My 1st board on site advice

[MrShine94]

Hello,

I have just competed my 1st consumer unit install on site. I would like some advice on how I may improve the quality/neatness.

All constructive criticism welcome

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 26818]

S

So if I have not cut the fly leads it’s not a requirement for ferrules ?

Before cutting any neutral or functional earth leads, first check Manufacturer’s Information to ensure they can be cut.
Fine and very fine wires do need protection when used with screw terminals.
For years the practice has been to twist and double over the ends, most commonly in plug tops and lamp holders.
The manufacturers tend to weld the strands together, or crimp them with a ferrule.
Leaving the leads long makes for a messy board, and leaving the leads coiled up creates it’s own problems.
Using ferrules is neat, allows for easier termination and looks quite professional. Just remember not to use Blue insulated ferrules on earth wires.

 

[Bobster]

Blue insulated ferrules on earth wires.

Blue ferrules are 0.75mm (French colouring).

If you have a fine stranded earth from a flex, there is no reason not to use them.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Blue ferrules are 0.75mm (French colouring).

If you have a fine stranded earth from a flex, there is no reason not to use them.

In the UK, blue at the termination of a G/Y wire denotes a PEN conductor.

 

[davesparks]

In the UK, blue at the termination of a G/Y wire denotes a PEN conductor.

Strictly speaking that's true. But I think anyone opening a DB will be able to identify the difference between a blue ferrule and a marker.applied to. Identify a PEN conductor.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Strictly speaking that's true. But I think anyone opening a DB will be able to identify the difference between a blue ferrule and a marker.applied to. Identify a PEN conductor.

Ferrules come in a variety of colours, blue, red, black, white, yellow, orange, grey, green.
That’s just the colours I’ve got.
Not using a blue on earth conductors, or stripping off the blue insulation, is not difficult.
I guess it all depends on whether you want to adhere to the Regulations or not?

 

[Bobster]

Ferrules come in a variety of colours, blue, red, black, white, yellow, orange, grey, green.
That’s just the colours I’ve got.
Not using a blue on earth conductors, or stripping off the blue insulation, is not difficult.
I guess it all depends on whether you want to adhere to the Regulations or not?

Ferrules are not cable identifiers.

An yes they do come in lots of colours determined to size. 99% of ferrules will follow either the french or german coloring system. (In the UK it's mostly french)

 

[DPG]

In the UK, blue at the termination of a G/Y wire denotes a PEN conductor.

A few mm of blue ferrule on the end of a length of G/Y won't confuse anyone. And if you're going to be that picky then the ferrule insulation should be green/yellow stripe

 

[Risteard]

It wouldn't meet the percentage requirements for identification anyway (15% off the top of my head).

 

[FatAlan]

In the UK, blue at the termination of a G/Y wire denotes a PEN conductor.

That’s a C&G 2382 - 17/18th Edition Question

 

[Deleted member 26818]

It wouldn't meet the percentage requirements for identification anyway (15% off the top of my head).

514.4.3 PEN conductor A PEN conductor shall, when insulated, be marked by one of the following methods:
(i) Green-and-yellow throughout its length with, in addition, blue markings at the terminations
(ii) Blue throughout its length, with green-and-yellow markings at the terminations.

There is no percentage requirement.

 

[DPG]

Didn't realise the reg was as specific as that I must admit.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

For me, if I were inspecting an existing installation.
It would be:
1) no comment, correctly identified PEN conductor,
2) code C3, incorrectly identified protective conductor, or
3) code C2, PEN conductor used in a consumer’s installation fed from a public supply.

If it were an Initial Verification, it would be: Fix that.

 

[Bobster]

I have never, an I'm not going to start now. Classed a ferrule as a cable marking.

Opening that up leads to all sorts of pedantic situations.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I have never, an I'm not going to start now. Classed a ferrule as a cable marking.

Opening that up leads to all sorts of pedantic situations.

Complying with the Regulations is obviously a matter of choice.
If you sign the declaration on an EIC or MEIWC that you have designed, constructed and inspected in accordance with BS7671, you could be found guilty of an offence of fraud.

 

[davesparks]

Ferrules come in a variety of colours, blue, red, black, white, yellow, orange, grey, green.
That’s just the colours I’ve got.
Not using a blue on earth conductors, or stripping off the blue insulation, is not difficult.
I guess it all depends on whether you want to adhere to the Regulations or not?

Yes and the colour denotes the size of the ferrule. You can't match the colour of the ferrule to the function of the conductor.

Anyone looking at it will be able to see that the colour ring is the ferrule and has not been fitted to indentify the function of the conductor.