Using bits of cable as busbar

[lockhes]

Anybody else come across a lot of this, this is prob my 3 in a few months all in houses less than 10 years old

been to a house today and they was complaining lights flickering so they bought a new fitting for bathroom as this is where it was doing it most.

So fitted light new light and checked all terminals in each light all ok

check fuse board and they had used bits of 4mm instead of busbar in some places and where there was busbar it wasn't even sat in mcb properly which was causing the flickering so very lucky didn't arc to much


and before anybody says why change light before checking board they wanted light changing anyway

 

[ipf]

Only the single phase ones

I have even seen this in a 3ph board , but having said that it was a bit of a self build one anyway .[/QUOTE]

Me too, OK if the OCPD is up to it..... sub boards in commercial kitchens, 32amp from main db, at most. It's often a case of make something up to suit. Not ideal, but needs must.

 

[D Skelton]

The fact is the guy who installed the 4mm2 cable may not have had enough training, thats my point, and he may have thought he did a decent job without realising due to a short course and no real on site experience.

You really think a Electrical Trainee would make such a fundamental flaw?!? Even they have enough sense to know that making up a busbar out of 4mm is crap at best!

Mind you... When I re-read what I've just written... Hmm... I say no more :s

 

[ipf]

You really think a Electrical Trainee would make such a fundamental flaw?!? Even they have enough sense to know that making up a busbar out of 4mm is crap at best!

Mind you... When I re-read what I've just written... Hmm... I say no more :s

What! I've made some cracking busbar systems incorporating 4mm.......bar.

 

[NDG Elecs]

I would use one of these instead:

Can break off teeth as and where necessary, slightly flexible to ensure a good fit. Perfect!

 

[NDG Elecs]

I would also even use one of these instead!!

http://www.petcetera.co.uk/media/ca...6954d6432d17d864a00040/8/1/81133spratts71.jpg

Can break off teeth as and where necessary, slightly flexible to ensure a good fit. Perfect!

 

[gnuuser]

ive seen it in old multiple meter panels installed by power company feeding 3 flats
(removed during upgrade and installed separate service entrance for each meter)
we can install meter pans, and related equipment but the power co. has to be called to connect to the pole transformer

 

[trev]

I've seen it done, it's RAF and only done by idiots imho

 

[Hawkmoon]

I've seen this a couple of times (single phase boards)

On both occasions it was where one extra MCB was installed at the end and the bus bar extended by a cable link.

If the cable is correctly sized for the load (that of the last MCB) and securely terminated - what's the problem?

Although I agree it looks a bit sh1te

 

[joelypops]

I saw this just a few weeks ago. Large old 3-phase board in a huge warehouse. I forget the make of board but it had concealed busbars and removable links to connect to the mcbs. All the spare links had been removed years ago and lost etc so when new cirxuits were added the sparks just used 4mm singles to connect the mcb's.

 

[Rockingit]

It may LOOK rough, but so long as the cable in question is man enough for the job then I think in the electrical sense it's a tough one to argue, tbh. After all, an internal tails/RCD set is just tri-rate pre-chopped and formed to the right length. I think the far worse crime is where you've a board which has been so badly crammed in and stressed with cables over the terminations that you need to have a solid piece of metal below them just to keep them clamped together and straight!!

I once taught a naughty builder a lesson in paying his bills by walking off site carrying (my) primary bus bar from DB1 on a large install....returned 48hrs later to find that someone had strung 2.5TE between them all instead...madness!!!!

 

[Hawkmoon]

It may LOOK rough, but so long as the cable in question is man enough for the job then I think in the electrical sense it's a tough one to argue, tbh. After all, an internal tails/RCD set is just tri-rate pre-chopped and formed to the right length. I think the far worse crime is where you've a board which has been so badly crammed in and stressed with cables over the terminations that you need to have a solid piece of metal below them just to keep them clamped together and straight!!

I once taught a naughty builder a lesson in paying his bills by walking off site carrying (my) primary bus bar from DB1 on a large install....returned 48hrs later to find that someone had strung 2.5TE between them all instead...madness!!!!

That's my sunday morning laugh right there! - cheers lol

 

[plugsandsparks]

Use a bit of 6mm green / yellow cable to power up individual MCBs when testing. Hate that nasty busbar staring at me , ready to get me when I am feeling a bit tired. cannot beat a nice properly insulated cable. Seriously though it is really irritating when busbar is too short.

 

[telectrix]

Use a bit of 6mm green / yellow cable to power up individual MCBs when testing. Hate that nasty busbar staring at me , ready to get me when I am feeling a bit tired. cannot beat a nice properly insulated cable. Seriously though it is really irritating when busbar is too short.

what i do is insulate the busbar with a couple of layers of tape.

 

[mechelec]

MK did a retrofit kit to enable new type MCB's to be fitted to old sentry boards. It consisted of a terminal and cable extension as a busbar would not line up with old and new MCB's. Looked a bit crap but suitably rated cable and type tested so all good.
So done properly it is OK.

 

[sparkdog]

Did it myself the other day using 10mm,making up a small 3 phase DB for a motor,as couldn't get a 3P busbar.