Low cost consumer units

carnanee4 · Jun 12, 2009

I have been tempted by lower cost CUs particularly BM / Europa/Protek/Q-line products which are sometimes 70% cheaper than better known makes.The MCBs used by say BM which are London based seem to have compatibiity with MCBs from better known manufacturers.
Is there likely to be tripping problems with 17th ed units?
What has been your experiences with these lower priced products.

Modernelectric · Jun 12, 2009

ive used CED and Chint products which are cheap and still manufactured to the correct british standards. The quality of them is not bad either. Wylex, Tenby Merlin and MK are just ridiculous prices and in this recession customers want value for money!

Spudnik · Jun 12, 2009

Personally i wouldnt touch cheap CU's with anyones barge pole.

They are made to a price, and it shows when you come to install them.

There is no reason why you cant fit a decent named brand.

Around £100 would buy you one, fully loaded.

cheeky_blue · Jun 12, 2009

I often use Proteus (CEF's own brand). I find them great to work with.

carnanee4 · Jun 13, 2009

carnanee4 said:
I have been tempted by lower cost CUs particularly BM / Europa/Protek/Q-line products which are sometimes 70% cheaper than better known makes.The MCBs used by say BM which are London based seem to have compatibiity with MCBs from better known manufacturers.
Is there likely to be tripping problems with 17th ed units?
What has been your experiences with these lower priced products.

Ta for your response

experience · Jun 14, 2009

I've installed quite a few CED boards as their cheap - £59 for the cu with 7 mcb's
Toolstation > Electrical > Circuit Protection > 17th Edition Dual RCD Consumer Unit
They do the job, and if your on a budget are fine - however they do look cheap so you get what you pay for

However WF electrical do wylex 10 way dual RCD boards for £52 and 15 way for £57 and the mcb's @ £2.50 so for a 10 way wylex with mcb's = approx £75 i prefer to install something that is better quality and i know i can parts in need be from a variety of stockists.
Out of curiosity what are people charging for a replacement 10 way Dual RCD board ?

kung · Jun 14, 2009

Got a Europa garage CU its a good CU but if a domestic main CU id use a better known one as replacing mcbs might be a problem as most shops dont stock them ! the MK ones fit but incomming busbar connector is offline cant comment on rest.

dmulholland · Jun 14, 2009

I am a full NICEIC approved spark of 35 years and I use these board they are great value for money

Mac · Jun 14, 2009

Hager do quality CU's at reasonable prices.
Consumer Units Hager

Spudnik · Jun 14, 2009

Mac said:
Hager do quality CU's at reasonable prices.
Consumer Units Hager

I dont fit anything else but Hager's at the mo.

£100 for a dual RCD all in.

Mac · Jun 14, 2009

Spot on then matey

dmulholland · Jun 15, 2009

Jason

I presume I was edited by you for inserting a website address but other people have done it via a " click here " type link. I tried to do this but it did not work.Can someone tell me how to insert a link to a website by typing say " consumer unit"

robsparx · Jun 15, 2009

installed an MCG consumer unit which is one of Citys cheaper brands. It didnt look too bad, but the din rail was plastic, and the whole thing felt too plasticy and flimsy.

moved onto wylex after that. doesnt seem to be too much more expensive

daniel hill · Jun 15, 2009

i always fit mk or wylex but i ges thats just cos i get them cheep

Spudnik · Jun 15, 2009

I fitted a client supplied cheapie the other week and it had a plastic dinrail.

Awful. Truly awful.

I sound like a right snob

adam.h · Jun 15, 2009

I recently bought a wylex 17 way flexible split load c/w main S/W & RCD for less then 50 squid for me house

steamboatwilly · Jun 21, 2009

Not sure why this debate is happening.....we're talking about a difference of 20-30 quid and, frankly, a decent CU should last years and be suitably robust for any future upgrade work. I don't thank previous sparkies when I get to crappy CUs to add a new circuit.

Do it once and do it right. Hager or MK.

daniel hill · Jun 21, 2009

isnt mk made by honneywell now

steamboatwilly · Jun 21, 2009

daniel hill said:
isnt mk made by honneywell now

That can only be good!

prgil74 · Jul 10, 2009

RECO seem pretty good installed a few now 17th/ 5+5+2 all the breakers £80

TPES · Jul 10, 2009

My local wholsaler does the new VOLEX Dual RCD boards, 5x5 (10way) for £62 all in with your own selection of breakers included.

They only do the 5x5 for this special price, any other size board is quite abit more expensive, even if its a smaller board.. They just do a special offer on the Volex 5x5 board only. Good solid board i think, I wouldnt class VOLEX as budget.

Spudnik · Jul 10, 2009

magic-sid said:
....I wouldnt class VOLEX as budget.

No, but they do also come with a free fire extinguisher.

Joking aside though, with CU's you do get what you pay for.

steamboatwilly · Jul 10, 2009

Jason.S said:
No, but they do also come with a free fire extinguisher.

Brilliant.

eskimo39 · Jul 27, 2009

I wouldn't really touch cheaper ones. I nearly always use Merlin Gerin or Hager. If you shop around you can get Hager for £100 complete.

I know it is difficult when trying to price for jobs in the current climate but by paying £50-£60 more for a CU will save you time in the long run and also make the job look better.

I had a problem recently with a Wholesalers own brand CU. Cost me £45 complete and looked really neat, I thought I had struck gold. However after 3 call outs from the customer, I have had to replace the RCD twice and 1 MCB. Has cost me 6 times my original saving in call outs.

Also used a Proteus 3P board on a different job and there wasn't enough room to get all the cables neatly in it, made the job look very sloppy.