CU Install

[Mike Johnson]

This should provide some debate, Leyroy Merlin in France, a very large DIY store are offering a training session on how to install a CU: https://www.leroymerlin.fr/campus/c...el/poser-un-tableau-electrique-45-min-1h.html only takes an hour? discuss.

 

[Mike Johnson]

But you have to eat is within 1/2 hour of it being baked, after than you can use it as fence post.

 

[Julie.]

I wonder why anything 'French' is not proper... like French cricket isn't proper cricket, or French knitting isn't proper knitting, French marigolds aren't even marigolds ! And I came across a 'French drain' the other day... and yes, you guessed it... it's not a proper drain, just a soak-away.

French toast isn't toast - it's fried bread
French horn - is a German instrument
French cricket - well it's just not cricket!
French letters aren't letters - err I will stop at this point

 

[telectrix]

but \
french Kisses are...Kisses.

 

[Julie.]

but \
french Kisses are...Kisses.

Oh, pardon my French

 

[telectrix]

trouble is when in the EU, we bin kissing french and german arses for way too long. that's why they're so het up about us leaving. well let the froggies kiss the germans arses again. they had lots of practice in the 1940's.

 

[Mike Johnson]

From the very start after the referendum I said to my local MP we should throw whatever agreement we have with the EU in the dustbin and then let them come to us and we can tell them what we may agree too.

 

[telectrix]

From the very start after the referendum I said to my local MP we should throw whatever agreement we have with the EU in the dustbin and then let them come to us and we can tell them what we may agree too.

well said. it worked against Napoleon and Hitler.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=MkTw3_PmKtc

 

[nicebutdim]

Can't think of a small fixed appliance that would be fused too 3A, but things like extractor fans are normally supplied off a 6A MCB as one of the eight off an RCD.

Not fixed appliances, but those which are plugged into an outlet. I'm trying to understand how light flexes are protected without a fused plug as I can't imagine flexes having to cope with the highest potential rating of breaker.

 

[telectrix]

Not fixed appliances, but those which are plugged into an outlet. I'm trying to understand how light flexes are protected without a fused plug as I can't imagine flexes having to cope with the highest potential rating of breaker.

0.75mm flex can take more that the 6A rating of the MCB/Fuse.

 

[nicebutdim]

0.75mm flex can take more that the 6A rating of the MCB/Fuse.

I understand that, but I doubt sockets in France are limited to 6A and are more likely to be 16 or 20A circuits.

 

[telectrix]

if the frogs want to fry themselves, it's their funeral, nothing todo with us. we already got them out of the shyte twice.

 

[Dustydazzler]

0.75mm flex can take more that the 6A rating of the MCB/Fuse.

especially as they are generally short in length with more often than not a low power load

 

[nicebutdim]

especially as they are generally short in length with more often than not a low power load

In normal operation this type of appliance would never cause any problem, but I'm thinking of fault situations where an overload occurs - the sort of occasion when our fused plug does its job.

I can count on very few fingers the number of times I've had an appliance cause a fuse to blow, but am genuinely curious to know whether continental Europe has some other fail safe in place or if they simply rely on the odds being in their favour?

 

[pc1966]

and then they chopped the heads off anyone with an IQ in double figures.

Same with all revolutions, alas

 

[lozarus]

I have absoloutely zero experience of electrical work 'on the continent' (less changing 1x light fitting when my girlfriend moved) - but the key thing to remember regards fusing down of appliances, is that it just doesn't happen. Where we/manufacturers get quite concerned about the intricacies of fusing extractor fans down to 3a, in Europe they just bob them on a 6a lighting circuit direct (much like we used to). Don't think there's any requirements for Fan Isolators etc. Certainly no such thing as a Fused Outlet. Just 16/20a Radials with Schuko sockets on the end and relevant appliances plugged in. Most modern table lamps seem to come with 0.75mmsq flex (0.5mmsq seems to be more prevalant over here) - so I suppose the worst thing here is having that only backed up by a 16/20a mcb, although as others mentioned, the flex is going to be short in most instances.

Other things I've noticed in Europe is that stuffing glands don't seem too common - wire just goes into enclosures. Nor are corner pieces for conduit. I don't think "Maintenance Free" connections are a thing either - you're free to use whatever suits - and IP ratings seem to be open to interpretation. Don't think metal fixings to prevent premature collpase are prevalent either - that said I don't think I've been to Europe since that came in here. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

It does make me wonder sometimes whether we just go a little too far with some things - or maybe general European standards aren't as high as ours. Or maybe I just happened across some poor examples on my visits. But it's one to think about anyay.