Consumer unit query.

[ajlelectronics]

How is the circuit wired?

 

[ajlelectronics]

One or two quick changes made...

 

[ajlelectronics]

As you can see, if I am keeping this DB, I could do with some blanks.

 

[Onoff]

As you can see, if I am keeping this DB, I could do with some blanks.

Print them. Between us, my lad and I sorted the 3D printed blank prototypes for SBS. We supplied the final STL and STP files. They then had x thousand injection moulded in the far east:

 

[Mark 5]

It isn't prohibited in the current regulations (not since the 14th). See here for more details:

https://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/years/2018/70-may-2018/myth-busters/

There are good reasons why you may want multiple phases serving different equipment in for example a data centre.
For sockets, I would still tend to group an area on the same phase for logic if nothing else, unless there was a compelling reason to do otherwise such as load balancing. I'd still label it as well.

Hi,

But if I reading the link correctly it still is prohibited, the exception being, “A.20 All socket-outlets in any one room shall be connected to the same phase (or pole of a 3-wire system). Exemption: In non-domestic premises, if it is clearly impractical to comply with Regulation A.20, more than one phase (or pole) of the supply may-----".

Or am I mis-understanding what your saying.

I always believed in any domestic situation you never combined phases in any one dwelling and you kept separated as much as you could phases in commercial/industrials properties and you labeled the heck out of such sockets and switches if phases were combined in any one, ( touching ), area.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Hi,

But if I reading the link correctly it still is prohibited, the exception being, “A.20 All socket-outlets in any one room shall be connected to the same phase (or pole of a 3-wire system). Exemption: In non-domestic premises, if it is clearly impractical to comply with Regulation A.20, more than one phase (or pole) of the supply may-----".

Or am I mis-understanding what your saying.

I always believed in any domestic situation you never combined phases in any one dwelling and you kept separated as much as you could phases in commercial/industrials properties and you labeled the heck out of such sockets and switches if phases were combined in any one, ( touching ), area.

The quoted text is taken from the 14th Edition of the Regulations issued in 1966! The article is tracing back to where the stipulation originally came from, and why it has been superseded with updated advice.
The current (18th edition amendment 3) has no such regulation.

The majority of UK domestic dwellings are going to be single phase anyway unless you are talking about HMO/Flats etc, although three phase domestic is starting to gain traction with all the solar and ev requirements.
It would be a bit pointless having three phase if you can't balance the load...

You do need to label where things are fed from multiple supplies with separate isolation points and where line to earth exceeds 240v where it wouldn't normally be expected.
I don't think phase to phase voltage on a three phase installation would be really be unexpected, but a suitable warning label where two phases are in close proximity to each other wouldn't exactly hurt either IMO.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Update:

I have been in touch with my favourite Electrician mate and put the problem in his hands as it is easier than having it all in bits for a week whilst I iron out the wrinkles.
His suggestion is to intercept the three phase and wire it through a "garage" type CU with enough ways to accept a 3P RCD. Then we will have a look at the downstream mcb issues.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Honestly for the amount of stuff that's in it and the state of it, I'd reckon it might be quicker, easier and possibly cheaper to just whack in a new three phase board with RCBOs and be done.
Looks like it all wants going through anyway. Love the 16A socket "spur" from the 32A. Class.

 

[Mark 5]

The quoted text is taken from the 14th Edition of the Regulations issued in 1966! The article is tracing back to where the stipulation originally came from, and why it has been superseded with updated advice.
The current (18th edition amendment 3) has no such regulation.

The majority of UK domestic dwellings are going to be single phase anyway unless you are talking about HMO/Flats etc, although three phase domestic is starting to gain traction with all the solar and ev requirements.
It would be a bit pointless having three phase if you can't balance the load...

You do need to label where things are fed from multiple supplies with separate isolation points and where line to earth exceeds 240v where it wouldn't normally be expected.
I don't think phase to phase voltage on a three phase installation would be really be unexpected, but a suitable warning label where two phases are in close proximity to each other wouldn't exactly hurt either IMO.

Thanks, the link activated activated a long forgotten memory and the updated advise surprised me a little, I've forgotten much of the detail so will have to fill in a little.

Years and years and years ago on another site a SiL wrote to ask a " is this right question " as his elderly FiL and his wife had decided they required an extra double socket in their small bedroom in a privately owned block of flats.

Armed with a DIY book on such things, the FiL took all precautions, isolated the whole flat via their consumer unit and as added precaution, removed all protective devices such as they were then and as an added touch plugged in a lamp into the bedroom socket to check no supply, why I don't know as all fusses had been pulled, As I recall the plan was to take a spur off the nearest DS in the bedroom, one of the sockets was sub-surface the other to be used for the spur was surface mounted, FiL got down to work

He received a belt, socket was live, no earth connected just floating, put him in hospital for a while, he had a previous pacemaker fitted.

It turns out in someone's wisdom as all the flats only had one DS in the bedrooms, owners solved the issue by installing next to the sub-surface socket a surface mounted, metal clad DS on another phase, isolated by another breaker and CU.

Poor sod, he didn't know, plugged his lamp into the non live socket and assumed.

FiL survived, SiL was threatening to sue so was seeking advice, many wrote saying, it wasn't right, against regulations, which years ago it would have been and I hadn't realised that particular regulation no longer existed as such.