the same Chinese factories and just get different stamps/stickers.

As long as they are designed to fit the same rail and don't compromise the IP rating of the housing then I can't see the problem.

Who here gets their car serviced or repaired at at one of the nationwide garages (Kwik-fit, Halfords Autocentre, Forumla One etc...) 9 times out of 10 they'll be fitting third party manufactured parts as opposed to OEM...

 

[davesparks]

I didn't say brand, I said manufacturer! for example BILL brand stuff has been the same kit as MEM for years, different brands same manufacturer. Wylex, crabtree, volex are all electrium, different brands same manufacturer.
Clipsal who are being discussed here is schneider.

Cheap chinese tat just shouldn't be used full stop as a matter of common sense.

The issue with mixing kit from different manufacturers broadly comes down to requiring the manufacturers permission to fit kit made by someone else into their boards, they have tested and approved their kit in accordance with various standards but not other peoples kit mixed with theirs.
If you put someone else's circuit breaker into your board you in theory have to then test and certify it as a product in the same way as panel builders have to certify their panels made up from various bits of kit.

(That's my understanding of it anyway + a bottle of wine)

 

[shanky887614]

I didn't say brand, I said manufacturer! for example BILL brand stuff has been the same kit as MEM for years, different brands same manufacturer. Wylex, crabtree, volex are all electrium, different brands same manufacturer.
Clipsal who are being discussed here is schneider.

Cheap chinese tat just shouldn't be used full stop as a matter of common sense.

The issue with mixing kit from different manufacturers broadly comes down to requiring the manufacturers permission to fit kit made by someone else into their boards, they have tested and approved their kit in accordance with various standards but not other peoples kit mixed with theirs.
If you put someone else's circuit breaker into your board you in theory have to then test and certify it as a product in the same way as panel builders have to certify their panels made up from various bits of kit.

(That's my understanding of it anyway + a bottle of wine)

Your understanding is same as qs at my firm

 

[davesparks]

it makes sense to me, we need to comply with manufacturers instructions. Will a manufacturer instruct you to install someone else's kit if you ask them?

 

[DNS1]

What's the general feeling on fitting as a Crabtree RCBO in a Wylex board? All made by Electrium, just different stickers...

 

[davesparks]

If they are obviously the same items with different printing on then I wouldn't personally flag it up as a problem.
Same as fitting a Wylex breaker in a sector CU, it's just Wylex stuff with sector stickers on it.