BG Electrical Circuit Protection Shower Kit, IP65 Rated Metal Enclosure, 63 Amp, 240 x 176 mm

Product Information

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 unit However it is possible for both a ring or radial circuit to power lighting, but it requires the use of a fused spur which is fused independently of the circuit the power is coming from. You can see more about how a switched or fixed fused spur works in our project here.

The major difference between this type of consumer unit and the below type is that this one does not feature an RCD’s so in terms of it’s relevance today, is now considered a little old-hat!The distribution board should not be installed 2.2 meter above the floor, must be protected from the corrosion and away from watery areas. All the wires should be covered in the panel board (i.e. it should not hang outside the panel). Finally, there must be a safety sign near the distribution 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. Now that you know exactly what a consumer unit is and what role it plays in terms of the electrics in your home, it’s time to look at it in a little more detail so that you know the role of each component inside.

Once the incoming live is connected using a bus bar for each MCB, the next job is to connect each circuit to it’s relevant MCB. 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.Also you should be aware that some years ago, the standard wire colours used in the UK were changed so that they harmonised with those used in Europe so you may have several different colours of wire in your home. See our wire colours project here for more information. When it comes to matching an MCB to what is now the equivalent imperial rating, these are as follows: To find out all about these circuits and how they are wired up, read on below. Ring Mains, Wiring Regulations and Electrical Safety