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Thoughts on replacing switched fuse with small consumer unit

Alan B

I need to take a garage feed from the meter box in the picture below to enable installation of an EV charger. as consume unit is in the middle of the house and far from easy to get a cable in to it.

My initial plan has been to use an external IP rated consumer unit connected by henley blocks to the output of the main isolator.

Then I have been thinking that looking at the real estate taken by the current switched fuse (protecting cable run through house) and the Henley block I need it's basically the same size as a small garage consumer unit, probably more untidy. 

I know the DNO's frown on consumer units in the meter cupboard but given the switched fuse and henley blocks would have to be there anyway and I think there is a reasonable argument for a small consumer unit being a neater and in some ways more space efficient solution.

I would mount the new CU on spacers so that the meter tails could run underneath to the isolator above and maybe move the isolator up a bit, SWA garage feed would come up from the bottom.

The alternative would be to move the isolator up, squeeze a Henley block between it and the switched fuse.

Does this sound like  reasonable engineering judgement, anything I am missing?

Thanks

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    Irrespective of the DNO requirements I think you will struggle to get even a small garage CU in there. There is also the issue of discrimination as an MCB in the CU is unlikely to discriminate with the MCBs in the house CU. In the past I have not managed to find a CU that will take more than a 30A fuse carrier and I have had to fit external switch fuse. I think you will have to tap into the T&E somewhere and possibly fit an external enclosure.

    On a separate issue is the T&E protected during the run in the house? Usually when used to supply CUs I see it stuffed in cavities and run under capping outside zones with no physical or RCD protection.

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    Irrespective of the DNO requirements I think you will struggle to get even a small garage CU in there. There is also the issue of discrimination as an MCB in the CU is unlikely to discriminate with the MCBs in the house CU. In the past I have not managed to find a CU that will take more than a 30A fuse carrier and I have had to fit external switch fuse. I think you will have to tap into the T&E somewhere and possibly fit an external enclosure.

    On a separate issue is the T&E protected during the run in the house? Usually when used to supply CUs I see it stuffed in cavities and run under capping outside zones with no physical or RCD protection.

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