Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 42 replies
  • Subscribers 27 subscribers
  • Views 2950 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Plastic consumer units/enclosures etc

whjohnson
I have a job where a small former outside toilet is being converted into a hobby pottery complete with water supply and small kiln.

I propose to fit a small plastic consumer unit with the appropriate IP rating for protection against ingress of water.

This will be a home brew job with a generic enclosure and a RCD main switch and mcbs from my spares stock.

I have seen many metal enclosures rusting quietly away in detached garages/w/shops/outbuildings and thought they would be better served by using plastic.


I think there is still a case to be made for fitting plastic consumer unit enclosures in outbuildings in order to prevent deteriation caused by external influences. Moist atmosphere, unheated spaces and the like.


Any other like-minded souls out there?

Comments welcome.
Parents
  • 0
    In perhaps 10 to 20 years time, when the mania for swapping CUs has died, and most houses  have a ten year old metal consumer unit, it will be interesting to look at the fire stats, and the electrocution stats, and see if the call on the metal CU  was in fact the right one.

    There will be plenty of comparison data from other countries as almost nowhere else on the planet considers a plastic enclosure for electricity to be a bad idea. Right now it is too soon to say.

    I am in agreement by the way that I think there are plenty of damp places, and even some dry situations where the Ze is high, where a metal box is not a sensible option.
Reply
  • 0
    In perhaps 10 to 20 years time, when the mania for swapping CUs has died, and most houses  have a ten year old metal consumer unit, it will be interesting to look at the fire stats, and the electrocution stats, and see if the call on the metal CU  was in fact the right one.

    There will be plenty of comparison data from other countries as almost nowhere else on the planet considers a plastic enclosure for electricity to be a bad idea. Right now it is too soon to say.

    I am in agreement by the way that I think there are plenty of damp places, and even some dry situations where the Ze is high, where a metal box is not a sensible option.
Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines