WIFI devices in a metal consumer unit.

[LawVal]

Good morning. I intend to replace my oil boiler with electric and a qualified electrician will be doing the job. I see there are lots of din rail mounted WIFI devices such as meters, switches, timers etc and I am considering asking the electrician to incorporate such devices within the new consumer unit feeding the boiler, immersions and controls. This is for 'smart home' remote monitoring and interest in energy consumption purposes.
Anyone had experience of these devices within a metal consumer unit where the WIFI signal may be proved ineffective due to the metal enclosure? I appreciate strength of WIFI signal may come into play here.
I assume a plastic enclosure is not allowed. Thank you.

 

[newfutile]

A metal Consumer Unit will cut down signal strength for WiFi,no reason a plastic box can be used separately,it's only the Consumer Unit that needs to be fire resistant.

 

[littlespark]

That is a very good point.

The makers of these Wi-Fi devices should, and maybe do, state plastic enclosures only.

Electrician regulations ask for metal consumer units…. (Doesn’t actually state that, says non fire propagating or something)

Even without the metal enclosure, the Wi-Fi will be affected by interference through close proximity to mains voltages running through the circuit breakers.

 

[LawVal]

That is a very good point.

The makers of these Wi-Fi devices should, and maybe do, state plastic enclosures only.

Electrician regulations ask for metal consumer units…. (Doesn’t actually state that, says non fire propagating or something)

Even without the metal enclosure, the Wi-Fi will be affected by interference through close proximity to mains voltages running

hrough the circuit breakers.

That is a very good point.

The makers of these Wi-Fi devices should, and maybe do, state plastic enclosures only.

Electrician regulations ask for metal consumer units…. (Doesn’t actually state that, says non fire propagating or something)

Even without the metal enclosure, the Wi-Fi will be affected by interference through close proximity to mains voltages running through the circuit breakers.

Thank you Newfutile & littlespark.
I will see what the manufacturers suggest regarding enclosures. I would have thought that as they are din rail mounted that they are assumed / likely to be incorporated within a CU and therefore take into account such as metal enclosure, but perhaps not!!
Again, as these devices such as the meters and timers etc have the mains voltages running through them I guess the manufacturers would have taken possible interference into account somehow.
It is an interesting point and I think the din rail wifi meters, timers and switches can make for a very tidy arrangement in a CU , but only if the 'smart home' remote monitoring and control wifi works of course.
It would be good if someone has direct experience with these devices in metal CU, nothing like first hand knowledge. Perhaps I could ask the electrician to initially incorporate the devices into the CU and lay it out such that if the wifi element doesn't work he could strip or swop the devices out easily and I just forget about the 'smart home' stuff.

 

[richy3333]

I've fitted a couple into metal CU's. Best at the end of the DIN rail given busbar arrangement. Once next to a and 6A RCBO and most recently in a duplex board where only the top row was populated, so the device was on the bottom next to blanking plates. With the last one the router was in another room about 10/12 feet away. Wifi worked fine. It's a holiday home and the customer has no issue accessing the device - he's 600 miles away. If I had several to fit I't use a plastic enclosure.

 

[littlespark]

DIN rails are a standard for mounting devices in any enclosure… not just consumer units…. So it’s not a case that the devices are designed “only” for CU’s.

Yes, they might work but it could all depend on what is being fed from the board…. Could be many things switching in and out, changing that causes interference rather than a steady load.

 

[LawVal]

I've fitted a couple into metal CU's. Best at the end of the DIN rail given busbar arrangement. Once next to a and 6A RCBO and most recently in a duplex board where only the top row was populated, so the device was on the bottom next to blanking plates. With the last one the router was in another room about 10/12 feet away. Wifi worked fine. It's a holiday home and the customer has no issue accessing the device - he's 600 miles away. If I had several to fit I't use a plastic enclosure.

Thank you richy3333 and littlespark.
The house has the 'usual' split rcd protected consumer unit (but it is plastic as 2013 refurb) at the cable entry and my thoughts are to run a new radial from this CU to the new boiler/cylinder ventilated cupboard. The plastic enclosure makes sense so if I consider this as a boiler supply distribution board rather than a CU, would this be compliant?
Something like MCG 12 module Insulated Enclosure with access window and DIN Rail or perhaps the Hager Vector 10 Module Insulated IP55 enclosure with earth & neutral bar that google throws up. The electrician will of course have final say and I am just interested to see what may be acceptable before I put it to him, hence my query and I trust you dont mind me asking the question.