New Member Seeks Advice

[Tinks]

Hi all,

I had a conversation with a colleague today regarding a possible switch from purchasing crabtree starbreaker c/u's to a different manufacturer.

We've been installing crabtree for 15 years and have had no issues with them at all.

My main duties are maintenance and inspection and testing. For this very reason I love the starbreaker.

I think the enclosed busbar is a brilliant idea, so are the plug in mcb's.

Does anyone have any pros/cons of other boards or crabtree boards I can take back to the procurement department to make a more informed decision.

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[steptoe]

Personally,

I HATE those boards with a passion. :|

 

[Tinks]

Please expand

 

[ProDave]

I'm with Step's there.

I don't like them, because they use NON STANDARD parts.  There is (as far as I know) no BS spec for the socketed busbar and the circuit breakers that plug into them.

For us sparkies, that means yet another type of MCB to carry around with us, just in case we encounter one.

So I don't perpetuate this "non standard" kit and avoid installing them myself.  As they are so non standard, I have this fear that at some time in the future, they may be discontinued and parts may become hard to get and / or expensive.

Better to stick to a CU that uses standard MCB's IMHO

 

[Blue Duck]

^^Agreed with the above but don't all cu's have to contain mcbs of the same brand...? 

I have all manner of mcb's in the van but mostly wylex as they are the most common 17th ed cu I see, the second would be crabtree as Hackney council seems to have a thing for them.

I probably wouldn't install crabtree boards for the reasons previously mentioned but if you have been doing it for ages then I don't see why not continue especially as you may have built up quite a stock of spares.

When you have been working on proteus/contactum boards a starbreaker will seem like a holiday!

 

[m4tty]

+ the above. Pita non standard. Don't fit on the meter long din rails in the van where spare breakers are kept ... Have to be thrown in misc box gets all scratched and looks ***** when you unfortunately come across the dreaded 'starbreaker' lol

 

[Tinks]

Thanks for your input

 

[Badger]

now i love the star breaker because of the plug in busbar system, and any way if you go to look at a job and you find a starbreaker why not on your way home pop into wholesalers pick up correct mcb for next day and do the job without issue. job done, :coffee

 

[ProDave]

 , and any way if you go to look at a job and you find a starbreaker why not on your way home pop into wholesalers pick up correct mcb for next day and do the job without issue. job done,  :coffee

That might work for you that live in towns.

For us out in the sticks, it's a 50 mile round trip to a wholesaler, a LOT more if I'm working north of my home. So it's either a very long trip (and try to charge the customer for the time and fuel cost) or get it mail order.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

I'm with Step's there.

I don't like them, because they use NON STANDARD parts.  There is (as far as I know) no BS spec for the socketed busbar and the circuit breakers that plug into them.

For us sparkies, that means yet another type of MCB to carry around with us, just in case we encounter one.

So I don't perpetuate this "non standard" kit and avoid installing them myself.  As they are so non standard, I have this fear that at some time in the future, they may be discontinued and parts may become hard to get and / or expensive.

Better to stick to a CU that uses standard MCB's IMHO

I'm with Step's there.

I don't like them, because they use NON STANDARD parts.  There is (as far as I know) no BS spec for the socketed busbar and the circuit breakers that plug into them.

For us sparkies, that means yet another type of MCB to carry around with us, just in case we encounter one.

So I don't perpetuate this "non standard" kit and avoid installing them myself.  As they are so non standard, I have this fear that at some time in the future, they may be discontinued and parts may become hard to get and / or expensive.

Better to stick to a CU that uses standard MCB's IMHO

So you carry around at least 50 different makes of  breakers and  sizes  then   ;

 

[Steve3948]

For me the top of the mcb's are to near the top of the board and outgoing circuits populate in front of the earth and neutral bars.

On a test and inspection and I see it's a crabtree board my first thoughts are b******s  :coat

 

[steptoe]

now i love the star breaker because of the plug in busbar system, and any way if you go to look at a job and you find a starbreaker why not on your way home pop into wholesalers pick up correct mcb for next day and do the job without issue. job done, :coffee

some jobs I 'have' to go to blind, either that or do a perhaps 200mile+ round trip to recce it,   :shakehead

thats why I usually carry a 2way CU and some tails/iscos etc with me now.

in fact, very very few jobs do I actually go to first, to me that would be a very poor fault finding method if you always have to go and get something,

it really does depend on the type of work you do, and your distance covered I suppose, oh, and availability of whatever type of MCB you need at a local wholesalers,

none of the ones I use regularly keep crabtree plug-ins, in stock,

 

[Robin Spark]

Amazingly the nearest wholesaler to me actually stock crabtree.  Oh, but thats it apart from BG carp!

I went in the other day asking for a wylex 20amp NHX breaker.   Reply " sorry mate we dont stock wylex." FFS!!

Specs knows how useless they are as well!  No wonder they are so quiet if nothing is never kept in stock.