Hi there guys, my name is Keith. I am now a retired electrician.

Largey762 · Apr 8, 2019

I am going to do some work for a friend,on a new buid building, just 4 rooms and a utility room, for contractors or holiday, on his land at the rear of his pub. Solar panels on the roof and a supply from the pub, which has just had solar fitted.
I see now as well as the new regs dist boards, I have seen a few with the option of a sspd which takes up the space of two modules before the main switch !. Question : would this installation require this device or as I thought it was mainly industrial/large commercial installations, Be interested if someone could stear me in the right direction. Thanks

SparkyChick · Apr 8, 2019

SPD's are required in the absence of a suitable calculation proving they aren't

So if in doubt fit one.

But to clarify... by before the main switch do you just mean their position in the board or their connection within the board? If the later, they are usually (I believe) connected to a high integrity circuit (32A MCB) from the load side of the main switch.

Largey762 · Apr 8, 2019

I was looking yesterday and saw a few boards that came fully loaded with sspd double module, then main switch followed by 2 x 100A rcd spread across to make it into a split board. Obvously a big price difference.
The solar installation just completed on the existing pub has no sspd fitted.
Just wondered ?

Pete999 · Apr 8, 2019

SparkyChick said:
SPD's are required in the absence of a suitable calculation proving they aren't So if in doubt fit one.

But to clarify... by before the main switch do you just mean their position in the board or their connection within the board? If the later, they are usually (I believe) connected to a high integrity circuit (32A MCB) from the load side of the main switch.

Concur with SC

Largey762 · Apr 8, 2019

Would that be the strange long calculation involving providers distance, rural area or town etc: looks a pain to find out the info to be able to calculate ?