Consuming issues

By Paul Martin, product marketing manager at Schneider Electric

Since consumer units were introduced into homes, they have gone through a series of adjustments to meet market and consumer demands, while the 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations has been the most recent driver for dramatic change. In response manufacturers have progressed from limited traditional options to providing an increased array of configurations. Here we look at the choices available, considerations for specification and how to avoid potential quality pitfalls.

Before the introduction of the 17th Edition, Residual Current Devices (RCDs) were not a necessity within the majority of consumer units and circuit protection was provided through MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breaker). With last year’s new regulations placing greater emphasis on continuity of supply and safety, manufacturers have responded with a host of products for wholesalers to offer to the market.

Influences in specification
Electricians choosing which type of consumer unit to specify can be swayed by many different factors that influence the decision-making process, such as price, ease of installation and quality.

In this challenging economic climate it is no surprise that price is high on the list of considerations. Consumer units are generally viewed by homeowners as a distress purchase – something which they have to have out of necessity but don’t actually want and they prefer it to go unnoticed. As there is so much choice on the market, it can be difficult for electricians to compare like with like, which is where a wholesaler’s expertise can be invaluable in providing information about the various benefits and the associated costs of differing configurations and units.

Before the recent legislation change, consumer units were already becoming more sleek and compact for style reasons but the 17th Edition has created additional space issues for manufacturers, as even more components have to now fit inside the already smaller unit. This is also presenting specification challenges as consumers continue to demand a unit that is stylish and discreet, which is why, to make the installation as straightforward as possible, consumer units should provide cable access with unrestricted cable entry, which can be made from any side.

Choices, choices
Since the 17th Edition came into force electricians have, on the whole, grasped how these changes affect the consumer unit and what to do to meet the regulations. But it seems there are one or two preferred methods being adopted, despite plenty of options being available, which is why wholesalers need to ensure all these solutions are stocked and fully understood, in order to offer the best possible service.

A split load consumer unit that has two separate circuits is the most common option chosen by electricians. It has two busbars each fed by an RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker), which means the installer can split the circuits to improve continuity of supply. If a circuit trips then only half of the circuits in the house would be affected. For example the upstairs sockets and lights could be on one busbar and the downstairs equivalent could be on the other.

The second popular option is to have a Dual RCD consumer unit with two RCD protected busbars but with the added benefit being able to add additional RCBOs (Residual Current Breaker with Overload protection). The most important circuits, such as those which could be costly for the homeowner or have safety implications if they fail, such as smoke alarms or fridges and freezers, can be individually protected by an RCBO. By combining the MCB and RCD (Residual Current Device) into one to provide RCBO protection, the homeowner has the safest possible configuration and it also minimises disruption should a fault occur.

Split load consumer units can still be used, using individual RCBOs to protect the most important circuits, on one of the busbars. As well as those circuits previously highlighted, those powering fish tanks, the electrics on a pond or panic alarms could also be included. The circuits which are less of a priority are fed from the RCD. If a problem happens within a split load consumer unit the circuits protected by the same RCD will also be affected. This could potentially leave the homeowner unable to use the cooker, lights or sockets. Therefore the fourth option and the most convenient way for installers to meet the standard, is to install a consumer unit that has an incoming switch disconnector and each outgoing way has individual overcurrent and residual current protection.

Prior to 17th Edition changes, split load consumer units were the standard choice, accounting for around 80% of the market. And it is this fact that is now presenting an additional opportunity for electricians and wholesalers alike, because these units can be easily upgraded to meet the new regulations by taking out the existing MCBs and replacing them with RCBOs. To meet this market demand, wholesalers should be ensuring residual current protection devices are being stocked alongside consumer units.

Quality control
When it comes to choosing which consumer units to stock, there are a number of variables in the quality, reliability and safety of different products and it’s the wholesaler’s responsibility to ensure they only offer the best possible options.

It is a sad fact that the electrical industry is tainted with substandard goods and consumer units are not exempt. These can take many forms, from devices that are a copy of a manufacturer’s technology but given a different name, complete counterfeiting, through to cheap products from unknown brands. As one of the major drives to introduce the 17th Edition regulations was to improve safety, offering products, whether they are counterfeit or just poorly manufactured, raises the question will they stand up to the standards set in the regulations?

As the answer to this question is probably no, it’s not just consumer units that wholesalers need to watch-out for, as inferior MCB and RCBs are available, which will also impact on the quality of the consumer unit. This is why wholesalers should only use reputable manufacturers and if necessary ask for a complete product history to determine quality. At the end of the day, a reputable manufacturer cares about their perception in the market place and will offer a customer service to support it. Whereas a company that makes cheaper, potentially untested parts, will not always have the same processes.

With electricians being encouraged to play a part in raising the awareness of the safety of electrics within the home, wholesalers also have a role to play by offering their customers the best consumer unit products and advice possible. In order to avoid poor quality consumer units and the potential dangers they can create, reputable manufacturers should always be recommended. Finally, the changes made by the 17th Edition mean the whole industry must understand the full range of configurations in order to select the best possible option.