How to keep an 24 way 3 phase DB neat, when fully loaded with RCBO's

[Guest 004]

Currently doing an install, with an 24 way 3 phase DB, and it is fully loaded with RCBO's, and it is getting very messy with the 'coil' of neutral off the RCBO to the neutral bar, and even some of the 'fly' earths are too short.

Also what are peoples opinions on ty-rapping loomed cables inside a DB?

So any recommendations of how to keep this neat?, and what to do with the earth (can only think of crimping it)

 

[Gravid]

I agree, RCBO's make a right rats nest, got some B type Hager 16A RCBO's the other day and neither the earth fly lead or neutral could reach the bars at the bottom of the dis brd....crap. Something to look out for.

Just add this was on a Hager brd as well!

 

[NICK C SPARKS]

I had a 36w once 32 w used, what a nightmere should be a better design rcbo,s stiffer cable for a start this was a sq d i went tie bases earths to outside lives middle n to inside but ask for the coils just tried to push them out of way at the bottom after pulling them tight and straight

 

[NICK C SPARKS]

Hager do 2 types of rcbo a domestic with short leads and industrial with long leads from what i am lead to beleive

 

[Gravid]

Hager do 2 types of rcbo a domestic with short leads and industrial with long leads from what i am lead to beleive

Haha bloody hell ! That explains it then, apologies to Hager for all the names i called them the other day then, cheers.

 

[Dcf]

here is a thought.why do manufacturers space the pan assembly about 50mm off the enclosure so you could get all the cables down the back in a neat way.
without having to bundle them altogether with cable ties (which i dont like btw)
or possibly have an earth and neutral busbar connection which would fit direct onto the rcbo.something like the merlin gerin isobar thing would stop you blowing up the db when you try to retrofit an rcbo.

 

[Engineer54]

Agreed ...straighten those coiled neutral leads, and cut to the length required. Not sure what others do, but i always like to see the earth fly leads connected into the same earth bar terminal with the associated circuit CPC... Dis-like looms in DB panels, dressing cables might take longer, but more practical for heat dissipation and cable tracing in thee future!!

Yes thru crimp any of those RCBO fly leads earth or neutrals, many times the off-cuts from the shorter neutral lead requirement, can be used for extending those needing longer leads ....

 

[mogga]

M.G. DBs have changed design so many bloody times and all are getting worse specialy when doing PIRs tracing n checking those curly neutrals is an absolute MARE specialy when theres full db n everything running down the sides covers earthbar n Iv got chubby fat fingers
When I come across these curlys I TRY to straighten them and cut so theres not to much excess as this can be a right royal pain to get rid of as for the earths Iv seen flys all connected to ends of bars solong as circuit earths are in correct terminals although bot best practice this may solve your problem

 

[pennywise]

I use the cable tie sticky pads, then make a loop with a tie and just don't tighten it up, then it just guides the cables rather than making them into one solid mass that could heat up.

 

[Guest 004]

Sorry I didn’t make my self clear, if you can pull the coils straight then loom them. If possible use something to stiffen the loom. I once used a plastic knitting needle down the centre of a loom to keep it straight. The loom looked good, the wife had a face like thunder!

Good idea Tony

 

[pennywise]

If you wanted to keep things very tidy you could use some Panduit cable guides, I haven't used them yet but the next big board I get there going in :drool5:

http://www.cablectrix.co.uk/downloads/panduit/harnes-board-accessories.pdf

 

[sparc]

Unfortunately the design of the basic box isn't much beyond the 70s, and hasn't kept pace with huge forward leaps in technologies - like RCBO (ahem!)

And why for God's sake do the manufacturers insist on making them smaller and smaller - as if the customer gives a fig if it's 2cm thinner? I want those 2cm please!

 

[mayfair]

Yep thats the way i do it too...........Great minds think alike

I use the cable tie sticky pads, then make a loop with a tie and just don't tighten it up, then it just guides the cables rather than making them into one solid mass that could heat up.

 

[Guest 004]

Done

 

[Knobhead]

Well done! It looks good :artist:

 

[Spudnik]

Hager do indeed supply 2 types of RCBO as NICK said above.

The only difference?

The fly leads are longer on the commercial ones, which of course means they are double the price.