side ways consumer unit

[dan.]

if changing an old wylex cu and space wont allow the new 17th compliant board to be mounted horizontal,is it against the regs to mount it vertically?

 

[binky]

Not that I know of - if needs must.... or fit two small CUs

 

[Evans Electric]

Seen it done a few times , looks crap but if theres no room I can't see anything wrong with doing it.

 

[dan.]

i thought about 2 small ones but the customer would prefer one main switch.

ive been through the book but cant find anything against it.only thing i can find is maintaining accesability,sideways doesnt make it inaccesable does it?

 

[a1]

Mounting a consumer Unit Sideways / Vertical is mentioned in Post #3 and a response in post #13 of this thread...

http://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1947&highlight=mount+sideways

 

[dan.]

cheers admin. its not on show its in a cupboard.

 

[NozSpark]

Here's a picture of a stacking one I did pre 17th ed...

It only has 1 main switch and if you replaced the top MCB's for RCBO's then it would be 17th compliant!

I know it's Proteus, but it's all that I could get at the timeBlushing

 

[dan.]

hmmmm now then now then

 

[Evans Electric]

Nicky , that stacked C/U looks a cracking idea ( even if it is Proteus)

Deke

 

[NozSpark]

Nicky , that stacked C/U looks a cracking idea ( even if it is Proteus) Deke

Hey, only my family called me that (years ago)X(X(X( X( ; ) ; )

I'll let you off with it this time, but if you do it again I'll have to get The Don to have a word:O:O

The only problem with it is that you cannot get a main switch & RCD one so the top board has to have RCBO's..

If you do one like this just make sure you get the linking tabs (2 of JP1's ????)..

I've done a few of these now with different sized boards, they work well.

 

[Evans Electric]

Have you seen what they call me !!!!!!!

 

[Apache]

Have you seen what they call me !!!!!!!

what's that, Sandra?

 

[Andy™]

nothing wrong with putting it on its side - think of a 3 phase board

 

[Apache]

Do the instructions with the CU state how it should be mounted? If it says mount vertical isn't there something in that BRB of yours saying must be installed according to manufacturers instructions?

 

[Andy™]

Do the instructions with the CU state how it should be mounted? If it says mount vertical isn't there something in that BRB of yours saying must be installed according to manufacturers instructions?

but if you dont read the instructions....

 

[Apache]

but if you dont read the instructions....

ignorance is never an excuse. You saying I can wire my house however I like so long as I don't read the BRB?

:|

 

[Andy™]

ignorance is never an excuse. You saying I can wire my house however I like so long as I don't read the BRB? :|

well thats what all DIYers do and get away with it

 

[steptoe]

I think the only issue will be with labelling,

ie, you will have to re-label to ensure ALL labels are in the horizontal plane, both inside and out,

dont know how you would go about changinging the labeling on the main switch tho,

ie, the on/off indicators, marking.

 

[The Godfather]

One of my boys had insisted to one of our clients, it is in their best interests, that the consumer unit is fitted sideways.

The client was reminded of the little space available and after my boy gave him a firm look, the client agreed.

On the issue of whether the MCBs etc will still trip under a fault condition (mounted sideways), does seem a rather week argument. If they were that sensitive, one would be concerned, whichever way they were mounted.

The Godfather

 

[Lee321]

ignorance is never an excuse. You saying I can wire my house however I like so long as I don't read the BRB? :|

you would have a very good case to say you have sufficent expert knowledge to know that mounting in a position other than indicated by manufacturers instructions being horizontally, would not impair safety/operation. obviously as mentioned re orientating the labelling would

make for good practice too.

altho it would still makes us all cringe at the fact