Fitting consumer unit ‘portrait’ not ‘landscape’

[weevilward]

Just a thought - has anyone ever had to install a replacement domestic CU vertically (‘portrait’) because there isn’t enough room to fit in horizontally (‘landscape’)?
Apart from the amendment 3 lid not closing by gravity, it looking a bit odd, and maybe going against manufacturers instructions, can anyone see any major issues with it?
After all, three phase boards stack th MCBs that way round and they seem to work fine!

 

[weevilward]

How about 2 small cu s stacked?

Yeah I thought about this but there isn’t enough height either!. All CUs are much taller now, I would’ve got 2 narrow plastic ones (like the old starbreaker or GE series E) stacked on top of each other. But, rightly so, they make them all much taller now for RCBO’s.
Now they’re all making RCBO’s smaller again...! The wheel goes round....

 

[Ian1981]

So here we are. Don't know if anyone has seen these before but it is an over cover forView attachment 44283 meter cupboards, 10 minute job.

C1

 

[freddo]

It might have an effect on an MCB's curve of operation depending how it's designed and ventilated although I doubt with a domestic CU the effect would be too significant. Guess manufacturers instructions would reflect this.

Not much different to a vertical stack of MCBs in a 3ph DB.

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

Here is one I am going to today, outside and with the cabinet door missing.View attachment 44282

I’ve seen this sort of sh!t before. Wrong on almost all levels.

 

[weevilward]

So I went for it in the end.
Not finished labelling or tidying cables round top, but I don’t think it looks too bad fitted in portrait. Hager even put their logo on the right way for me!

 

[Mike Johnson]

Most French CU's are that way around.

Mike

 

[Toneyz]

Here is one I am going to today, outside and with the cabinet door missing.View attachment 44282

Why was it fitted in there Westward?

 

[westward10]

Why was it fitted in there Westward?

Who knows Ant it seems a random thing to do.

 

[static zap]

Why was it fitted in there Westward?

..Does the coiled up cable imply something temporary ?
enclosed for safety.

 

[weevilward]

View attachment 44325

Most French CU's are that way around.

Mike

I saw one on holiday in France where literally every socket outlet was on its own MCB

 

[D Skelton]

I saw one on holiday in France where literally every socket outlet was on its own MCB

In my gaff every MCB is on its own MCB!

 

[baldelectrician]

So I went for it in the end.
Not finished labelling or tidying cables round top, but I don’t think it looks too bad fitted in portrait. Hager even put their logo on the right way for me!
View attachment 44323 View attachment 44324

I have actually had the horizontal mount discussion with Hager who assured that all will work with a horizontal mounting- the guy told me the domestic MCB's are made the same as the comercial ones with the commercial ones having longer tails and a 10Ka break capacity.
The only non complaince mentioned was the fire rated self closing cover- mind you a spring riveted on the top would solve this

Crabtree fail to work (the RCD's) if mounted horizontally, when i called they told me that they were not tested and not guaranteed to be mounted this way.

 

[weevilward]

I have actually had the horizontal mount discussion with Hager who assured that all will work with a horizontal mounting- the guy told me the domestic MCB's are made the same as the comercial ones with the commercial ones having longer tails and a 10Ka break capacity.
The only non complaince mentioned was the fire rated self closing cover- mind you a spring riveted on the top would solve this

Crabtree fail to work (the RCD's) if mounted horizontally, when i called they told me that they were not tested and not guaranteed to be mounted this way.

That’s good to know, thanks mate.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Off the topic, but thought it may be interesting to some about French Regs:
All what are called "Special Circuits" are on separate MCB's i.e. Washing machine, Tumble Drier, Dish Washer, Oven, Hob, UFH, Night Storage Heaters, Burglar alarms, the list is quite long, Ring mains not allowed, Twelve sockets on a single 40amp MCB wired in 2.5, think its now eight on 1.5. Twin and Earth not allowed all wire has to be double insulated and in Conduit and of the same cross section.

Mike

 

[Toneyz]

I know nothing about French electrics and I can see that high current appliances are put on their own radial circuit, but I find it hard to believe that a 2.5 radial is on a 40A MCB?