Consumer Units + Conduit - Need Adapter/reducer?

[el_sjo]

Hi all,

Apologies that my first post here is asking a question, but I am running out of ideas!

I am fitting out a friend's garage with some sockets, lights and consumer unit. The consumer unit in question is the "Schneider Easy9 Garage Unit 2 Way" from tool station.

The garage is being hooked up with standard 20mm conduit. The consumer unit has 28mm apertures.

I've been unable to find a suitable reducer/adapter - does such a thing exist? I think i'll also need flexible conduit to go from the consumer unit to the first socket/switch as the hole centres do not match up.

Thanks for any advice in advance

 

[Doc Hudson]

So you've cut your holes too big? most consumer units have knockouts that you cut to the size appropraite, they do not normally come pre cut out, as the manufacture has no idea if you have top or bottom entry cables. You could just get another CU and cut the holes correctly for a neater job. Or use large profile trunking to cover your mistake. Do you have correct test gear to verify your work is safe once you have finished it. Adding new circuits should also have a building regulations compliance certificate issued in England and Wales.

Doc H.

 

[el_sjo]

Doc H,

Thanks for your advice, and the free assumptions. The CU was supplied to me in the current state, otherwise I probably would have cut the holes the right size. If this is the standard method, then that's fine, and i'll instruct my mate to get a new CU.

Regards

 

[IzzyS]

Are you sure the hole is 28mm? Standard conduit sizes are 25mm and 32mm.  Twenty eight suggests a plumber's been let lose on it...

Assuming PVC conduit, MK catalogue number ER2, 25x20mm reducer is the closest you'll get, unless you go 32x25 (ER3)  then 25x20....  

Steel reducers are also available.   

"I think i'll also need flexible conduit to go from the consumer unit to the first socket/switch as the hole centres do not match up." 

Why can't you put an offset in the conduit?

 

[el_sjo]

I'll double check the diameter, but i'm pretty sure it's 28mm. The blanking plates have just been popped out, so not butchered by a plumber

The hole centres are only 10-20mm out, so not sure how I would do that with conduit. I was just trying to be neat rather than have conduit at odd angles.

 

[NozSpark]

Why not blank off the 25mm holes and use the 20mm ones that havent been knocked out?

Or (if PVC conduit) just put a 25-20mm reducer in a 25mm adaptor

As for the offset... do you not have a bending spring that you could use?

 

[el_sjo]

Unfortunately the top two holes have been knocked out and they're the ones I need to use.

The bending spring; I was wondering what they were for! Interesting.. thanks..

I know this all sounds trivial, I'm just trying to find out from the experts if this is a common thing and whether or not there are some off the shelf bits to deal with it.

 

[NozSpark]

:shakehead

 

[Andy™]

Unfortunately the top two holes have been knocked out and they're the ones I need to use.

The bending spring; I was wondering what they were for! Interesting.. thanks..

I know this all sounds trivial, I'm just trying to find out from the experts if this is a common thing and whether or not there are some off the shelf bits to deal with it.

how about getting someone competent to do the job. clearly you dont know enough to do the job properly, and i doubt you have any test kit to make sure its safe either

 

[el_sjo]

how about getting someone competent to do the job. clearly you dont know enough to do the job properly, and i doubt you have any test kit to make sure its safe either

Yes, it takes a rocket scientist to hook up some PVC reducers. How much do you charge, Captain Competent?

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Its more than reducers though ?   You clearly are not compedant nor have test kit to ensure this job is safe. How  can you certify this work ? You are also breaking the  law if the work is being carried out in England or Wales, even if you are doing this work for free. All  registered electricians have insurance to cover ourselves and the property if something was to go wrong now or in the future, only a short while ago an electrician got jailed  when a woman was electrocuted many years after the installation, but he did not have the correct paperwork to back himself up.

 

[apprentice87]

Oh, now, ar'nt you the clever one!!!!!!! Know the earthing type? Calculated volt drop?? Even heard of R1 + R2? Know what EFLI is??? How to measure it?? What about adiabatic equations??? How about PSSC and PEFC??? Not so smart now eh???

Unless you know ALL of the above, you CANNOT SAFELY even wire up a single socket....

Assuming you do know what i am on about above, got about £1000 worth of testing gear???

Thought not.

Now, start again...

Be civil with forum members you will get unlimited help; Be "smart" and you will be on your own....

john....

 

[el_sjo]

Do you guys just assume everything? Do you assume that I am going to wire it up beyond the CU? Do you assume I am not going to get one of you qualified chaps to come certify it? I wouldn't assume that whoever it is you speak to is an idiot..

For what it's worth i'm an electronics engineer..  

Being tested on ohms law is kind of amusing though when someone is simply asking for some info on a conduit reducer.

 

[NozSpark]

Ok then...

As an electronics enginer you wont know the significance of Ze, PFC, PSSC, R1, R2, volt drop, bull rush charts, etc etc

But then again as an engineer, degree qualified I assume, that you should also know your limitations

And before you go off on one I used to be a mechanical/electrical/electronic maintenance technician so I have been through that mill

BTW no self respecting electrician will test and sign off someone else's installation

 

[el_sjo]

I'm not here to go off at anyone; however it seems the default reaction by the bandwagon on here is to go apeshit at anyone who isn't a qualified sparky and try and put them down constantly. Whatever floats their boat I suppose. Seems a bit pointless having a "DIY" forum on here unless it's purely to attack non-sparkies.

Anyway, back to the original issue... Conduit reducers.. 

 

[NozSpark]

Conduit reducers,,,, available from most good wholesalers

BTW the extent of the work that you are doing is seen to be beyond the scope of DIY by many trade bodies, also as you won't have the correct test equipment then how can you ensure that what you are doing is safe, and do you have adequate insurance to cover this work?

 

[el_sjo]

I don't need the test equipment.. I have a sparky for that..

And yes, I have adequate insurance.. PL, PI, EL, take your pick..

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Wiring it up to the consumer is  still  not allowed in your situation.

The answer is 28mm is not an electrical size so you will not find a reducer to 20mm conduit . I  have come across this  size with the cheap  IP rated junction boxes (normally a grey waxy pvc) that have a serrated bung but nowhere else so i assume (apparently we are good at that here) its a foreign size.

I think this thread is a good reason to remove the DIY section like many other electricians forums have. The reason  they give is the person giving free information can be held legally responsible , (app 87 may be able to explore this)

 

[el_sjo]

The CU is not wired up to anything.. there's no feed going into the garage..

I guess he thought Schneider would be a good brand.. being German.. but it appears it has an odd size orifice!

Thanks for confirming......

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

There are numerous neat & safe ways of correcting this. As you pointed out,  its not rocket science  & as  you are an engineer you should be able to work it out and have the tools & equipment to do it, good luck.