Blobber
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Nasty boards, think ive a box full of the breakers if anyone wants them!
- Thread starter skotl
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Onoff
In the land of the unfinished project I am King!
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The early Type 2 ones?
My board has 9 in. A mix of 3 & 4.5kA ones. Must get round to changing it...
Erie Fred
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How do "Y'all" add/remove a breaker when they are fed from this comb ?
Onoff
In the land of the unfinished project I am King!
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Just unscrew from the busbar & unclip from the DIN rail. Unused fingers on the comb should be insulated ideally.
Good practice is to install a new consumer unit with 2 spare ways for future circuits.
Picked at random off the net:
Barking Mat
Cuddler of hedgehogs.
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You
Slacken the screws at the top on the comb / bus bar, pull the tab on the bottom, to release the din rail and slide it down, and they come out easily.
dobbslc
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dobbslc
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Our panels at work are Schneider and have "sliders" that isolate each bus bar individually. Others I turn off as it's just too fiddly to be sure you've got the breaker in properly while working live...
brightspark
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its a code 2 a 3 is an advisory and would still pass a test a code 2 wont it has to be rectified in a reasonable time a code one is fix asasp
brightspark
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nothing wrong with that splitboard all the breakers are by the same manufacturer just a newer type only time you would have to alter the none rcd circuits is if you add extra lighting circuits or alter the wiring
MetalMonkey
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I'm happy to stand corrected, but I'm not sure that's entirely accurate.
Of course you have to conduct the inspection and testing to the current regulations and make observations based on that.
But installations to previous editions of the regulations are not necessarily unsafe or require upgrading – that is stated in the introduction to BS7671.
So you can't retrospectively apply regulations to an older installation. IET have covered that question previously:
https://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/years/2021/85-may-2021/eicr-myths/
https://electrical.theiet.org/bs-76...electricity-at-work-regulations-1989-webinar/
Although I agree there are certain specific scenarios, for example with regards to premature collapse of surface wiring where a C2 could be applied retrospectively, but this is well documented. Otherwise it would be a C3
However, it is worth noting that a C3 code, improvement recommended, means exactly that.
It isn't a "fail" as far as an EICR goes, just like an advisory doesn't mean your car can't pass an MOT and/or be safe to drive.
I suspect that a well installed plastic consumer unit is inherently at a lot less risk of fire than a poorly installed metal one (and there are a fair few of those about!), but that's just a personal view.
Mixed switchgear would be a C3 unless it is actually dangerous.
I find the best practice guides particularly handy - they do actually cover this scenario:
https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/tx5i50ao/best-practice-guide-4-issue-7.pdf
Top of page 18 for the C2 and mid way down page 20 for the C3 - covers when and what to code it.
I don't believe there is necessarily an issue with mixing brands of switchgear, and providing it is certified to work together by the manufacturer, it is totally permissible.
The problem is if you are the one fitting it, and the manufacturer hasn't certified it to work together, then you are deviating from the manufacturers instructions and you then become legally responsible.
Which is why it is best avoided.
