Consumer/Distribution Board

[Graham Keeble]

Can anyone advise please?

I am currently looking to replace the old fuse box within my property with a
new consumer unit but am getting slightly confused with the meaning of the
terms "ways" and "modules".

In some cases the number of ways always refers to the exact number of MCBs
you place within the unit, with the spaces for the mains switch and possible
RCB taken into consideration. However in other cases it seems that the
number of ways does not include any spaces required for mains switch or RCB,
so you could end up with less space for MCBs than you require.

Can anyone advise me on weather there is an agreed system for this and
explain what it is?

Regards

Graham K

 

[SQLit]

Can anyone advise please?

I am currently looking to replace the old fuse box within my property with a
new consumer unit but am getting slightly confused with the meaning of the
terms "ways" and "modules".

In some cases the number of ways always refers to the exact number of MCBs
you place within the unit, with the spaces for the mains switch and possible
RCB taken into consideration. However in other cases it seems that the
number of ways does not include any spaces required for mains switch or RCB,
so you could end up with less space for MCBs than you require.

Can anyone advise me on weather there is an agreed system for this and
explain what it is?

Regards

Graham K

Maybe start out with what country your from? From your description your not
from around here.

 

[Percival P. Cassidy]

Maybe start out with what country your from? From your description your not
from around here.

He has a UK email address, so that's a start.

Perce

 

[Graham Keeble]

Yeah sorry I'm from UK, any ideas thanks?

with

Maybe start out with what country your from? From your description your not
from around here.

 

[John McLean]

AFAIK, "modules" refer to DIN rails. Unless you need a DIN
rail, eg for timers, power supplies, etc, you won't want a
DIN rail box. So, if it mentions modules, you probably won't
want it. You can get hybrid boards, if you just need a small
DIN rail + MCBs.

"Ways" typically refer to available MCB ways. If the
consumer unit already has an isolator/rcd fitted, it should
be the number of MCBs you can add in addition. It only gets
complicated if you want to add something other than MCBs -
eg convert the unit for split load. A pre-configured
split-load box will have two "ways" listed; one for each
section. These ways are the number of MBCs that can be
fitted in each section.

As you are buying new and not modding an existing system,
the consumer unit will come with isolator/rcd fitted and the
number of ways listed will be the number of MCBs you can
fit. It will almost invariably be cheaper to get a
pre-configured box - so you won't be adding anything other
than MCBs. Remember to allow for some spare ways and
remember that some units have far more space than others for
cable management - which could be helpful, depending on
which direction the cables are entering from.

These are more specific groups for uk electrical house wiring.
Jaymack
http://www.screwfix.com/talk/forum.jspa?forumID=23
http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=8