New advice on consumer unit upgrade

[Macca]

Can someone suggest a good consumer unit to upgrade to,

I currently have a 10 way Memera 2000 AD, this comprises of

1. lighting
2. lighting
3. central heating
4. smoke detectors
5. security
6. not sure
7. water heater
8. sockets
9. sockets
10. cooker

I want to add a new ring circuit dedicated to my fish room,

so if anyone can suggest say a 12 way unit it would be much appreciated.

[dougs3955]

Macca,

security & smoke detectors can jump on the same breaker which i guess is backed up on a 6amp breaker,either pull any load!! that would free up a spare way for you!!
you can pop a 40amp breaker in the spare way and do all the smaller fuses local to the tank,

if not WYLEX do a 12 way 6 rcd 6 mcb

maybe best to go for a 16way Wylex, 8rcd 8mcb that would give you pleanty for future bits n bobs
worth checking to total load of the tank to ensure you have a man enough feed cable ?? 6mm is more than enough 4mm should do the trick,

[Macca]

thanks bud, will look up that unit, I need to replace the board anyway as I had the trip on it removed due to it being faulty.

[michael.]

I like the new hager domestic double rcd board, you can get a 5 and 5 split load and spread the 3 socket circuits out between the 2 rcds to make it more even and have less chance of tripping, it has lots of room inside to get the cables in and easy to work with.

[Macca]

thanks bud, will have a look at that one too.

[michael.]

I fitted 13 recently in a block of flats and they were pretty good to work with and not a bad price really either http://www.fastlec.co.uk/hager-17th-ed-55-dual-rcd-cons-unit-mcbs-p-12505.html?zenid=knk4uk5nd1nrsprgrhr87q3s23

[Macca]

thanks michael looks good!

would the 40 amp go to the cooker and the 3 * 32 amp for ring mains?

[Macca]

1. lighting
2. lighting
3. central heating
4. smoke detectors
5. security
6. not sure
7. water heater
8. sockets
9. sockets
10. cooker
11. new ring main

here is what your board supplies michael.

Hager MCBs Provided-3x6A, 1x16A, 3x32A & 1x40A

so how would that work?

[michael.]

3 ring mains all 32 amp, the cooker on a 32 really, the 16 amp will be fine for the water heater, 2 lighting circuits 6 amps, you could add the smokes and alarm on a 6 amp also, you will need to get a 4th 32 amp and an extra 6 amp for the alarm, you could double the alarm and smokes on 1 6 amp I suppose, and the cooker wouldn't hurt on a 40, but a 32 would be better, looks like you need a 16 amp for the boiler also, best not to double up on the water heater, that should be by itself on the 16 amp, they are only a couple of quid from an electrical wholesaler, I would get the 4th 32 amp and 2nd 16 and do the job properly to be honest, you could double up the alarm and smokes and that would make 10 ways, might be better to get a 6 and 6 and have 2 spare ways, otherwise you are full up again, I didn't realise you had that many circuits.

[michael.]

you could get something like this http://www.fastlec.co.uk/hager-17th-edition-14-way-dual-rcd-consumer-unit-10-mcbs-p-8481.html?zenid=01pvpa8q8etpubukr8lo4ah7n4 but try a local electrical wholesaler, it may well be cheaper, you should get one with all mcbs from city electrical factors for 80 quid ish if you go into the trade counter, that isnt bad for a 14 way with 10 mcbs and vat included.

[dougs3955]

Macca,
how soon do you need the unit??? i may be able to get one for you FOC,

How many ways do you think you need just to run the tank room ?? i guess the board you intend to change runs the whole house ??

[dodgy diver]

i personally allways use the mk split load boards they usually come free with the breakers that you choose

[Macca]

hi, I bought a split board from B&Q bud, just need to fit it now