French Electrics

[mort2376]

Am currently on a working holiday in France.

Doing some maintenance work and was just poking about at the mains.

Property has 6 consumer units dotted about, however I could not find a sub main fuseboard which you would expect to have in the UK.

I did find this however....


Yep that's the submain distribution. New board needed, no problem just throw in a 6mm and connect it direct to the mains incomer !

I know we complain about red tape and regulations, but when you see things like this it makes you realise that we do a good job at protecting people.

 

[Murdoch]

All I remember about looking at a fuseboard in a ski lodge a few years ago is that they seem to have far more circuits than we do in the UK

 

[Mike.J]

That is just a junction box, somewhere there will be an EDF main switch that is tariff set and a meter if not then it's an illegal installation and should not be used as a comparison.

All circuits in France are radials and only a maximum of eight to any one RCD, white goods are generally on their own radial, hence more circuits.

Typical up to date domestic three phase French board, note six RCD's and three RCBO's.