Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Cox

Here is an interesting article I found on the web.

There is now such a wide range of UK consumer units or fuse boards, that choosing the right one for your project can be bewildering. This jargon busting article will help the domestic buyer.

‘Number of Ways’

The first consideration in choosing a consumer unit is deciding how many separate circuits you have. For example, Upstairs Ring Main (main power circuit), Downtairs Ring Main, Upstairs Lighting, Downstairs Lighting, Cooker, Shower, Smoke Alarms, Freezer etc etc. These are all separate circuits.

In the fuse board these circuits are protected by one of two ‘protection devices’; either an MCB or RCBO. The amount of these devices that a consumer unit can take is known as the ‘Number of Usable Ways’. (Protection Devices are discussed in my article ‘Consumer Units and Accessories – A Glossary)

So, quite simply a 10 way consumer unit means there are 10 usable ways which can take 10 MCBs or RCBOs and consequently will protect 10 separate circuits.

The Five Basic Types of Domestic Consumer Unit

Main Switch CUs- Supplied with 100A Main Switch only

Split Load CUs – Supplied with Main Switch and 1 RCD

Dual RCD CUs / 17th Edition CUs – A fuse board with 2 x RCDs and Main Switch

High Integrity Boards – These feature 3 neutral bars and offer far superior circuit separation, by allowing for the fitting of two banks of RCD protected MCBs and one bank of RCBOs, thus negating ‘nuisance tripping’.

Metal or Plastic?

This is fairly simply answered by ascertaining where the fuse board is intended to be situated. If, as is normal, it’s going in the house it’s normal to use plastic, which is also known as ‘insulated’. If it’s to be sited in an outhouse, workshop or garage then its common to use metal. There are no rules governing this and is just a matter of preference. However, in cases where an armoured cable is to be terminated in the fuse board then metal should be used as a plastic unit will snap under the load.

Which Manufacturer?

It seems that every man and his dog is now producing fuse boards and at ever lower prices. To be honest I would steer clear of anything that isn’t manufactured by a circuit protection specialist.

It’s not that anything the newer manufacturers make is unsafe, but there is no guarantee that in years to come these cheaper unbranded units will still be in production; which gives you a big problem if you need replacement MCBs.

The most respected names in the industry, such as Wyex, Hager, MK Sentry or Crabtree have been around for years, put huge investment into research and development and offer a far greater range of protection devices and accessories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Gilbert

If electricity is lost unexpectedly at home, checking the consumer unit for a tripped circuit breaker or RCD is at maximum, the most people should be willing do. This is common sense given that electricity is extremely dangerous and particularly to those who do not understand how electricity works or the complexity of domestic wiring systems. Therefore, it is always best to hire the services of a professional to find and fix the problem for you. It can be a bit of a daunting task in deciding which electrician or electrical service to use as there are hundreds to choose from and you only have to look in the Yellow Pages or search on Google to see that this is the case. However, there are some factors that you can check to ensure that you pick the right company and get a good service.

Start by checking that the electrical company can provide fully qualified and competent personal to carry out the service in your home. It is not unreasonable to request that the engineer provide you with proof that they are properly qualified before any work commences. Alternatively, you can choose a company that is NICEIC approved. The NICEIC ensure all of their members work to the standards of the IEE wiring regulations (B.S.7671) and these approved contractors are usually a safe choice. Always check company charges before any work commences, or you could end up with a big shock at the end of the job. Check if the company charges by the hour or agree on a fixed price that you are happy with. Try to find out how long the job is likely to take. If there is fault finding involved then this may not be calculated until work commences. Also check if there are any known parts needed for the job. If there are, find out how much will they cost? Other factors to consider regarding company rates include: call out charges and other hidden charges such as VAT.

One of the best ways to achieve peace of mind when employing the services of an electrician is to go by the recommendation of a friend or family member. If there is someone you know who has recently had work done for them and who were completely satisfied with the level of service they received, then this may be a company to investigate further. It will give you confidence that you are likely to receive the same level of service. Find out if the company guarantees its work and if so, for how long? If the company has a website, there should be a terms and conditions page which you should read thoroughly. After checking all the points covered in this article, you should feel confident that the company in question is genuine and can offer you a good professional service.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Percy_Ford

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