2 WAY SPLIT LOAD CONSUMER UNIT and HOW TO INSTALL AND WIRE IT
A 2 way split load consumer unit is common place for many new installations nowadays, and properties that have been rewired will have been upgraded to split load boards too.
Although easy to wire up, it is also easy to get wrong.
Correctly wired, the RCDs and Breakers in the consumer unit will give the best protection to users of the installation and help to keep them safe from the harmful effects of electric shock and fire.
Incorrectly installed and the installation may not give full protection and may also give spurious electrical faults.
This video has been put together to show what components should go into a 2 way split load board, how they should be wired together for correct performance and then we follow the route of the electric current around the board showing the path through the correctly installed cables.
This will be especially useful to new electricians, apprentices and persons who have not installed a 2 way board before.
It is important that the relevant precautions regarding electrical safety should be followed including safe isolation of the installation and electrical circuits etc. If in doubt, stop and seek advice.
Electrical competence and knowledge of how to test an installation correctly are essential.
This work would fall into the requirements for notification under Part P of the Building Regulations.
We have produced several videos on Part P and on testing circuits which will supplement the knowledge learnt in this video.
To view all our videos type in LearnElectrics all one word into the KZhead search bar or click on the link to our channel below …
/ @learnelectrics4402
To view a list of all our LearnElectrics videos, click on the link below. There are many videos on many electrical topics including Installation, Part P, 18th Edition, Testing, Certification, Lighting, Sockets, Ring Circuits and much more. kzhead.info/tools/YaJQnpO4XAp0yCgqzMkmfA.html
Thanks again. As an adult learner I have drawn that current flow many times - the graphics you use make it so easy to understand.
That's really nice of you to say, thank you. We are all learners, every day. The more you put into learning the more you improve yourself and electrics will always give you a good living.
I’ve bee. struggling for a while to work out how consumer units fit together. This video has made it all very clear in a few minutes. Great work!
Glad it helped Steve. Thanks for the feedback.
As always, well explained and easy to understand. Your diagrams are well worth the effort you have put I to into them. Looking forward to watching the next one!
That's great feedback, really appreciated. Thank you. Dave.
Great video again Dave and appreciate the time you put into them 👍
Brilliant feedback, many thanks.
Wow! This is very informative, thanks for sharing it with us. It worth it
Glad it was helpful, thanks for the support.
Without a doubt one of the best electrical sites on the web
Thank you Jimmy. You're giving me a big reputation to keep up. Great feedback. lots more videos to come, glad you like the format. Spread the word, it helps. Dave.
Thank you for a simple explanation. Appreciated.
Thanks. Great feedback.
the best explanatory video. keep up the good work
Thank you. Your comments are appreciated. Dave.
Great as usual dave.. Many thanks & keep it up
Thank you so much. The positive feedback means so much. Lots more coming. Dave.
Thank you very much for your helpful videos.
You are very welcome and thanks for the great comment. Many more videos planned. Dave.
Excellent dave 👏made it easy for us beginners
Glad I could help. Keep watching, lots more videos to come.
Brilliant again dave 👍👍
Thank you. We keep trying. Dave.
As always, very presented, magnificant graphics, good illustrations . Looking to see for RCBOs and mix RCBOs and RCD. Keep up the good work. Very recommendable .
Thank you Omar for the kind comments. We have a video planned for a 3 way split i.e. RCDs and RCBOs and also an all RCBO board which are becoming more popular. It will be early May I think, soon anyway. Dave.
Excellent presentation again. It makes sense now youve shown the path the electricity flows, as it must always have a continuous path going out and back to that main neutral consumer tail coming in. Ive watched this a couple of times and your videos are an excellent resource for aspiring older learners like myself. Are most if not all consumer units this way?
Pretty much the same layout with a few tweeks. Some have 3 neutral bars for two RCDs and a section for RCBOs.
I am learning a lot about electrics in the UK and find it very interesting compared to Canadian electrics were use GFI breakers on single circuits when necessary. Around sinks and outdoor receptacles. All receptacles (sockets) that are now installed in homes and apartments must be arc fault protected at the panel board. Each circuit with an arc fault breaker separately at about ($80) each. Cost of wiring homes and apartments have gone up at least $1500 in the last few years just in material prices. Thanks for the great videos.
Yes Lyle, Arc Fault Detection Devices will be compulsory in UK new builds and refurbs soon, I'm sure and SPDs too. Glad you like the videos, many more planned. Dave.
It's amazing how much you can learn from this superb, easy to understand explanation on this topic, as with all of your other videos, brilliant, thankyou 👏👏👏
Good of you to say so Laurie, much appreciated, Dave.
Great video. Really helpful.
Happy it was useful, lots more to come. Dave.
Long time since I wired up a split board and your video was very helpful in setting up
Very nice job thank you
Thank you Robert, appreciated.
Absolutely 👌 !!!!
Great comment Dimitris, appreciated. Dave.
Excellent..thank you..
Thanks for the positive feedback. Dave
Brilliant video as always, thank you! Can you please do a video on how to test a sub- main consumer un it please and if possible some more on 3 phase installs.? Thank you. Links
Thank you Links, yes, that is on the list to be done. Thanks for watching. Dave.
THANK YOU
You are very welcome Ali.
Great video
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
Brilliant
Thank you. Much appreciated comment. Dave.
Another whopper video DaveO nice one mate
Well thanks SteveO, great feedbackO. Lots more to come. Dave.
Great video thank you. Can we install consumer unit sidway? Many thanks
It's done that way in distribution boards, the MCBs are horizontal and not vertical.
Thank you for your hard work. I'd just like to know about putting those two LIVE wires into the same terminal on the RCD. Is that a common practise and is it safe and accepted wiring? I'm asking because I need to split off the incoming LIVE in exactly the same way and feed it into the MCB for an inverter as well as into a change over switch. If it's a safe and accepted thing to do *please do tell exactly how one would put those 2 wires into that terminal.* I'm talking about the 16mm2 from the main breaker together with a 10mm2 wire going off to the inverter - just as your wire goes off to the input of the second RCD. Thanks in advance.
Another method is to use splitters or henly blocks. One in, two out. The problem with using different size conductors in the same hole is that the smaller size doesn't always grip and remains slightly loose.
Hi, great video. What if the consumer unit is older and only has an N1 & N2 and nit a main neutral bar at the top? Where would the neutrals go that you've put in the main neutral bar? Hope that made sense?
Some older boards only had two neutral bars, some just one. If they are upgraded to new boards they should come with three bars. Thanks for watching, Dave.
Thanks for posting. Can you alos show a video on how a Ryefield board is wired up?
Thanks for the feedback. I've put Ryefield boards on the list of future videos. I assume you are talking about 100 fuse distribution for blocks of flats and HMOs. Keeping me on my toes. Dave.
@@learnelectrics4402 yes exactly those.
OK. We will do something.
Nice video
Thanks for the great comment. Dave.
Hi Dave would love to see a video where you have a split load board covered by 2 RCD's or just a main switch RCD board and you require a Type A RCBO. What would the best way around this, I understand you can't just swap the MCB for the RCBO as that would be in series with the RCD that's already protecting the circuits. Is it a question of actually changing the main switch RCD to a Type A, for some unknown reason I just can't get my head around it. Thank you Dave
Thanks for the question, I've just answered that question. It;s on the list for a video to be done. Yes, you would need to re-organise the CU to create a space for the RCBO to avoid the other RCDs. More to come. Dave.
@@learnelectrics4402 You're a legend that would be fantastic. Thanks for all the hard work you put in to these videos, they're superb
Hello Dave, Won't it be a better design to replace the main switch in the consumer unit with a double pole MCB? By this way, in case of overload the householder will not need to contact the electricity provider and can simply reset the MCB.
Its just not done that way Sajid.
I thought split load consumer units are not aloud anymore, makes me wonder why when the housing association put a consumer unit in my house they replaced the split load board with a new one filled with RCBOs and they converted the two ring mains to a single radial Even though I told them that it was NOT necessary i also showed them the health and safety executives not on page 13 of BS7671 18th edition, dam kitchen fitters two days at trade skills4u and they think they know it all. Another fantastic video thank you Dave
Yes Sean they are ok. The old 16th Edition boards were spilt with just one half as RCD but now we have RCD protection on both sides. Changing your house electrics? I've lost count how many times I've heard the same story from customers. They wanted a £50 light change and ended up with an £800 board change because they were told "the law says" when in fact it is only advisory as you say. Thanks for watching. Dave.
@@learnelectrics4402 my understanding is that if the house is more than five years old then we can still replace CUs like for like but we must include RCD protection , if the house is fives years old or less then we must install metal clad CUs ? As I have been out of the game for over ten years I maybe wrong , but there is so much information out there it’s hard to know what it right and what is wrong.
If you replace any consumer unit it must now be metal, regardless of age. If you work on a domestic lighting circuit without RCD it must have RCD installed as part of the work. Generally, if it is an old board and is still working safely and as intended when it was first installed then there is no requirement to upgrade it. However, there is a requirement to notify the customer that there are metal CUs available which offer better fire protection. It is the customer's choice. You might have been out of the game for a while Sean, but its just like driving a car abroad, as long as you have the basics you can sort the signs and rules as you go. Always think safety and, as you do, always check if unsure.
Sir excellent I request you please give your institution address please
Thanks for the request Akash, we don't do classroom teaching anymore. My advice to you is, check out three or more training centres before spending any money. Actually visit the centre and see what training facilities they have. Are they clean and organised, what training notes do you get etc. Exactly what are you getting for your money. How much theory, what practical training, check everything out first and make sure it is the right place for you.