New Style RCBO

[DurhamSparky]

was hanging around the wrong side of a trade counter today and got involved in a very interesting conversation with the REP from GE

any way lets quote what the REP on this....

our new RCBO fits MOST CU's and does not/will not cause any issues providing if installed IAW instructions.

The RCBO is the same size as a MCB and looks rather sweet! however price is bit pricy! (cost price to wholesaler is £23+vat so to me that would be about £27+Vat)

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****just noticed tool station stock them!! @ 28 quid

 

[DurhamSparky]

Had to wrestle two Hager RCBOs into a crowded Memera2000 earlier this week (have you seen the price of these, now obsolete, MEM RCBOs?) - could have done with knowing about these. I'm sure there'll be an oportunity to try one soon though.

did you not just buy the pods that clip on top of the MCB???

i recently upgraded an old MEMERA cu with new style RCBO from the Eaton range... and i replaced the Mcbs with New as well so it all matched...

 

[DurhamSparky]

OK then..............................!!! Question time....!

for the people who say your not allowed to mix and match MCBS's rcbo's etc..

you purchase a MK 10 Way CU (Empty) effectively just Plastic and Metal.....! then you install wylex RCBO's and MCB's to the din rail what difference is that to installing a MK in to a Hager or a Eaton in to a Moller...

or is you buy a generic 4 way IP rated Box with clear flap lid made by GEWISS ....... Empty what Equiptment do you install in that?? im dammed sure you wont be able to buy a GEWISS Isolator or MCBS....!!

and again you install a "Hidded MCB" in a Adaptable box with din rail installed inside...! what make of equipment do you fit to your custom enclosure??

if it fits and is BS stamped i see no problem!! just like i see no problem with fitting Bosch brake pads and discs to my Peugeot van....!!!

 

[vernam616]

Its been covered before this topic and there is a reg within bs7671

 

[DurhamSparky]

and the reg is...??

and if so then if a regulation so exists in the book of love when a periodic is carried out we must all now code mix and match MCB's....!!!

so what code would you give it

C1 C2 C3

its not going to be 1/2 so must be a 3.... but how do you improve a BS stamped MCB 6ka 6A that fits with out modification inside a CU

replace it with an exact model made by CU manufacturer...!?? and if so what would you do with Old and New Style wylex MCB's!! same manufacturer but different design and build...!

NS and NH ranges for example...!

 

[richy3333]

This debate was covered at length elsewhere before. I guess it's one of those areas where the Regs is an arse?

Thinking about it at previous annual assessments I've shown my assessor existing installs with mixed equipment and he never ever has commented about it. Did a Caravan site PIR Friday and the Hook-ups must have had a mixture of at least 5 different makes of RCD around the site, with different 6A and 16A MCB's.

I guess if there ever was any litigation due to a fault then manufacturers would argue amongst themselves that 'X' should not have been fitted in 'Y' and then both blame the Spark for doing it? Then the electricians 'left swinging in the wind'!

 

[IQ Electrical]

OK then..............................!!! Question time....!

for the people who say your not allowed to mix and match MCBS's rcbo's etc..

you purchase a MK 10 Way CU (Empty) effectively just Plastic and Metal.....! then you install wylex RCBO's and MCB's to the din rail what difference is that to installing a MK in to a Hager or a Eaton in to a Moller...

or is you buy a generic 4 way IP rated Box with clear flap lid made by GEWISS ....... Empty what Equiptment do you install in that?? im dammed sure you wont be able to buy a GEWISS Isolator or MCBS....!!

and again you install a "Hidded MCB" in a Adaptable box with din rail installed inside...! what make of equipment do you fit to your custom enclosure??

if it fits and is BS stamped i see no problem!! just like i see no problem with fitting Bosch brake pads and discs to my Peugeot van....!!!

There isn't a regulation covering this, the only downside would be that the enclosure/MCB route would not meet the requirements of a BS60947-3 type tested consumer unit.
This isn't a problem unless you are relying on the conditional rating of the upstream device to cover short circuit breaking capacities up to 16kA as per BS60947-3 UK Annex ZA.

 

[brman]

If this has been done before could someone point to the thread? ( have looked....) Or just quote the relevent reg?

I'm assuming the only "regulation" covering this is that of following manufacturers instructions. Am I wrong?

I've just looked at the instructions that came with a Wylex RCBO and all it says is "this RCBO is suitable for Wylex NH consumer units with either fixed or flexible bus bars". To me that is information only, it does not say "cannot be used in other types" so I reckon I can use it in any CU it fits in properly.

 

[Brightspark2]

OK then..............................!!! Question time....!

for the people who say your not allowed to mix and match MCBS's rcbo's etc..

you purchase a MK 10 Way CU (Empty) effectively just Plastic and Metal.....! then you install wylex RCBO's and MCB's to the din rail what difference is that to installing a MK in to a Hager or a Eaton in to a Moller...

or is you buy a generic 4 way IP rated Box with clear flap lid made by GEWISS ....... Empty what Equiptment do you install in that?? im dammed sure you wont be able to buy a GEWISS Isolator or MCBS....!!

and again you install a "Hidded MCB" in a Adaptable box with din rail installed inside...! what make of equipment do you fit to your custom enclosure??

if it fits and is BS stamped i see no problem!! just like i see no problem with fitting Bosch brake pads and discs to my Peugeot van....!!!

Its only relevant if you buy one brand of CU and then fit another brand of MCB into it, not if you buy a box put din rail in it and then MCB or similiar.

There was an article in ECA magazine IIRC not to long ago about it and explained it well.

The reason is that manufacturers test there CU/DB and MCB's together to certains specs, to do with it how it handles fault current, where it dissapaites the heat in the DB, or along them lines, cant remember exactly. Anyway when you install the different brand of MCB this isnt tested with the different brand of DB and so cant be used. The manufactrers instructions usually state when you buy a DB that only there brand of MCB are to be fitted.

Not the best details but you get the jist...

 

[Guest111]

I think this is one of those situations that will never go away,lets be honest how many of us (probably most if we,re honest)have fitted one makers breaker into another makers board? Years ago I used to know off by heart what would fit what and how many times have we gone to wholesalers to find breaker now obsolete and been told so and so fits that board.

 

[Brightspark2]

I think this is one of those situations that will never go away,lets be honest how many of us (probably most if we,re honest)have fitted one makers breaker into another makers board? Years ago I used to know off by heart what would fit what and how many times have we gone to wholesalers to find breaker now obsolete and been told so and so fits that board.

Very true and if theres a 36 way DB and the options are whole DB change or just put a different brand of MCB in, what do you think the clients going to go for?...

 

[i=p/u]

i seen guys fitting cpn rcbo's at work and it is real struggle to see cables behind them, so i bet a nightmare to install.....

i checked these online and are only £10 to buy, how would you rate these as ive seen some of you guys say £28 is cheap...