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Consumer units and equipment outdoors

vantech

Hi,

Anything inherently wrong with installing consumer units outside? 

IP rated (IP65/66).

The plan is to install henley blocks into the exterior meter cupboard, and a supply taken to an IP rated lockable enclosure on the wall directly below the cupboard to supply an outbuilding.  

How does the sway in temperature impact MCB and RCD functionality? They all seem to be rated to sub zero temperatures and in excess of 40 degrees. 

Anyone with any extensive experience doing this? 
 

Thanks. 

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    Zoomup: 
    What are forum users' experiences with outdoor wiring accessories in damp garages, open car ports, garden sheds, summer houses and greenhouses etc. Are the working parts like R.C.D.s and M.C.B.s corroding and not functioning correctly?

    Most of my outbuildings are dry and 40 year old wiring and accessories (metalclad) are sound. I replaced a metal CU (Federal Electric) 4 years ago. It was situated 3 - 4 feet inside an open porch. The box had quite a lot of surface rust and the (BS 4293) RCBOs were dead. MK SRCDs in the conservatory failed some time ago, but it is falling apart and no longer waterproof.

    Luminaires and (MK) outdoor switches have remained intact. I have replaced one ordinary round luminaire outdoors because the plastic had cracked, but the ones in the slightly damp outbuilding are fine.

    I suspect that the coating of DBs makes a big difference - enamel should last much better than paint.

    What has done badly is flood lights. The screws always seem to be rusty when a new lamp is required and the coating just doesn't last. PIRs don't seem to last either.

    All of this is ½ mile from the sea.

Reply
  • 0

    Zoomup: 
    What are forum users' experiences with outdoor wiring accessories in damp garages, open car ports, garden sheds, summer houses and greenhouses etc. Are the working parts like R.C.D.s and M.C.B.s corroding and not functioning correctly?

    Most of my outbuildings are dry and 40 year old wiring and accessories (metalclad) are sound. I replaced a metal CU (Federal Electric) 4 years ago. It was situated 3 - 4 feet inside an open porch. The box had quite a lot of surface rust and the (BS 4293) RCBOs were dead. MK SRCDs in the conservatory failed some time ago, but it is falling apart and no longer waterproof.

    Luminaires and (MK) outdoor switches have remained intact. I have replaced one ordinary round luminaire outdoors because the plastic had cracked, but the ones in the slightly damp outbuilding are fine.

    I suspect that the coating of DBs makes a big difference - enamel should last much better than paint.

    What has done badly is flood lights. The screws always seem to be rusty when a new lamp is required and the coating just doesn't last. PIRs don't seem to last either.

    All of this is ½ mile from the sea.

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