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Wylex 100A dp isolators in plastic enclosures.

Just wondered  why these are not classed as "similar switchgear" to consumer units etc which are supposed to be in

non flammable enclosures in domestics.

                                          Regards,Hz
Parents

  • gkenyon:




    AJJewsbury:




    but the RCD would almost certainly make it "similar switchgear"



    I'd still argue not - without any overcurrent protective devices there's no incoming or outgoing circuits - it's all (by the definition of a circuit) all one circuit. It can't therefore be a distribution board, and thus not any particular type of distribution board that is a consumer unit, so any similarity doesn't seem at all obvious. Let alone meeting the switchgear definition's requirement for containing both main and auxiliary switching equipment.


      - Andy


    Well, this is where it gets tenuous.


    The overcurrent protection may be downstream of the device (in this case usually justifiably so), therefore it fits into the "one or more fuses, circuit breakers, residual current operated devices" category in the definition of Consumer Unit in BS 7671. Certainly, the single RCD-isolator controls energy, and is certainly involved in the distribution of electrical energy.



    I do not think that it is tenuous at all.


    Definition of consumer unit: A particular type of distribution board ... So if the single RCD isolator is not a distribution board, it cannot be a consumer unit.


    I have no doubt that the inclusion of a single circuit does not prevent something from being a DB. After all, an installation could be made in stages with only one circuit initially.


    Definition of distribution board: An assembly containing switching or protective devices ... together with terminals for the neutral and circuit protective conductors. In the absence of terminals for CPCs, the single RCD isolator cannot be a distribution board.


    QED.

Reply

  • gkenyon:




    AJJewsbury:




    but the RCD would almost certainly make it "similar switchgear"



    I'd still argue not - without any overcurrent protective devices there's no incoming or outgoing circuits - it's all (by the definition of a circuit) all one circuit. It can't therefore be a distribution board, and thus not any particular type of distribution board that is a consumer unit, so any similarity doesn't seem at all obvious. Let alone meeting the switchgear definition's requirement for containing both main and auxiliary switching equipment.


      - Andy


    Well, this is where it gets tenuous.


    The overcurrent protection may be downstream of the device (in this case usually justifiably so), therefore it fits into the "one or more fuses, circuit breakers, residual current operated devices" category in the definition of Consumer Unit in BS 7671. Certainly, the single RCD-isolator controls energy, and is certainly involved in the distribution of electrical energy.



    I do not think that it is tenuous at all.


    Definition of consumer unit: A particular type of distribution board ... So if the single RCD isolator is not a distribution board, it cannot be a consumer unit.


    I have no doubt that the inclusion of a single circuit does not prevent something from being a DB. After all, an installation could be made in stages with only one circuit initially.


    Definition of distribution board: An assembly containing switching or protective devices ... together with terminals for the neutral and circuit protective conductors. In the absence of terminals for CPCs, the single RCD isolator cannot be a distribution board.


    QED.

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