Garage Consumer Unit IP65 4 Way Fuse Box Fitted with RCD 63amp 30ma + 1X6amp, 2X20amp & 1X32amp mcbs

Product Information

Residual Current Devices (RCD): Like circuit breaker supervisors (CBS), RCDs typically cover half of your home each and will also cut out the electricity if the current rises too high

Design 30 is our enhanced consumer unit, created to be more aesthetically pleasing whilst including extra features to ease installation. Design 30 comes with a cable clamp installed and rear cable entry plate supplied, which allows for incoming meter tails to be safely secured. This device is now a requirement as part of the 18th edition regulations as it protects against surges into the system from outside the property. Usually caused by lightning strikes, but can be caused by power surges from elsewhere, these surges into your domestic fuse board can be devastating to your homes wiring. SPDs are installed between the outside feed and the main switch in your consumer unit and will trip if any inward surge is detected. This type of consumer unit layout has really emerged in recent years in response to the nuisance tripping addition to the wiring regulations. It essentially removes the use of RCD’s to create a split load board with RCBO’s (Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current) now taking their place. Chat to an expert at Xpress Electrical Call now 0330 178 8152 Difference between fuse box and consumer unit The modern consumer unit also has a range of other safety features including a main switch that controls the power to the entire unit, that, once switched off, will turn the power off to the entire house.Surge protection should be installed at the point where the electrical power enters a building or a home, typically at the main electrical panel or the service entrance. This is the location where the main electrical service is connected to the building's wiring, and where voltage surges can potentially enter the building's electrical system. Duplex consumer unitswhich are alsoknown as double bank are a type of consumer unitin which the circuits are arranged over two rows. Duplex consumer units have seen a rise in popularity in recent years with the growing trend incircuit separation.It is important to note that this does not necessarily mean the unit offers two banks of circuits.The majority duplex of sold are 'Main Switch'consumer units which are populated with RCBOs over two rows and connected using a 100A DIN rail connector. Duplex boardsare also available in'High Integrity' or 'Dual RCD' variants. In pretty much every other configuration they are a required feature for each and every individual circuit. The defining difference between this and other types of consumer units is the fact that it does not have a 'Main Switch'. Isolation of the board is handled by the single RCD. In other words, all incoming electricity is managed by the RCD - hence the name.

The first type is the single load consumer unit. This is where the incoming mains power is first taken through a double pole isolation switch, which then in turn feeds a live bus bar that supplies each MCB on the board. If this is a new consumer unit install for an existing property then your electrician will have either marked each circuit to identify what it powers or will work each one out as he gets to it. Consumer Unit with MCB and main double pole isolation switch Step 3 – Connect up Main Switch and RCDType 1+2 surge protection devices combine the features of Type 1 and Type 2 SPDs in a single device, providing comprehensive protection against surges caused by lightning strikes and other sources. These devices are designed to be installed at the main electrical service entrance and at critical sub-distribution boards, offering maximum protection for the entire installation. Used in conjunction with the circuit protection devices - (RCD, RCBO & MCB) - these four types of consumer unit offer the homeowner and electrician huge flexibility of circuit design and budget. It is important to understand that in most domestic properties it would be possible to use any one of the four types of consumer unit, the decision being governed by budget and attitude to circuit separation. It is a good idea to have an electrical inspection if the wiring in your home is old or you have specific concerns over whether it is safe or damaged. What is the cost of replacing an electrical consumer unit?

Compliant with latest safety standards: Hager consumer units are designed to meet the latest electrical safety standards, such as the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations. Once all of the MCB’s have been connected up, the final job then is to simply connect the earth running from the meter to the earth bar in the consumer unitThese are generally reserved for items such as fire alarms, fire suppression, medical equipment and the such, where under no circumstances should they go off. It is usually populated exclusively with RCBOs as shown in our image, but theoretically could be populated with RCD and MCBs. Fire Resistance: The enclosure of the consumer unit should provide adequate fire resistance to contain any potential fire within the unit and prevent it from spreading. They can also feature 1 or even 2 RCD’s. The RCD, or residual current device is similar to an MCB in that if it senses an issue it will trip and isolate all the of the MCB’s/fuses below it. More on these below.

The final stage left is then for your electrician to test every single circuit on the board and ensure it’s safe, wired correctly and has no issues what so ever. Firstly, MCB’s are clipped on to the DIN rail and positioned as required for the number of circuits that are being run from the consumer unit. An information label near the consumer unit explains this. The resistor passes more current than that required for tripping, and the duration of the test is not limited, so testing in this way does not provide proof that the unit is working to specification. Along with an MCB for each circuit and the wiring required to wire up each MCB (more on this below), that’s pretty much it in terms of what you’ll find in a consumer unit, however there are some exceptions depending on what it’s serving, whether it’s domestic or industrial etc. A ' Main Switch Consumer Unit' is so called because it is supplied empty of all protection devices except the main switch. Whilst it may be populated with an RCD and MCBs.High Integrity consumer units are becoming increasingly popular with electricians - becausethey make circuit design easy - and homeowners - because they offer excellent protection without breaking the bank. They are particularly good in projects requiring 12 or more circuits.