How much do you strip back?

[FatAlan]

I note some very neat an tidy consumer unit wiring in the installation photos above. Out of interest, how much excess conductor do you allow to cater for breakages or potential moment to a more distant connection point in the box? I appreciate that an excess of cable in a small CU is not desirable so there must be some sort of balance.

 

[Richard Burns]

This is all dependent on the space available in the CU and the number of circuits.
For those doing the decorative installations there is a large loop of cable behind the busbar possibly up to 150mm for the lines, the earths tend to be looped to the space behind the earth bar with about an 50-75mm leeway, neutral similar but often also looped down as well toward the MCBS.

There is one place I work on where the cables have been taken in all the way down the board, stripped from that point taken back up the board and then down to their connections, it is almost impossible to get to anything, identify any circuit wiring and the lid is difficult to get on, this is overdoing it!

I would generally aim to ensure that most new cables could reach any point in their relevant busbar so anywhere along the earth bar, any neutral bar or any MCB.
If there is enough room then I would try and have at least 50mm preferably 75mm flexibility.

 

[FatAlan]

Thanks Richard.

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

M

I note some very neat an tidy consumer unit wiring in the installation photos above. Out of interest, how much excess conductor do you allow to cater for breakages or potential moment to a more distant connection point in the box? I appreciate that an excess of cable in a small CU is not desirable so there must be some sort of balance.

Me personally I try leave as much as possible whilst leaving it neat so I keep my neutral and earths up top and go to the far side of their bar and loop it back to their terminal with lives I loop back behind to the bottom of the CB with a nice loop to the breaker without it getting in the way of my neutral/cpc loops at their bars

 

[telectrix]

I HATE THOSE EASY 9 BOARDS.

 

[Pat H]

I was taught to keep as much available spare length on each cable as possible so it can be repositioned to anywhere in the CU. That said it seems very rare that any get changed much after install.
But if you can keep it neat then why not.
And that looks lovely and neat. apart from the stray stripped ends laying in the bottom. Shame its let down by a little last minute tidying..

 

[GMES]

I HATE THOSE EASY 9 BOARDS.

So does @GLENNSPARK He fitted a few for me and He complained every time lol, The bit I don't like is how the live busbar tucks behind the neutral at the bottom of the main switch, It's not really clear in the picture but I think it is a rubbish design.

 

[telectrix]

that, and the lack of space above the MCB when there's loads below. them N bars at the sides, no room behind din rail to hide loops,i had one with 10 T/E cables all up the left side, squashed against the N bar.

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

I HATE THOSE EASY 9 BOARDS.

I didn't have any problems with mine. just need to get better don't you? :lol:

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

I was taught to keep as much available spare length on each cable as possible so it can be repositioned to anywhere in the CU. That said it seems very rare that any get changed much after install.
But if you can keep it neat then why not.
And that looks lovely and neat. apart from the stray stripped ends laying in the bottom. Shame its let down by a little last minute tidying..

Presuming that's about my picture? lol end of day to get some lights connected for the joiner. don't worry I'll be sure to get rid of those aha still needs to be tested. be a great job for some portfolio pictures

 

[telectrix]

Presuming that's about my picture? lol end of day to get some lights connected for the joiner. don't worry I'll be sure to get rid of those aha still needs to be tested. be a great job for some portfolio pictures

you might like to just tweak the dressing of the cables (esp the N's) . get them a bit tidier. otherwise, a nice install.

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

you might like to just tweak the dressing of the cables (esp the N's) . get them a bit tidier. otherwise, a nice install.

In terms of getting them to enter straight? so square either in the side or straight down?

 

[telectrix]

more like getting the loops equal. the cables should not be bent sharply. at the risk of getting shot, a couple of small cable ties added to the N's.

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

more like getting the loops equal. the cables should not be bent sharply. at the risk of getting shot, a couple of small cable ties added to the N's.

Oh yeah good point and are they a sharp bend? don't seem that tight and oh no, that'll take an extra minute. Wants it done ten minutes ago. barely allowed to take portfolio pictures lol