Sizing is a very basic self question for qualified electricians. Period!

Jaymack    

mmmm....I think this is a rather relevant question - I would like all DBs in the UK to have 50% more space inside. All 3 phase DBs have too little space in them down the sides - where the cables run - especially when installing a lot of RCBOs. I know the OP is primarily talking of domestic boards but three phase ones are used in domestic on occasion. Even single phase "domestic" DBs do require more space inside them (IMO) too. 

Back to 1st principles.

Simple answer, a dist board/consumer unit should be large enough to properly accommodate all of the required circuits!

My experience, as an engineer, is that some electricians can get stuck in their ways. Electricians follow instructions and follow rules much more than carrying out problem solving and innovation that engineers do all the time.

Electricians might think they know all there is to know about SPDs, but how many could develop such a device, or even determine that there is a good reason to have to develop such a device?!

In my locality it's tricky to find tradesmen who are very good when it comes to owner occupied houses that don't burn a hole in your bank account, unless it's just the bare minimum the owner asks for. Instead, they overwhelmingly have a mindset geared to rentals, so tend to concentrate on offering the bare minimum. How many rentals have solar panels or EV chargers? How many that don't have them have a CU set up to accommodate them?

So what do the electricians install as standard? A BG CU from Screwfix with provision for just 6 circuits, and no SPD unless the owner of the property specifically asks for one. If you want a 2 row box from Hager or Eaton installed, then expect to pay more than twice as much even if you supply all the parts and specify just 6 circuits at the outset with no fancy accessories, to have it installed by an electrician who is familiar with installing such devices. Most ordinary electricians will freak out at the sight of such consumer units, or ask a barrage of questions what you intend to put inside it, but more often than not take the advantage to charge more than twice as much as for the 6 circuit CU from Screwfix they usually install. If you want fancy accessories installed, then the electrician had probably never even seen such delights as a DIN rail mounted timeswitch before.

As I stated in the OP, it's only a metal box.

Crikey that's dissed all electricians then. I'm guessing you've had a bad experience recently Arran 

Do take care - I could say that in my experience as an experimental physicist specialising in solid state and electronics, some engineers are not so great either. We all have blind spots.

!!!

Mike

Well, there might be a bit of "monkey see, monkey do". It's really a matter of talking to the customer. If the customer is a large landlord, economy may be at the forefront, but that's their decision.

Isn't the real question, "what would I install for myself?"

I rather like the Schneider "wireless" RCBO boards which I have seen at a NAPIT event, but £1k is enough to make anybody's eyes water. On the other hand, that might just be a quarter's electricity bill, so why the heck not?

There's "monkey see, monkey do" in every profession...

A few years ago there was a big debate on this forum about wiring up ceiling lights, and whether many electricians do it according to what they previously encountered or learned in training courses rather than considered different (and better) alternatives.

Large landlords are one type of customer, but what I had in mind are small scale landlords who own just one or two houses, and more often than not just want things cheap and minimal with only the requirements of today and not tomorrow,

How many spare spaces would you allocate for solar panels and an EV charger?

Are there any other things that warrant spaces allocating for them?

As many as the customer is prepared to pay for is the simple straight answer If you have the money and the space allows it, I'll stick you a 18/24/36 way 3phase board in if you wish. But be aware that with short product life cycles, you may not be able to fill that last couple of spare ways in 10 year's time because the manufacturer has discontinued the range.

." Electricians follow instructions and follow rules much more than carrying out problem solving and innovation that engineers do all the time."

This is because these days they are not taught critical thinking and problem solving skills, but merely to slavishly follow 'the regs' without question

If you wish to apportion blame, then look to the rulemakers and educators rather than the end product..

Fusebox do a nice double-stacker with all internal links and connectors pre-assembled for a good price.The Schneider items look to be something of an expensive faff, with lots of 'extras' to buy on top of what already is a very expensive board for what it is.

Fusebox do a nice double-stacker with all internal links and connectors pre-assembled for a good price.The Schneider items look to be something of an expensive faff, with lots of 'extras' to buy on top of what already is a very expensive board for what it is.

I see what you mean, but the size isn't the issue. Our current board is in fact two end-to-end.