Why the disparity in prices of RCBO's?

[HappyHippyDad]

As in the title.

I usually fit dual RCD boards, however I have recently fitted a few RCBO boards due to space restrictions.

To obtain a reasonable price for the customer I have been fitting Lewden RCBO's, as at £10 each they are affordable.

Why do RCBO's have such a difference in price depending on brand? I'm not talking about the mini RCBO's as that would not be a fair comparison, just the larger ones. Is there a difference in quality between say a £10 Lewden RCBO and a £35 wylex or MK RCBO?

 

[suffolkspark]

Where have you got them for £10 if you don't mind me asking? Cheapest I can find is £12 for the type AC ones and £14.50 for the type A ones.

Crikey that’s a lot for Hager RCBO’s. I pay £15.50 for the type A. If more people supported their wholesalers rather than a race to the bottom they might get better prices.

What brand Is that bud

 

[Andy78]

I think that manufacturing processes and technology advances will have a lot to do with price. Look at the cost of led lighting ten years ago compared to today.

I remember when Merlin Gerin RCBOs were around the £80-£100 mark each, yet today their replacement equivalent offerings from Schneider are less than £25.

I have been using Lewden RCBO consumer units for over 2 years now and have found them just as consistent over batches as the Hager ones I use when budgets are more generous. The quality is there, I have no complaints, and I can only assume the cheaper price is due to generic Chinese manufacture. The test button on them is identical to those used on SBS DP RCBOs for example so certain elements are shared.

 

[davesparks]

They are priced at what the manufacturer thinks they can get away with charging.
A new schneider Acti9 RCBO is around £75 whereas a new schneider iKQ RCBO is around £35, which is quite a big difference when the only apparent difference is the addition of the busbar clip onto the iKQ RCBO.

 

[mattg4321]

What brand Is that bud

Hager presumably. I usually get them for only very slightly more.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Anyone used the brand ‘fusebox’

I have seen them advertising rcbos for as little as 7 quid

 

[littlespark]

Anyone used the brand ‘fusebox’

I have seen them advertising rcbos for as little as 7 quid

Yes, they have. It’s mentioned earlier here, and on another thread. I’m going to use them on my next board change to see what they’re like.

 

[haj]

I use Lewden £10.50 plus vat from Discount-electrical been using for over a year now with no problems.

 

[Baddegg]

Ive used CEF own brand MCG rcbo...not to pricey...

 

[captaincaveman]

I came across a lovely and unique RCBO board t'other week. It didn't have a neutral bar but instead relied on an extra busbar underneath just infront of the live busbar. Sounds weird I know but it really saves on space and makes the unit a lot less cluttered. The downside is because of its uniqueness they were phasing them out
The brand was 'Live' and looked a bit like this one. I might return and take a picture as I'll never see one again

 

[Jim_e_Jib]

It looks very much like an SBS consumer unit:

SBS Trade Sales - Products

Discover the services of SBS Trade Sales, Stockport and Sheffield. The home of bespoke distribution boards.

www.sbstradesales.co.uk

They look like great boards to work on!

 

[Baddegg]

I came across a lovely and unique RCBO board t'other week. It didn't have a neutral bar but instead relied on an extra busbar underneath just infront of the live busbar. Sounds weird I know but it really saves on space and makes the unit a lot less cluttered. The downside is because of its uniqueness they were phasing them out
The brand was 'Live' and looked a bit like this one. I might return and take a picture as I'll never see one again

View attachment 54371

CEF have started stocking Live brand now they may know about it...

 

[Risteard]

Ive used CEF own brand MCG rcbo...not to pricey...

Are they doing any Type A RCDs (RCCBs and RCBOs) though? I can only find Type AC.

 

[captaincaveman]

CEF have started stocking Live brand now they may know about it...

I couldn't see them on the CEF website. Live said they were going to phase these particular duel busbar rcbos out anyway unfortunately

 

[Jim_e_Jib]

I couldn't see them on the CEF website. Live said they were going to phase these particular duel busbar rcbos out anyway unfortunately

I'm pretty sure the consumer unit in your photo is from SBS. Live enclosure and main switch, DL compact RCBOs and SBS' own dual busbar system. Check out the link in #25.